Spanish Interpreter

Salary : $42,262.61 Annually
Location : Hickory, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 02343
Department: Public Health
Opening Date: 08/07/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


New as of 01/01/2026:

Your well-being matters from the start - benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.

Position Description
Catawba County Public Health is seeking a bilingual professional to serve as a Spanish Interpreter supporting programs across the department. This position plays a critical role in bridging communication between Spanish-speaking patients and healthcare providers, ensuring patients fully understand their care, treatment plans, and follow-up instructions.

The Spanish Interpreter provides live verbal interpretation, accurate written translation, and culturally sensitive communication to support equitable access to public health services. This position interacts directly with patients and assists multiple program areas such as Adult Health, Communicable Disease, Immunizations, TB, Care Management, and Newborn/Postpartum home visiting services.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct interpretation between Spanish-speaking patients and clinical staff during visits, screenings, counseling, and procedures
• Translate forms, consent documents, patient letters, and educational materials between English and Spanish
• Assist with phone calls, appointment coordination, and relaying clinical instructions to Spanish-speaking patients
• Support staff during events, outreach activities, and home-based visits when interpretation is required

• Assisting staff in understanding communication patterns, traditions, and beliefs that may impact care
• Assist in ensuring clarity in patient understanding by conveying provider instructions accurately and professionally

Qualifications
Native Spanish Speakers:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent, along with significant experience with the English language
• Must pass an oral and written proficiency examination on the Spanish language at an Advanced High or above proficiency level

Non-Native Spanish Speakers:

• Bachelor's degree in Spanish
• Must pass an oral and written proficiency examination on the Spanish language at an Advanced High or above proficiency level

Additional Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Spanish
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with individuals of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to translate medically sensitive information clearly, accurately, and confidentially
• Professionalism, discretion, and ability to maintain appropriate boundaries
• Flexibility in managing assignments across multiple program areas
• This position is considered light work and may occasionally require lifting up to 20 pounds (e.g., paperwork, books, or records)

As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:

Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.

Employee Wellness

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee's children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee's adult children (ages 18-26) or employee's spouse if covered on the county's health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

Work Life Balance

• Annual Leave: Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Sick Leave: Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

Financial Security

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee's annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).

01


Please select your proficiency level in the Spanish language.

• Native language
• Advanced
• Moderate
• Low
• I do not speak Spanish.

02


Check your proficiency level in the English language.

• Native language
• Advanced
• Moderate
• Low
• I do not speak Spanish.

03


Describe any experience, certifications, or training you have in the interpreting field. In particular, describe any experience you have had in interpreting service-related programs.
Required Question