Indigenous Language Interpreter

Job Title: Indigenous Language Interpreter

Job location: Field-based – Project Intervention Areas

Reports to: Project Manager

The Indigenous Language Interpreter will provide interpretation services to facilitate effective, culturally appropriate, and respectful communication between MedGlobal health and protection personnel and Indigenous communities during mobile health brigades and follow-up activities.

Interpreters will support communication under Mobile Health Brigades and Referral and Counter-Referral, particularly in municipalities with high Indigenous population density and where language barriers may affect access to healthcare and protection services.

The project will prioritize Wayuu-language interpretation in La Guajira, while also engaging interpreters of other Indigenous languages according to the language needs identified in the project intervention areas.

Interpreters will support consultations, health education, referrals, follow-up, and communication with patients, families, community representatives, and other stakeholders, ensuring that information is conveyed accurately while respecting cultural context, confidentiality, and informed decision-making.

The position is session-based and paid per service provided, rather than through a monthly employment arrangement.

• Provide accurate interpretation between health/protection personnel and Indigenous patients and community members during mobile health brigade activities.

• Facilitate communication during medical and nursing consultations, health education sessions, and other project activities.

• Interpret questions, concerns, symptoms, instructions, and relevant information accurately and without altering the meaning of the communication.

• Support communication between patients, families, community representatives, and members of the multidisciplinary health team.

• Ensure that technical or medical information is communicated in language that is understandable and culturally appropriate to the intended audience.

• Provide interpretation support during referral and counter-referral processes under Activity 1.1.3.

• Assist patients and families in understanding referral instructions, follow-up requirements, appointments, and available health services.

• Support communication between Indigenous patients and health facilities when required.

• Facilitate follow-up communication related to continuity of care when requested by the clinical or project team.

• Communicate any relevant language-related barriers affecting access to referred services to the appropriate team member.

• Support culturally appropriate communication between MedGlobal teams and Indigenous communities.

• Help health and protection personnel understand relevant cultural and linguistic considerations that may affect communication and service delivery.

• Support respectful engagement with Indigenous leaders, community representatives, families, and community members.

• Facilitate communication in a manner that respects Indigenous customs, cultural practices, and community protocols.

• Avoid imposing personal interpretations, opinions, or judgments during interpretation.

• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding patient information, medical consultations, protection-related information, and other sensitive matters.

• Always respect patient privacy and professional boundaries.

• Interpret faithfully and impartially without intentionally omitting, adding, or modifying information.

• Immediately communicate any significant misunderstanding or ambiguity that could affect patient care or safety.

• Comply with MedGlobal’s Code of Conduct, safeguarding, PSEA, Child Protection, and confidentiality requirements.

• Support patients and community members in understanding information provided by healthcare and protection personnel.

• Facilitate communication necessary for informed participation in consultations, examinations, referrals, and other services.

• Where appropriate, identify language barriers that may affect a patient's understanding of medical or referral instructions and alert the relevant health professional.

• Ensure that interpretation does not interfere with the patient's ability to communicate directly with healthcare personnel.

• Coordinate with Project Coordinators, doctors, nurses, Health Assistants, protection personnel, and other members of the mobile health brigade.

• Confirm interpretation requirements and schedules prior to field deployment.

• Participate in field briefings when required.

• Support the team in identifying language needs for specific communities or activities.

• Provide feedback on recurring language barriers that may affect access to services.

• Complete any required service documentation, attendance records, or session confirmation forms.

• Provide information required to verify services delivered for payment and project monitoring purposes.

• Maintain confidentiality when handling any project or patient-related documentation.

• Report any operational or communication challenges encountered during interpretation sessions.

• Maintain professional boundaries with patients, beneficiaries, community members, and MedGlobal personnel.

• Immediately report safeguarding, protection, abuse, exploitation, harassment, or other concerns through the established MedGlobal reporting mechanisms.

• Ensure that interpretation does not discriminate against or disadvantage individuals based on language, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, or other characteristics.

• Support safe and respectful communication with children and vulnerable individuals in

accordance with MedGlobal safeguarding procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Should have the following skills, education, and experience:

• Demonstrated native or advanced fluency in the relevant Indigenous language required for the assigned intervention area.

• Fluency in Spanish, both spoken and understood.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret accurately between the relevant Indigenous language and Spanish.

• Previous experience providing interpretation or translation services, particularly in healthcare, humanitarian, community, social services, or other field-based settings.

• Strong understanding of the cultural context of the Indigenous communities served.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to work respectfully with multidisciplinary teams and Indigenous community representatives.

• Ability to travel to field locations according to scheduled project activities.

• Previous experience supporting medical consultations, health education, protection services, or humanitarian field activities.

• Experience working with Indigenous communities in Colombia.

• Experience with Wayuu language interpretation for activities in La Guajira.

• Experience supporting referral and counter-referral processes.

• Knowledge of local health services and community structures.

• Previous experience working with NGOs or international humanitarian organizations.

• Training or certification in interpretation, community health, intercultural communication, or a related field.

• Intermediate English proficiency (minimum B1 level) is desirable where required for coordination with international staff.

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MedGlobal is a global humanitarian non-profit organization providing medical and health education services to people in need, including refugees and displaced persons, in disaster and underserved regions. The organization is composed of medical and public health professionals from diverse backgrounds.

MedGlobal Code of Conduct reflects the profession’s core set of beliefs and values of care, respect, trust, and integrity. These beliefs and values are fundamental to MedGlobal employees, volunteers, interns, consultants, and contractors to guide their practice and conduct. The Code is organized into categories, as follows:

• Always act with fairness, honesty, integrity, and openness; respect the opinions of others and treat all with equality and dignity without regard to gender, race, color, creed, ancestry, place of origin, political beliefs, religion, marital status, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

• Provide a positive and valued experience for those receiving services within and outside MedGlobal.

Child abuse in all forms is unacceptable to MedGlobal, which recognizes its responsibility to protect children from harm in all areas of its work. MedGlobal is committed to ensuring a child-safe environment and is applying a zero-tolerance approach towards any kind of child abuse and exploitation.

MedGlobal provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and expressly prohibits and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, abuse, harassment (sexual or otherwise), based upon race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, citizenship status, disability, or military status. MedGlobal employees and related personnel must under no circumstances take part in any form of discrimination, harassment, or abuse (physical, sexual or verbal), intimidation or exploitation, or in any other way infringe the rights of others inside or outside the organization.