Location: Office of Language Access - Division of Family and Community Advancement

Reports To: Director of Language Access Services

BPS Office Overview

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) Office of Language Access Services (OLAS) serves as the central hub for steering and aligning district-wide translation and interpretation services to ensure equitable access for multilingual families. OLAS fosters meaningful engagement between schools and families by delivering high-quality language access solutions that are collaboratively developed and aligned with district priorities and federal legal mandates.

General Position Summary

The Language Access Translation Specialist leads the strategic infrastructure, technological framework, and execution of all written translation operations across Boston Public Schools. Reporting to the Director of OLAS, this position manages the end-to-end lifecycle of the district’s written document translations, including legally binding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), district policies, and vital information.

The Specialist oversees the district's translation technology ecosystem, including Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) software, Translation Memory (TM) systems, and standardized multilingual glossaries to ensure consistency, quality, and operational efficiency. The Specialist also manages high-volume translation requests from Boston Public Schools staff through their full lifecycle, directs internal and external vendor workflows, monitors fiscal resource allocation, and establishes rigorous localization quality standards.

By guiding high-volume requests through their full lifecycle, directing internal and external workflows, and evaluating fiscal resource allocation, the Specialist safeguards district adherence to federal and state language access requirements while ensuring accurate, equitable, and culturally appropriate multilingual communications across the Boston Public Schools community.

Key Responsibilities

District-Wide Operations & Infrastructure Management: Steer district-wide written translation operations through a collaborative approach, ensuring operational excellence, technological integration, and systemic alignment across all functional departments.
Ecosystem & Database Maintenance: Oversee and maintain the district's translation technology ecosystem, including Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, centralized Translation Memory (TM) databases, and standardized multi-language glossaries. Candidates from non-translation backgrounds should possess proven experience managing equivalent specialized database systems, content management platforms, or centralized data repositories to ensure consistency, brand integrity, and cost-efficiency.
Translation Lifecycle Coordination: Architect, prioritize, and fulfill high-volume district-wide written translation requests via the centralized request management platform, ensuring complex materials are accurately routed by content complexity, target language, and legal urgency.
Fiscal & Vendor Management: Manage and audit a diverse pool of external translation vendors and contracted localization agencies; evaluate contract fulfillment rates, manage invoice tracking against departmental budgets, and optimize workflows to reduce per-word translation costs.
Compliance & Quality Assurance: Safeguard district adherence to Title VI, Section 504, the ADA, the Protect Education Equity Act, and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) mandates through rigorous linguistic audits, localized proofreading controls, and proactive resolution of document errors to mitigate legal exposure.
Stakeholder Support & Strategic Planning: Serve as the technical liaison for schools and central offices; provide expert guidance on translation policy, document design for localization, and collaborate with departments to project and plan for large-scale future publication needs.
Training, Reporting & Data Diagnostics: Leverage data from language access platforms to track translation volume trends, analyze vendor performance metrics, and lead staff training on submission workflows and translation technology utilization.
Leadership Support: Execute additional high-level administrative duties, policy design, and high-priority localization projects as directed by the Director and Assistant Director of OLAS to support evolving district goals.

Qualifications – Required

Bachelor’s degree in Translation Studies, Linguistics, International Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.
Current authorization to work in the United States.
Minimum of 3 to 5 years of senior administrative or project management experience. While direct translation or corporate localization experience is preferred, candidates with a proven track record of managing complex workflows, scaling operations, and mastering technical skills required for the role will be highly considered.
Proven capability in steering enterprise-level, district-wide, or similarly complex operational workflows and performance management to ensure organizational excellence.
Demonstrated experience working with specialized software systems; while direct familiarity with Translation Technologies (such as CAT tools or Translation Memory systems) is a plus, a proven track record of rapidly mastering and managing complex database, enterprise resource planning (ERP), or project management software is highly valued.
Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state language access standards (Title VI), FERPA regulations, and legal compliance mandates governing vital written documents in public education.
Proactive and creative problem-solver with a track record of mobilizing and organizing resources to accomplish complex project milestones.
Demonstrated strong organizational abilities and keen attention to detail, successfully managing records in fast-paced, high-pressure settings
Adept at working independently with high autonomy to manage competing priorities and meet the diverse linguistic needs of the district community.
Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication, with a focus on analyzing and presenting data in clear, actionable reports and presentations.
Proficiency in managing digital request intake and communications platforms. While experience with specific language access systems is an asset, demonstrated success in mastering equivalent ticketing, CRM, or client-facing communication tools to streamline workflows will be highly considered.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, utilizing cloud-based data management tools to enhance district-wide communication and reporting.

Terms: Managerial, B31. This position is subject to the City of Boston residency ordinance.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record, physical or mental disability, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, natural or protective hairstyle, military status, immigration status, English language proficiency, or any other factor prohibited by law in its programs and activities. BPS does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to work or learn. If you require an accommodation pursuant to the ADA for the application process, please contact the Accommodations Unit at accommodations@bostonpublicschools.org.

Boston Public Schools

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