Deaf Community Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

University Staff

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Sign Language Interpreter

Apply for this exciting, unique opportunity while spending a year in a great place on a Great Lake!

As a designated American Sign Language (ASL) hearing interpreter, you will be working onsite with a Deaf medical student during clinical rotations in MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin. This position is the integral third member of a highly qualified, supportive, curious, and engaged team of staff interpreters. The person hired will collaborate to develop best practices for student access and participation in unique situations. An onsite supervisor and the UW Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services team will provide support in navigating logistical and technological issues.

Successful candidates for this position will have post-secondary interpreting experience and preferably have medical experience. They will be eager to interpret in a variety of clinical and hospital environments for required rotations, including the Emergency Department, OB/GYN, Surgery, and Primary Care. These rotations are an evaluative part of the medical school curriculum. The person in this job must be someone who deeply appreciates the student’s need to be interpreted accurately across patient interactions and in foundational learning environments with faculty and peers.

This is a 13-month position starting in early December 2026, with approximately one month of hybrid onboarding and training, followed by 12-months onsite. Relocation expense reimbursement up to $2,500 provided if applicable. Possibility to extend employment beyond December 2027 is dependent upon the student’s next specialty rotations.

The starting salary for this position depends on the experience and qualifications of the applicant. As University Staff, interpreters are paid for their interpreting time, preparation time, and consultative time for a total of 40 hours per week at their hourly rate. This position also qualifies for shift differentials (between 6:00pm - 6:00am) and compensation time or overtime beyond 40 hours/week. The minimum of $36.06/hour is approximately $75,000 annually, plus paid time off and benefits. Sign-on bonus (hiring bonus) of $1,000. Additional bonus up to $1,000 upon successful completion and based on performance at one year. If you have questions about salary information, please contact Terri Oehrlein at terri.oehrlein@wisc.edu.

Learn about cost of living and more about life in Milwaukee.

• Interprets or transliterates for advanced or technically complex academic content or institutional events that include sensitive or high impact requests utilizing ethical analysis to determine optimal options in interpreting situations
• Prepares for interpreting requests by utilizing provided preparation materials, researching outside sources, and communicating with colleagues
• Provides consultation and answers questions regarding best practices for interpreting and working with deaf individuals for the University community

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VSCA), Student Success and Belonging, McBurney Disability Resource Center

The McBurney Disability Resource Center is the office for students with disabilities and classroom accommodations on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. As part of the student accommodation process, we work collaboratively with students and instructors to provide and support effective student accommodations. We strive to create an inclusive campus environment that allows students to engage, explore, and participate in the Wisconsin Idea. We work with over 6,000 students annually, have a strong collaborative team, and partner with students, instructors, staff, student organizations, and others throughout the campus and community.

McBurney is part of Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, led by the vice chancellor for student affairs. Our staff is dedicated to serving students and to helping them succeed in and out of the classroom in areas including health and well-being, student success and belonging, leadership and engagement, and student advocacy.

The starting salary for this position depends on the experience and qualifications of the applicant. As University Staff, interpreters are paid for their interpreting time, preparation time, and consultative time for a total of 40 hours per week at their hourly rate. This position also qualifies for shift differentials (between 6:00pm - 6:00am) and compensation time or overtime beyond 40 hours/week. The minimum of $36.06/hour is approximately $75,000 annually, plus paid time off and benefits, including participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Sign-on bonus of $1,000. Additional bonus up to $1,000 upon successful completion and based on performance at one year. If you have questions about salary information, please contact Terri Oehrlein at terri.oehrlein@wisc.edu.

• Minimum three years of experience as an ASL interpreter in postsecondary settings.
• Ability to convey academic concepts effectively, professionally, and accurately in and between both American Sign Language and English.
• Current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certification and/or National Association of the Deaf Certification and/or equivalent certification in good standing.
• Wisconsin Sign Language Interpreter-Advanced Hearing State License required or eligible by the start date of the position. License information.
• The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodations: stand for 2-3 hours at a time; wear personal protective equipment while interpreting in specific situations. Additionally, this position is expected to comply with all annual health systems and university compliance training and requirements.
• History of rapidly learning and acculturating new work environments, physical spaces, and unique vocabulary.
• Ability to identify and retain critical information to confidentially share with the team as needed to provide consistent services.
• Ability to discern the goal of the setting when making decisions. Ex: General learning and training; evaluation and assessment; patient care and safety.
• Interpreter will need reliable transportation to/from hospitals and clinics in the greater Milwaukee area.

• Three years of experience as ASL interpreter in healthcare settings.
• Understanding of medical systems, the workflows, personnel structure, and culture of healthcare teams.
• Certificate of completion or equivalent from an accredited interpreter training program is strongly preferred, though relevant experience may be considered.
• Ability to set up and utilize related technology, i.e., assistive listening devices, microphones, web conferencing tools.
• Ability to thrive in dynamic work environments.
• Flexibility to work a base schedule of 40-hours/week with occasional compensatory time or overtime. Start and end times M-F may vary depending on hours of rotation. Infrequent weekend work depends on the type of rotation.
• Knowledge of broad accommodation options and services for deaf learners.

Bachelor's degree is required.

Master’s degree preferred.

Terri Oehrlein, Assistant Director, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Phone: 608-219-8454 Email: terri.oehrlein@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Angel Cartagena, HR Business Partner

Phone: 608-890-2570 Email: angel.cartagena@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.