Deaf-Owned Translation Accessibility Manager

Deaf-Owned Translation Accessibility Manager

Wycliffe Associates is a ministry, and our mission is a special calling. Wycliffe Associates trains Christians all over the world to become Bible translators and we seek to safeguard the integrity of the Scriptures through that process. While specific skills and experience are a major part of this role, what is most important to Wycliffe Associates, and to the lord, is a person’s heart. The person who fills this role should have a special calling from the Lord for ministry. In this role you are considered a minister of the gospel. For such a high calling, our lives and values should reflect that pure and holy calling. As we are told in 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Position Summary:

This position will bridge the gap between the translations that are being made and the community that needs them. It will help people gain access to and truly engage with the scriptures in their language for the first time.  This is a non-paid, volunteering role, at a non-profit Bible translation organization.  The candidate does have the option to raise financial support through church networks.  As travel is required for this role, Wycliffe Associates will cover all travel costs.  This is a remote position and requires about 32 hours of service per week.

Job Responsibilities:

1.      Coordinate completion/publishing with the groups that are doing translation and the WA staff who are supporting them

2.      Communicate and work closely with members of the DOT program, Scripture Accessibility, and IT to serve the global Deaf community

3.      Manage project status, upload status, and publish status information in the Wycliffe Associates database

4.      Manage the online library of WA sign language translation videos – update published translations with revisions and continue to add and organize files for new projects

5.      Create and customize web pages and apps for Deaf communities to consume and study scripture (training is available for this)

6.      Cast a vision for greater use of Deaf scripture, via packaging it for broader consumption – example, adding subtitles and narration so that it can be used in a mixed community of deaf/hearing family and church. Combining it with deaf-created study materials and combining it with deaf-created Bible studies/devotionals

7.      Travel to and communicate with Deaf translators and team members around the world as needed to find the ideal accessibility solution for their community and language

Education, prior work experience, and/or specialized skills and knowledge:

1.      Knowing American Sign Language or another sign language is preferred but not mandatory. Whether hearing or deaf, you need to be able to communicate effectively in written English. You will be working with Sign Language videos, and they will be interacting with team members and translators that are deaf. ASL would be helpful for that, especially if you are traveling to visit teams on the field. It is not a requirement, but the best fit would probably be someone who is familiar with ASL.

2.      The candidate will need to be trained in the Brightcove system – the streaming and hosting system that is used by Wycliffe Associates. The training will be done by our Scripture Accessibility and IT departments

3.      Must be in full agreement with the WA Statement of Faith (Core Beliefs), organizational commitments, and be honorable in abiding by the WA Ethical Standards Agreement

Personal Qualifications:

1.      Have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

2.      Sense a call from God to ministry and have a genuine caring for people

3.      Have the ability to be at ease with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds

4.      Demonstrate the attitudes of a servant leader

5.      Have a deep love for deaf people around the world

6.      Have the ability and desire to learn new technologies, improve skills, and adapt to change

7.      Be teachable and willing to teach

8.      Be able to communicate effectively in written form

9.      Be self-motivated and directed

10.  Have the patience to communicate through language barriers with both deaf and hearing people

11.  Possess the skills and experience to help global deaf communities imagine how they will creatively use translated scripture – format, delivery device, surrounding support material

12.  Possess the skills and experience to deliver the needed deaf scripture products using Brightcove and other systems, to meet the diverse and changing needs and desires of our deaf friends and partners

Wycliffe Associates makes employment decisions in accordance with applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations. As a religious organization, we are entitled to make employment decisions on the basis of religious beliefs and practices of the applicant or employee.