Position Description:
Introduction:
Ready for an adventure at sea?
Enjoy working in a high functioning team?
Azamara is creating a team of American Sign Language certified Interpreters.
This exciting opportunity will put you and your skills at the forefront of assisting cruise guests.
Together this team will see, hear and share the experiences of a World Cruise with both hearing and vision impaired travelers.
Azamara offers crew members a wide range of privileges and a family feeling for life onboard.
This position will be for 160 days onboard the beautiful Azamara Onward in 2024
What you’ll need to succeed:
American Sign Language certification and experience in both tactical interpretation and sign language.
A heart for hospitality and sharing both the ordinary and extraordinary with people through interpretation.
A personal drive to provide best in class interpretation services.
Strong work ethic and the ability to thrive in a dynamic work environment.
POSITION SUMMARY
Facilitates communication between hearing and deaf or hard of hearing individuals in a global travel setting using American Sign Language and/or other manual sign systems. This includes both tactile interpretation as well as sign language. Serves as a liaison between deaf or hard of hearing guests and crew; and performs related work as required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
To support Azamara Cruises' mission of inspire curious and passionate travelers to spend more time exploring the world with us on our immersive cruises and sustaining an upmarket experience with a destination-driven brand image.
All duties and responsibilities are to be performed in accordance with the Go Further Standards, Safety, ISM/ISO and VMS and Azamara standards, USPH guidelines, and environmental regulations.
Each shipboard employee may be required to perform all functions in various service venues and throughout the ship.
In accordance with Azamara Cruises’ Go Further Standards each employee conducts oneself in a professional and courteous manner at all times. This consists of physical and verbal interactions with guests or fellow shipboard employees and/or in the presence of guest contact and crew areas.
- Provides language interpreter services including both tactile and sign methods.
- Interprets lectures, discussions, announcements, conversations, meetings, events, safety and other spoken word situations using American Sign Language or other manual sign system appropriate for the language and the cultural background of deaf or hard of hearing guests and crew.
- Assists in creating interpreter schedules to cover all individuals requiring services,
- Ensures appropriate intake, advising, retention and follow-up services for deaf or hard of hearing guests.
- Ensures that policies and procedures are compliant with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) .
- Collaborates with onboard and shoreside teams to gain understanding of relevant concepts to better facilitate translation for deaf or hard of hearing guests.
- Works effectively in teams with other sign language interpreters.
- Must be ready, willing, and able to travel world-wide and maintain current passport, visas and other required crew documentation to fulfill position responsibilities.
- Assists in the collection and preparation of documents for guests with identified disabilities.
- Assists in the coordination of services for guests with identified disabilities, including meeting with Hotel Director, Guest Relations Manager, Cruise Director, Lecturers and other guest or crew facing positions as needed.
- Maintains awareness of best practices, emerging trends and new legislation relating to Sign Language/Interpreting functional area.
- Participates in the process for systematic review and evaluation of Sign Language/Interpreting services provided for guests to ensure “best in class” service.
- Working hours will be compliant with International Labor Organization (ILO) regulations and will include morning, afternoon, evenings, holidays and weekends depending on guest requirements and special events.
- Completes duties and responsibilities in compliance with all safety regulations, professional standards, company policies and guidelines.
Uses interpersonal skills and makes sound judgments to decide how duties and responsibilities are completed betweencoworkers, the supervisory chain, and guests/customers.
- Completes all required training and documentation prior to boarding a vessel.
- Supports the values and goals of Azamara.
- Promotes positive morale and teamwork within the Guest Relations department and provides exceptional customer service to guests, fellow crew members, Port Agents and the host locations and countries.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
MOTIVATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
People management responsibilities to ensure optimal performance of the function.
- Takes ownership for achieving results in all areas of accountability, ratings, revenue, and workplace safety, consistently maintaining a positive and proactive attitude.
- Leads by example, serving as a positive ambassador of Azamara and inspiring team members to follow suit.
- Effectively resolves conflicts through clear, fact-based communication, fostering a culture of open and honest dialogue.
Collaborates effectively with colleagues up, down, and across the organization, demonstrating a commitment to teamwork and shared success.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum hiring, language, and physical requirements to perform the job.
Hiring Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Ability to accurately interpret spoken language to sign language and interpret sign in a variety of settings including tours, presentations, lectures, performances and various assignments as scheduled; follow and give oral and written directions; demonstrate sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse population; maintain cooperative working relationships.
- Knowledge of American Sign Language adhere to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct.
- Demonstrated excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills; ability to work in a team environment.
- Demonstrated organizational skills in handling, directing, and prioritizing multiple and assignments/projects and maintaining records.
- Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with guests, crew, ship leaders, vendors and the public.
- Proficient in the use of e-mail, word processing and use of the Internet to access data, maintain records, generate reports, and communicate with others.
- Ability to perform and excel in a highly dynamic environment.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and experience required.
- High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in sign language or interpreting functional area in an educational setting.
- Demonstrated proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL).
- Experience of working effectively in a team environment with a customer service focus.
ADDITIONAL PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- American Sign Language (ASL) certification, through a state Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) or National Registry Interpreter for the Deaf (RID).
REQUIRED CERTIFICATES:
- American Sign Language (ASL)
Language Requirements:
- Ability to speak and sign English clearly, distinctly, and cordially with guests.
- Ability to read and write English to understand and interpret written procedures.
- This includes the ability to give and receive instructions in written, sign and verbal forms and to effectively present information and respond to questions from guests, supervisors and co-workers.
- Ability to speak and sign in other languages preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste and smell.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
- All shipboard employees must be physically able to participate in emergency lifesaving procedures and drills. Full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities are required to receive and give instructions in the event of an emergency including the lowering of lifeboats.
- Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
V. Group is the leading global maritime agency with a pool of 44,000 active seafarers and approximately 3,000 shore colleagues. We represent in excess of 300 global client businesses who have engaged our management services for around 1,000 vessels.
At V. Group, our ambition is straightforward - to drive the transformation of our industry and to be the leading global provider of marine crew supply/management services.
Our values comprise of ‘five C’s’: we Care, we Collaborate, we Challenge, we are Consistent, and we Commit and Deliver, these values are central to our business and remain embedded in to our service output.
We aim to be an industry leader, challenging the parameters of best practice and shaping the future of Marine Operations.
As a strictly compliant global leader in marine services, V. Group will not request any fees or compensation for our services from seafarers. Please be aware of any illegal recruitment services and crewing representatives attempting to act on our behalf.
