Job Description

The Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE) is seeking a full time Staff Interpreter/ASL Lab Coordinator to provide federally mandated accommodations within the department: deliver interpreted ASL messages to faculty and staff with cultural and linguistic equivalence expected in higher education settings, while monitoring for comprehension and feedback, and Provide spoken English to non-ASL users with cultural and linguistic equivalence expected in higher education settings while monitoring for comprehension and feedback. Work as team with second interpreter, as needed. This position works closely with faculty and staff to facilitate communication access via ASL and English across a wide variety of situations. Additionally, this position will also serve as the coordinator for the ASL Lab activities in the department and will be available in a limited capacity to provide interpreting services for the college and campus.

Provides leadership-level ASL interpreting and coordination of ASL interpreting services within the department and in a limited capacity to the college, including providing federally mandated interpreting, scheduling that is aligned with institutional accessibility standards. Responsibilities involve interpreting, decision making related to interpreting services, coordination with multiple stakeholders, and oversight of service delivery. This position works closely with faculty and staff to facilitate communication access via ASL and English across a wide variety of situations.

• Ability to engage in language perception, comprehension, translation and production operations to create an effective and accurate interpretation of the source message for the target audience.
• Utilize academic register and discipline-specific language to convey concepts expressed in American Sign Language or spoken mainstream English for in-person academic lectures, department/college meetings, research discussions, classroom discussions (including virtual/remote work, if requested), community events, faculty-student advising sessions and the like.
• Work as a designated interpreter for Deaf Studies faculty team.
• Demonstrate capability and willingness and to work both collaboratively and interdependently as a member of an interpreting team to accomplish the participants' goal of message and dynamic equivalence.
• Request and actively seek additional deaf and hearing interpreter team members as needed for assignments or if there are multiple requests that need to be filled .
• Troubleshoot any issues that arise in interpreted situations and debrief with faculty and staff.
• Must use independent judgment to ensure access and resolve problems in the moment:
• Take in interpreter requests from department members and coordinate interpreting schedule.
• Provide ASL interpreting coordination for relevant department activities and events.
• Participate in professional learning; support ASL curriculum and program development; working with faculty to support the planning of activities and events for the academic year.
• Position will be available when possible to assist the college with interpreting needs when requested.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate field experience; Registry of interpreters of the Deaf (RID); Certification of BEI Master level
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience as an ASL interpreter or 8 years experience in lieu of bachelors degree. Demonstrated adherence of NAD-RID's Code of Professional Conduct

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Highly proficient American Sign Language skills as demonstrated by RID certification or BEI Master or Level V certification as an ASL Interpreter or Advanced Plus rating on SLPI or Level 4 on ASLPI.

  • Knowledge of Deaf culture and the process of interpretation.

  • Excellent listening skills and demonstrated ability to identify essential components of information presented.

  • Ability to work comfortably in an academic setting with diverse populations. Knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications, Google Docs/Google Drive, and Zoom.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s Degree
• Experience: Experience Interpreting in higher education settings with faculty and staff.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Knowledge of academic vocabulary.
  • Knowledge of learning management systems
  • Knowledge of Canvas.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Onsite, Hybrid, or Remote : This will be a hybrid position requiring on campus work with some remote work.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR07
• Anticipated hiring range: $60,000-$65,0000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before March 16th, 2026.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division

The Department of Theory and Practice in Education includes 75+ full-time faculty (37 tenure track), 20 academic programs housed in 3 distinct units, and 8 research and outreach centers reporting to the department. The department provides undergraduate majors in education and audiology and speech pathology, deaf studies, and special education with multiple minors offered. The graduate programs offered are a Master of Science with five concentrations and several specializations, an EdS, or Specialist in Education, and a PhD with three concentrations and several specializations. The mission of TPTE is to benefit local, regional, national, and global communities by conducting research, preparing teachers, and engaging in outreach.

Additional Information on all postings provided by UTK

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!