Request for Applications

Foreign Language Translators and Bilingual WPS Subject Matter Expert Reviewers

The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) invites applications to serve on a project team to help us translate various pesticide safety resources over the next two years.

The Project: The primary goal of this project is to create a pool of foreign language translators and pesticide safety subject matter expert (SME) reviewers that are skilled in translating training materials from English into other languages. Through a needs assessment, PERC identified the need to translate training materials into Spanish, Haitian Creole, Karen, Vietnamese, Russian, Tagalog, and Mandarin. Current projects slated for translation are the PERC central posting poster and the Association Farmworker Opportunities Program (AFOP) agricultural worker training flipchart. We anticipate a need for translation of future projects by this pool of translators and subject matter expert reviewers.

The Team: We are looking for a team of at least one translator and at least one SME in each of the listed languages (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Karen, Vietnamese, Russian, Tagalog, and Mandarin). The translator will provide the SMEs with a base translation for the SMEs to review for accuracy and cultural sensitivity/relevancy. This will occur on a project-by-project basis. A project coordinator (e.g., existing PERC staff) will provide a timeline and necessary support to complete the review(s). The team may meet via phone or by remote meeting technology as needed. Successful applicants will have experience (past or present) working/interacting with the identified populations in an agriculture setting, and demonstrated success working individually or on a team to produce pesticide safety materials. All roles may be compensated, if desired.

The goal is to have a pool of translators and SMEs that can be called upon when needed until the conclusion of the PERC Cooperative Agreement in December, 2020. The level of effort for each team member depends on the number of translators/SMEs recruited, the breadth and format of the translated works, the team’s availability (hours/week) and their skill level. PERC predicts peak could include about 5-10 hours per week for a few weeks or months at a time.

Translator Job Description & Qualifications

Job needs will vary, but may include:

• Meet with a coordinator and a team of subject matter experts to discuss reviews.
• Organize material and complete writing assignment according to standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
• When appropriate, incorporate feedback from the PERC Advisory Board.
• Maintain ongoing consultation with Project Coordinator via conference calls and email.
• Incorporate input/feedback from target user groups, including farm/greenhouse workers, pesticide handlers, and agricultural/handler employers, among others.
• Work in close collaboration with project team lead/subject matter experts to create effective translations for conveying pesticide safety concepts.
• Maximize cultural competence and sensitivity.
• Demonstrated proficiency (minimum 12th grade literacy) in reading and writing at least one of the requested languages.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Evaluate examples, best practices, and resources relevant to the project.
• Work in close collaboration with project team lead/subject matter experts to develop effective translations for conveying pesticide safety concepts.
• Experience with pesticide-related training (preferred but not required).
• Experience and demonstrated success working on a team to produce pesticide safety materials (preferred but not required).

Subject Matter Expert (SME) Job Description & Qualifications

Job needs will vary, but may include::

• Meet with a coordinator and a team of subject matter experts to discuss reviews.
• Organize material and complete writing assignment according to standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
• Review drafted resource and recommend revisions or changes in format and content.
• When appropriate, incorporate feedback from the PERC Advisory Board.
• Maintain ongoing consultation with Project Coordinator via conference calls and email.
• Incorporate input/feedback from target user groups, including farm/greenhouse workers, pesticide handlers, and agricultural/handler employers, among others.
• Evaluate examples, best practices, and resources relevant to the project.
• Work in close collaboration with project team members to review effective translations for conveying pesticide safety concepts.
• Maximize cultural competence and sensitivity.
• Demonstrated proficiency (minimum 12th grade literacy) in reading and writing at least one of the requested languages.
• Experience with pesticide-related training.
• Experience and demonstrated success working on a team to produce pesticide safety materials.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Eligibility: State and tribal regulators, academic/private/non-profit/for-profit educators, representatives from professional associations, and individuals who work with agricultural workers and pesticide handlers in languages other than English are encouraged to apply. Funding is available for compensation for a project member’s time, pending the applicant’s eligibility to accept payment under the rules governing this cooperative agreement. Participation may also be considered as in-kind, upon request by the team member.

Application Procedure & Selection: Complete the web-based form available here.. Be prepared to describe your qualifications, availability, compensation requirements and your interest in the project.

Application receipt deadline: Monday, July 30, 2018

Earliest start date: ~ Monday, August 27, 2018

PERC administrators from the University of California of Davis Extension and Oregon State University will make the final selections using a score-sheet based on listed qualifications. Applicants will be notified by July 10. For questions, please contact Hannah Moore, Suzanne Forsyth, or Kaci Buhl

About PERC: PERC is led by University of California of Davis Extension and Oregon State University, and is funded by a 5-year cooperative agreement (#X8-83616301) from the U.S. EPA. PERC aims to support the development of resources/materials about the safe use of pesticides by applicators and handlers in agricultural, commercial, and residential settings. Materials could include brochures, factsheets, posters, videos, manuals, and mobile tools, while addressing the needs of low-literacy and multilingual audiences. These materials will help prevent pesticide exposure incidents for pesticide applicators, handlers, workers, and their families. The PERC supports the U.S. EPA's Strategic Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and preventing pollution.