Spanish Interpreter Program Lead - Marian Regional Medical Center

Santa Maria, CA – Seeking Spanish Interpreter Program Lead

Everybody Has A Role To Play In Transforming Healthcare

As a Spanish Interpreter Program Lead, you play a vital role in our mission to improve lives. Lead and manage our hospital’s Spanish interpretation services and be responsible for deploying the interpreter program at multiple sites. Develop and enforce interpretation policies and regulations, and collaborate directly with medical directors and site leadership. At Vituity we know the impact you can have.

Join the Vituity Team. At Vituity we’ve cultivated an environment where passion thrives, and success comes through shared purpose. We were founded in a culture that values team accomplishments more than individual achievements, an approach we call “culture of brilliance.” Together, we leverage our strengths and experiences to make a positive impact in our local communities. We foster this through shared goals and helping our colleagues succeed, and we also understand the importance of recognition, taking the time to show appreciation and gratitude for a job well done.

Vituity Locations: Vituity has opportunities at 475 sites across the country, serving 9 million patients a year. With Vituity, if you ever need to move, you can take your job with you.

The Opportunity

• Support the Medical Director and Site Program Manager with training new Patient Relations Interpreters (schedule interpreters, address provider feedback for interpreters, help schedule classroom training, and manage day to day operations of the program).
• Coordinate training schedules via email or phone with newly hired patient relations interpreters to ensure they are properly trained.
• Conduct didactic training, including medical terminology, interpreting writing tutorials, and scenarios.
• Administer competency exams to new Patient Relations Interpreters for certification and to determine advancement into the clinical practice phase.
• Facilitate clinical practice shifts for each Patient Relations Interpreter and assist with completion of an orientation checklist to determine whether the new hire is competent to perform all duties required as an interpreter on their own.
• Conduct refresher floor training sessions and re-train interpreters when feedback/emails are less than satisfactory.
• Create and conduct yearly refresher training to meet National and State standards, ethics, and protocols for Spanish Medical Interpreters. Update training as needed to best meet standards.
• Be a resource for training questions or concerns.
• Train hospital staff on proper use of interpreters: join meetings and/or huddles, send out reminders, create fliers or forms if needed for them to review.
• Host and lead monthly meetings with the Spanish interpreter team to discuss challenges, updates, and process improvements, while addressing concerns raised by staff and hospital leadership.
• Attend and actively participate in hospital leadership meetings to provide strategic insight and updates on interpretation services.
• Provide feedback to the site’s lead interpreter if any interpreter needs to increase or decrease the number of hours they are working.
• Serve as backup to the Lead Patient Relations Interpreter for the following duties:
• When an interpreter has a last-minute scheduling conflict, resolve conflicts by finding somebody else to fill in; communicate to providers when there are gaps (unfilled shifts) in the schedule.
• Collect all the interpreters’ scheduling preferences and each provider’s schedule for each month; develop and distribute the schedule timely and appropriately.
• Ensure all timekeeping and scheduling systems are up to date after each pay period.
• Assist Site Program Manager and physician liaison with regulating proper hours in accordance with the Patient Relations Interpreter’s status (per diem, limited part-time, part-time, or full-time).
• Regularly report to the Site Program Manager and Medical Director regarding performance, problems, and/or successes of the interpreters.
• Coordinate monthly/quarterly meetings with interpreter team, Site Program Manager, and Medical Director (and staff).
• Participate in quarterly Lead Patient Relations Interpreter calls.
• Participate in routine touch base calls with the Site Program Manager or the Medical Director as applicable.
• Collaborate with the Lead Patient Relations Interpreter to update and complete all necessary elements of the Lead Interpreter Monthly Report (LIMR) by the 1st of each month for the prior month. Be prepared to discuss the Lead Interpreter Monthly Report (LIMR) monthly with the Supervisor, Client Services, Practice Administrator, or Medical Director (if applicable).
• Touch base regularly (weekly/bi-weekly) with the Lead to see how things are going at their sites.
• Oversee the deployment and expansion of the Spanish interpretation program across multiple hospital locations.
• Manage, mentor, and provide leadership to Spanish interpreters, ensuring high-quality language services are consistently maintained.
• Develop, implement, and enforce interpretation policies and regulations in alignment with each hospital site's requirements, industry standards, and legal guidelines.
• Serve as a primary liaison for Medical Directors and hospital administration, ensuring seamless communication and service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with all hospital, state, and federal regulations related to language access in healthcare and conduct regular audits to uphold standards.
• Provide structured training, competency evaluations, and professional development programs for interpreters, ensuring continued education and excellence.
• Monitor and assess the effectiveness of interpretation services, making recommendations for technological or procedural improvements.
• Oversee and approve scheduling, recruitment, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions for interpreter staff.
• Coordinate with Human Resources and hospital leadership on recruitment, onboarding, and retention of skilled interpreters.
• Act as a key resource for training questions, policy development, and resolution of interpretation-related issues.
• Assist with counseling and work with Human Resources and Site Program Manager/Medical Director as applicable to develop performance improvement plans as needed.
• Help ensure newly hired Patient Relations Interpreters have completed all on-boarding requirements such as Vituity compliance training, certification training, and hospital Human Resources and Information Technology requirements.
• Order uniforms for Patient Relations Interpreters.
• Conduct shift evaluations according to site requirements.
• Carry out 3–6-month evals and annual performance evaluations using performance evaluations created and provided.
• Audit interpreter interpretation per Vituity, Joint Commission, and site requirements, report inconsistencies/non-compliance to Medical Director and People Operations, partner with the Medical Director and People Operations to take appropriate measures to align interpreter to applicable standards.
• Act as the main decision maker regarding hiring and firing Patient Relations Interpreters.
• Serve as backup to the Lead Patient Relations Interpreter for the following duties:
• Remind interpreters when timecards are due; review timecards for accuracy and lock and sign them prior to the end of each pay period.
• Complete the Lead Interpreter Monthly Reports (LIMR).
• Partner with the Site Program Manager to ensure all interpreters on roster are within compliance by the deadlines set by the company annually.
• Partner with the Site Program Manager to ensure all Joint Commission and site requirements for all interpreters are up to date in e-binder.

