Communication Access Specialist & ASL Interpreter Lead

Description State Title:

Project Specialist Bargaining Unit:

Non-Unit Employment Type:

35 hours per week/Full-time External salary: $85,000 - $100,000 NON-UNION

POS5TIONS

: For non-unit positions, salary commensurate with experience and is accompanied by a competitive benefits package. About TCNJ Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.

Position Overview:

The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) supports students, faculty, staff, and guests to advance access within the campus community to further extend both the mission of The College of New Jersey and the mission of the Division of Inclusive Excellence to persons with disabilities. The Communication Access Specialist & ASL Interpreter Lead serves as the institutional leader for communication access and Deaf/Hard of Hearing accommodations. Reporting to the Director of Accessibility Resources in the Division of Inclusive Excellence, this position provides strategic direction, oversight, and direct service in ensuring comprehensive, high-quality interpreting and captioning support across the College. This position manages all aspects of communication access, including program design, budget oversight, staffing coordination, and service delivery, while maintaining compliance with federal regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and related state laws. In addition to administrative leadership, the specialist serves as a highly skilled interpreter supporting high-profile campus events and academic settings, modeling professional standards of practice and equity-minded service. This role blends expert-level interpreter services with strategic program management to advance the College's institutional commitment to accessibility, inclusive excellence, and equal participation for all members of the campus community.

Responsibilities:

Provide leadership and supervision for ASL interpreters, including recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and performance evaluation. Serve as the primary point of contact for interpreting and captioning services across campus. Develop and maintain interpreter staffing models to meet academic and co-curricular access needs. Coordinate with the Director of Accessibility Resources to hire freelance interpreters, including job description creation, requisitions, contracts, onboarding support, etc. Coordinate daily and long-term scheduling of interpreters, captionists, and related service providers to ensure coverage for all eligible requests. Manage vendor relationships, contracts, invoicing, and service delivery to ensure consistency and compliance. Establish and maintain internal protocols, policies, and resources related to communication access, interpreting, and captioning. Monitor service usage, track hours, and manage invoicing and budget records. Collaborate with ARC team members to ensure timely and equitable provision of communication access, to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504. Resolve service concerns and participate in grievance or appeal processes as needed. Other duties as as assigned. Interpreting Services Provide professional, ethical, and accurate interpreting/transliterating between spoken English and American Sign Language in classes, meetings and campus events, including high-profile institutional functions (e.g. Commencement, President's Fall Address). Support a variety of interpreting modalities (e.g., ASL, PSE, tactile interpreting, remote interpreting as needed). Adhere to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.(RID) Code of Professional Conduct and institutional standards. Prepare for assignments and event content to ensure accuracy and quality. Adjust communication style to meet the needs of Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals, including consideration of regional and cultural variations. Provide interpreting services for midterm and final exams, as requested. Accessibility & Compliance Ensure all interpreting services align with ADA, Section 504, and related federal and state regulations. Partner with ARC staff to implement accommodations for students, faculty, staff, and campus guests. Maintain accurate, confidential records regarding interpreting services and accommodations. Training & Education Provide training and consultation to faculty, staff, and campus partners on effective communication and collaboration with Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals. Support professional development for interpreting staff, including mentorship, feedback, and skill development. Stay current on best practices in interpreting, accessibility, and assistive technologies. Campus Collaboration Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, and event coordinators to ensure accessible programming and services. Contribute to campus-wide initiatives related to accessibility, inclusion, and universal design. Serve as a campus resource on Deaf culture, accessibility, and inclusive communication. Assessment & Continuous Improvement Track service utilization and emerging trends to inform strategic planning and resource allocation. Contribute to departmental assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives. Identify opportunities to enhance service delivery, efficiency, and user experience.

Qualifications:

Required:

Bachelor's degree in Deaf Studies, Interpretation, Linguistics, Communication, Education, or related field. Certified interpreter credentials (NIC or equivalent RID certification). Minimum of 5-7 years of professional interpreting experience in educational or related settings. Experience coordinating or supervising communication access services. Demonstrated fluency in ASL and spoken/written English. Knowledge of Deaf culture, ADA/Section 504, and accessibility best practices. Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills. Proven ability to collaborate across departments and manage multiple priorities. Commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and equitable access. Ability to meet deadlines, work independently, and maintain efficiency during peak workload.

Preferred:

Experience with CART captioning, remote interpreting technology, and assistive communication tools. Supervisory or vendor management experience in higher education. Background in project management, budgeting, or program evaluation, preferably in the non-profit, higher education or finance industry. Proficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Drive). Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position. Employer Qualifications Employment at TCNJ is contingent upon the successful completion of an applicable background check, reference checks, and verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States (Form I-9).

Accommodation:

Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview should contact hr@tcnj.edu . Employee Benefits As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a part of an exciting and rewarding public university career. Eligible full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including: Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and prescription plans Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement Program Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee affinity groups New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.) Access to extensive learning opportunities To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more! How to Apply Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until a viable finalist has been found. The College is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community that respects and uplifts individuals from all backgrounds. We value the varied perspectives, experiences, and talents of all members of our community and strive to create an environment where everyone has equitable access to opportunities for success. As an equal opportunity employer, we comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. We encourage applications from individuals whose lived experiences and professional interests align with our institutional mission of academic excellence, access, and integrity.

Primary Location :

Roscoe West Hall -

Accessibility Resources Work Locations :

Roscoe West Hall - Accessibility Resources 2000 Pennington Rd Ewing Township 08628

Job :

Staff Organization :

The College of New Jersey