Bilingual (English-Vietnamese) Language Access Support Clerk – San Francisco Department of Elections (1404 Clerk)

Department Background

The mission of the San Francisco Department of Elections (Department) is to ensure equitable access to voting and election-related services while conducting free, fair, and efficient elections for the City and County of San Francisco. Department staff work year-round to guarantee that every eligible San Franciscan can easily access safe and barrier-free registration and voting options. The Department continuously improves its election programs to make them more efficient and responsive to the needs of San Francisco voters.

The Department is committed to fostering a workplace environment where employees of all racial and ethnic backgrounds feel respected, valued, and supported in delivering the fairest and most effective services to San Francisco residents. We are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive workplace and providing the training and resources necessary for all employees to succeed in offering equitable services to the community.

Position Description

The Language Access Ordinance (LAO) is a city law ensuring that San Francisco residents with limited English proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access to city services and programs. A recent amendment, adopted on June 11, 2024, lowered the threshold for certifying an LEP language population from 10,000 to 6,000 individuals, making Vietnamese highly likely to qualify for official LAO designation. Once certified, the Department of Elections would be required, beginning in 2026, to provide translated materials and services in Vietnamese, including telephonic interpretation, website text, written notices, and other official communications

To support this requirement, the Department is seeking a dedicated Bilingual (English-Vietnamese) Language Access Support Clerk (1404 Clerk).

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong work ethic and integrity and interact effectively with diverse populations—including community groups, outside agencies, residents experiencing homelessness, individuals involved with the criminal justice system, immigrants, and new citizens. This individual will be skilled in translating, proofreading, and communicating information clearly and engagingly in both Vietnamese and English to various audiences. Familiarity with San Francisco neighborhoods, community outreach experience, and proficiency in common computer programs such as Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat are essential.

In addition to the range of duties assigned to the 1404 job code, the person in this position, reporting to the Publications and Language Access Manager, is responsible for the tasks outlined below:

1. Translate election-related materials, including ballots, voter guides, notices, website content, and outreach materials, into Standard Modern Vietnamese.
2. Review and proofread Vietnamese content to ensure accuracy, clarity, correctness, and cultural appropriateness.
3. Assist all voters including Vietnamese-speaking voters in understanding their voting rights and the electoral process.
4. Provide in-person, telephone, and written assistance to voters including Vietnamese-speaking voters and registrants.
5. Drive to, and conduct outreach to communities including within Vietnamese-speaking communities to promote voter education and participation.
6. Ensure compliance with accessibility standards for all voters including Vietnamese-speaking voters throughout the election cycle.
7. Identify and establish relationships with new partner organizations and media serving San Francisco communities including vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.
8. Present outreach data and metrics clearly in written reports and visual presentations and analyze this data to evaluate effectiveness.
9. Provide general clerical support and assist with other duties and elections tasks as assigned.

Position Schedule, Requirements, and Work Location

This is a Temporary Exempt (TEX) position and is excluded by the Charter from the competitive civil service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 24 months. For details on City and County of San Francisco benefits, refer to the Employee Handbook available at https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Employee-Handbook.pdf. This is an in-person role requiring work onsite at the Department of Elections office and in the field during outreach events. Work schedule is generally Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but may vary depending on the Department’s operational needs. Overtime and weekend work may be required as needed. Overtime is compensated at 1.5 times the hourly rate.

A valid California Driver’s License and a clean driving record are required and will be verified during the screening process. Proficiency in both English and Vietnamese is also essential for this role; candidates will be asked to complete language assessments as part of the interview process, and upon appointment as part of the language proficiency certification process by the Department of Human Resources. Additionally, the position requires the physical ability to lift and transport outreach supplies and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.

Position Salary: $31.0750 to $37.7750 hourly

$64,636 to $78,572 annually

Minimum Qualifications

One (1) year of clerical experience including preparing and maintaining a variety of records and/or documents, filing, use of office equipment, public contact and processing of incoming and outgoing mail.

Substitution:  Completion of an approved City and County of San Francisco Clerical Administrative Training program, or completion of a clerical training program (240 hours), or 15 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of coursework from an accredited college or university may substitute for up to 6 months of required experience.

Desired Qualifications

These qualifications highlight skills and experiences that would help a candidate excel in the role:

1. Strong command of both English and Standard Modern Vietnamese used in government documents, media, and education.
2. Able to distinguish between regional dialects and the standardized form of Vietnamese language.
3. Experience translating written materials and interpreting in real-time between English and Vietnamese.
4. Proven proofreading skills with strong attention details.
5. Previous work with diverse communities including limited-English proficient (LEP) communities.
6. Strong understanding of San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods and community organizations.
7. Prior experience conducting outreach, public education, or voter engagement activities.
8. Familiarity with the electoral process and voting rights laws, particularly in California.
9. Excellent written and verbal communication skills across diverse audiences and platforms.
10. Ability to organize, analyze, and present outreach and voter engagement data.
11. Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity in working with diverse populations.
12. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat.
13. Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
14. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
15. Experience providing customer service in person, over the phone, and by email.
16. Prior experience in a public service or government environment is a plus.

How to Apply

When completing your application on SmartRecruiters, you must:

• Check the boxes in the application that indicate you speak, read, and write Vietnamese.
• Include a resume and a brief cover letter in English and its translation to Vietnamese detailing how you meet the requirements of the job.

To be considered for this position, application and documents must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, November 7, 2025.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or the application process, please contact the Elections Hiring Team at [email protected].

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Carol Isen - Human Resources Director

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.