Required Experience and Competencies

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Fluency in Spanish and English, with advanced verbal and written communication skills required.
• 2-3 years of experience as a Patient Relations Interpreter required.
• Previous experience in a lead or supervisory capacity required.
• Must be certified as a medical interpreter (e.g., CCHI, NBCMI) or working toward a certification. If working toward certification, must become certified within one (1) year of entering this position.
• Marian Regional Medical Center Spanish certificate of completion required or ability to obtain within one (1) month of entering this position.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a medical interpreter, with leadership or management experience strongly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of medical terminology, hospital protocols, and compliance regulations preferred.
• Proven experience developing and enforcing policies and regulations related to language access in healthcare preferred.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Knowledge of and ability to abide by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1995 (HIPAA) privacy rules.
• Ability to demonstrate verbal and written fluency and grammar proficiency in English (source language) and target language (e.g., Spanish) prior to hire.
• Ability to complete (upon hire) the hospital-administered medical translation training, pass the related exam, and provide a copy of the certification for personnel files within 30 days of starting work to continue employment in this position.
• Ability to translate critical medical information precisely and accurately from English (source language) to target language (e.g., Spanish).
• Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, and customer service orientation.
• Active listening skills.
• Excellent communication skills, tact, stress management skills, and the ability to relate well with diverse personalities and cultures.
• Ability to interact and communicate with people in person and over the telephone, often in stressful situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
• Ability to work outside of normal working hours as needed.
• Knowledge of clinical decision support and reminders, and proper methods for delegating tasks.
• Solid computer skills in Windows environment.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with medical directors, hospital administrators, and interpreter teams.
• Experience with timekeeping, scheduling, and compliance tracking systems.
• Ability to conduct performance evaluations, facilitate training, and lead quality improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with interpretation technology and hospital management systems.
• Adaptable, proactive, and responsive to the evolving needs of hospital environments.

The Practice

Marian Regional Medical Center – Santa Maria, California

• Level II Trauma Center, STEMI Receiving Center, and Stroke Center.
• 190-bed facility with 42 ED beds plus a separate RME space.
• Large Spanish-speaking and Latinx patient mix.
• Annual volume of 70,000 with an admit rate of 15-18%.
• In-person Spanish and Mixteco translators 24/7/365.

The Community

• Santa Maria, California, is a welcoming city in the heart of California’s Central Coast, celebrated for its agricultural heritage, famous barbecue, and stunning natural surroundings.
• Known as the “Barbecue Capital of California,” it offers residents and visitors a taste of its unique culinary tradition.
• Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the scenic trails of Oso Flaco Lake or enjoy the nearby Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, one of the largest coastal dune systems in the country.
• The city hosts the annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade, a community favorite. With mild, sunny weather year-round, it’s perfect for outdoor recreation and family gatherings.
• Its central location provides easy access to coastal attractions, wine country, and cities like San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.
• With its blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and small-town charm, Santa Maria offers a fulfilling and well-rounded lifestyle.

Benefits & Beyond*

Vituity cares about the whole you. With our comprehensive compensation and benefits package, we are mindful of what matters most, and support your needs of today and your plans for the future.

• Superior health plan options
• Dental, Vision, HSA/FSA, Life and AD&D coverage, and more
• Top Tier 401(k) retirement savings plans that offers a $1.20 match for every dollar up to 6%
• Outstanding Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks’ vacation, Paid holidays, Sabbatical
• Student Loan Refinancing Discounts
• Professional and Career Development Program
• EAP, travel assistance, and identify theft included
• Wellness program
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Purpose-driven culture focused on improving the lives of our patients, communities, and employees

Salary range for this role is $30.00 per hour. Please speak with a recruiter for more information.

We are unified around the common purpose of transforming healthcare to improve lives and we believe everyone has a role to play in that. When we work together across sites and specialties as an integrated healthcare team, we exceed the expectations of our patients and the hospitals and clinics we work in. If you are looking to make a difference, from clinical to corporate, Vituity is the place to do it. Come grow with us.

Vituity does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information (including family medical history), veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. Vituity is committed to complying with all applicable national, state and local laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.

*Benefits for part-time and per diem vary. Please speak to a recruiter for more information.

Applicants only. No agencies please.