Job Description Summary:

COMET is seeking a skilled Spanish translator to help bring its world-class Earth science education and training materials to Spanish-speaking meteorologists and Earth science professionals globally. This casual role supports the translation and localization of COMET's multimedia content, including web-based lessons, training guides, videos, narrations, and imagery, from English into Spanish, and facilitates translation into additional languages as needed. Core responsibilities include translating content in native formats and Translation Memory (TM) environments, maintaining and updating the COMET English-Spanish Glossary, preparing final translations for publication, and contributing to the MetEd Spanish website (one of the primary platforms through which COMET's training reaches the international meteorological community).

COMET creates customized learning experiences and technology solutions for the Earth sciences enterprise and was developed by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, instructional designers, graphic artists, multimedia developers, and IT and administrative professionals working in close collaboration with our partners. Our mission is to advance the weather, water, and climate fields through scientifically robust, accessible, and impactful education, training, and innovative tools. Our vision is a world of educated, resilient communities with the expertise and resources to understand, predict, respond to, and adapt to environmental hazards.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Part time, Casual

Hourly Rate Range:

$29.83/hr - $37.29/hour

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Notes

This position will be posted until 11:59:59 pm MT on Wednesday, May 27. Applications will not be accepted past this date.

Required application materials: 

• Resume (preferably in PDF Format)

• Questionnaire (to be completed when submitting your application)
  In lieu of a traditional cover letter, answer the following prompts that address the critical skills needed for this position. Your answers will be read and weighed equally to your Resume/CV and should provide specific, detailed, and informative responses based on your direct and previous work experiences. Please keep responses to 1-3 paragraphs.

  • Please describe your experience and proficiency doing spanish translation work.

Background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.

Work Location Expectations:  This position is open to candidates seeking in-person, hybrid (combination of 3 days in-person and 2 days of remote), or fully remote opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

Position Type & Term: This is a casual, part-time position.

*Casual employees may not work in excess of 1,000 hours in any 12-month period.

What You Will Do

Here is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Spanish Translation

• Translates COMET publications (i.e., primarily web-based, multimedia content on a variety of technical and scientific topics for meteorologists and Earth sciences professionals) from English into Spanish, including web-based multimedia lessons, training guides, job aids, digital images, animated sequences, videos, narrations, reference materials, and related assets.

• Contributes to a list of Spanish terms for each project and updates COMET’s English-Spanish glossary of hydrometeorological and other scientific terms as needed; researches concepts and terminology as needed.

• Edits/reviews other Spanish translations, sometimes by volunteers or outside groups, for completeness, proper syntax, grammar and terminology, consistency with the English original, and appropriateness for speakers of Spanish from multiple regions.

• Supports social media posts and responds to user questions and queries in Spanish, as needed.

• Translates, edits, proofreads, and evaluates materials for other UCAR/NCAR entities when available.

Technical Implementation

• Collaborates directly with members of COMET’s graphic design and web development team to build and edit translated publications for MetEd and COMET websites, provide input on translation-related issues, corrects linguistic and technical issues identified in the original English publications, and addresses technical issues related to linguistic problems on MetEd and the underlying learning management system (LMS).

• Evaluates translated materials for correct functionality and formatting on MetEd website, and consults with technical staff to find solutions, as needed.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

• Associate’s degree in English, Spanish, translation studies or physical science;

• 3 years of translation experience; 

  • OR a bachelor’s degree in English, Spanish, translation studies or physical science, plus 0 to 2 years of translation experience; 

    • OR an equivalent combination of education and work experience. 

Desired, but not required:

• Experience managing or coordinating translation or multilingual content projects.

• Experience with multimedia development, graphic design, or illustration in support of translation or localization efforts.

• Familiarity with HTML editing tools (e.g., Dreamweaver) and/or graphic editing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop).

• Experience working with learning management systems (LMS).

• Experience developing translation, multimedia, or localization standards and guidelines for multilingual projects.

• Experience leading or coordinating translation activities with translators, vendors, or project partners.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Native-level fluency in both Spanish and English, with the ability to develop and adapt content for Latin American audiences while recognizing the global reach of web-based materials.

• Demonstrated ability to translate, edit, proofread, and write technical and scientific content in Spanish.

• Ability to understand and communicate complex scientific concepts, particularly related to meteorology, hydrology, and environmental sciences.

• Experience working with a variety of digital content formats, including text, graphics, multimedia, animations, and video.

• Proficiency with common productivity and translation tools, including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Translation Memory (TM) platforms such as MemoQ or Trados Studio.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Commitment to Job Application Fairness

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

Some Final Considerations

At NSF NCAR| UCAR | UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science  problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations and work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

AI Software

ChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing the way society receives, processes, and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications, we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.