Sign Language Interpreter

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Job Description

About Bow Valley College

For 60 years, Calgary’s college has grown to prepare 14,000 students annually for meaningful careers in health care, social services, business, technology, and creative industries. Every program has a Work Integrated Learning requirement, ensuring students contribute to the workplace before they graduate. With a strong focus on advanced simulation training and Alberta’s evolving needs, Bow Valley College’s new Health Care Centre of Excellence is working to expand space and programs, aimed at graduating four-times as many health professionals annually by 2036.

Proudly recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges, we combine innovative learning with hands-on experience. Home to Alberta’s only major e-sports arena and a state-of-the-art digital production hub. Learn more about the opportunities Bow Valley College creates for students, Calgary, and Alberta at bowvalleycollege.ca.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Manager, Accessibility and Conduct, the Sign Language Interpreter provides high-quality visual and oral interpretation to support clear, effective communication between Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students and the Bow Valley College community. Through interpretation between American Sign Language (ASL), Contact Sign, variations of ASL, and spoken English, this role helps facilitate equitable access to classroom instruction, academic activities, meetings, appointments, and other College-related experiences.

Working collaboratively with Accessibility Services, Student Services, faculty, and staff across the College, the incumbent ensures interpretation services are relevant, accessible, and responsive to student needs. The role requires thorough preparation for interpreting assignments, ongoing consultation with colleagues and students, and a commitment to professional development and continuous improvement in interpreting practice.

What You'll Be Doing:

Sign Language Interpretation

Provide accurate, high-quality ASL/English interpretation and sign-supported oral interpretation or transliteration to facilitate communication between Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and hearing members of the College community. Interpret in a range of academic and College-related settings, ensuring messages are conveyed with equivalency in meaning, register, and purpose while respecting linguistic and cultural differences.

Interpretation responsibilities include:

• Providing ASL/English interpretation for Deaf students who use ASL and for hearing faculty, staff, and students communicating with them.
• Providing sign-supported oral interpretation or transliteration for Deaf students who use Contact Sign or variations of sign language.
• Supporting communication between students and prospective students and College faculty, staff, and fellow students in accordance with applicable duty-to-accommodate requirements.
• Accepting and incorporating feedback from students and interpreting colleagues to continually improve service quality and responsiveness.

Consultation and Collaboration

Collaborate with colleagues and College partners to ensure interpretation services meet student needs and support effective communication across academic and service areas. Consult with members of the interpreting team, including contracted interpreters, Deaf and hearing interpreting colleagues, and the Manager, Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as appropriate.

Work closely with Student Services, faculty, and staff to coordinate services, clarify interpreting requirements, and support accessible participation in college activities.

Preparation for Interpreting Assignments

Prepare thoroughly for each assignment to ensure accurate, contextually appropriate interpretation. For classroom assignments, review relevant course materials in advance, including textbooks, learning guides, handouts, exam preparation materials, audio and video resources, instructor notes when available, student presentations, and other related materials. Develop familiarity with course-specific terminology and relevant sign vocabulary to support effective communication.

For non-classroom assignments, review available materials and consult with Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing students as appropriate to understand their goals and expectations, identify situation-specific vocabulary, and become familiar with presentation materials and relevant background or historical information.

Professional Development and Continuous Improvement

Maintain current knowledge of interpreting practices, professional standards, and developments in the field. Actively pursue professional development, particularly in post-secondary educational theory and practice, to strengthen interpreting skills and support effective service delivery.

Additional Support and Responsibilities

Contribute to the broader work of Student Services and the interpreting function when not scheduled for an interpreting assignment. Responsibilities may include:

• Delivering presentations to faculty, staff, and students on ASL/English interpreting.
• Participating in special projects and developing or supporting procedures related to sign language interpretation.
• Collaborating on term schedules and coordinating day-to-day scheduling needs as they arise.
• Undertaking other duties as assigned.

What Sets You Apart

You are a skilled and thoughtful interpreter who understands the importance of conveying messages accurately while preserving their meaning, register, and intent across linguistic and cultural contexts. You bring strong interpreting skills in ASL and spoken English, along with the ability to provide sign-supported oral interpretation or transliteration for individuals who use Contact Sign or variations of ASL.

You approach each assignment with care and preparation, recognizing the importance of understanding course content, specialized terminology, and the context in which communication takes place. You are adaptable, responsive to feedback, and committed to maintaining and strengthening your professional knowledge and interpreting practice.

You also bring strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, allowing you to work effectively with students, interpreting colleagues, faculty, and staff. You value accessible and inclusive learning environments, communicate professionally, and take a student-centred approach to supporting meaningful participation in the College community.

Qualifications:

Minimum:

• Diploma-American Sign Language-English Interpretation.
• 2 to 4 years of experience.
• Membership in CASLI (Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters).
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered

Preferred:

• In-depth experience of multi-faceted interpretation.
• Experience accessing technology-based resources for preparation and consultation.
• Experience working with students in a post-secondary setting.

Compensation: $36.37 - $46.83

Closing Date: Nov 9, 2026

This opening is a casual (AUPE) position. Please note all successful candidates will be required to provide copies of government issued identification and proof of educational qualifications upon hire and may be required to provide an enhanced police information check. If your education was received internationally, we will require you to provide an international education assessment through IQAS, WES, or one of the other nationally designated organizations upon hire.

Union :

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
Bow Valley College is strongly committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within our community. We welcome applications from qualified candidates who would contribute to the further diversification of our employees including, but not limited to, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.