Interpreter (Sign Language)

US Washington Headquarters Services; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) in the Office of the Secretary of War—Human Resources Directorate seeks a qualified professional in language translation and interpretation to support ASL and CASE proficiency requirements and to assist with foreign language program guidance.

You will verify credentials, document specialized experience, and advise on testing, resume length, and veteran/spouse preferences as part of federal hiring procedures.

Qualifications

• Experience using signed languages to interpret/transliterate conversations.
• Ability to document and assess language-related qualifications.
• Resume should reflect hours worked and months of experience.

Skills

ASL

CASE

Interpreting

Education

Bachelor’s or higher in a related field

Job description

This position is located in the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Human Resources Directorate (HRD). HRD provides human resource management support to the Office of the Secretary of War (OSW) and WHS, to include providing guidance to WHS and the Director of Administration (DA) leadership on complex matters such as key operational support and advisory assistance on civilian and military human resources.

Basic Requirement:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- the appropriate foreign language from an English-speaking college or university, English from a college or university in the other country or translating or interpreting where English and the foreign language were prerequisites.

OR. Experience in translating, interpreting, or other work requiring the use of English and the other language; or a combination of work (that required English and the other language) and training at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Service Institute, or comparable training.

The following are examples of work in the required language that may have provided the required abilities: translator; interpreter; librarian or information specialist required to make abstracts, screen, index, and scan material; intelligence; writer or editor; international organizational work, such as the Peace Corps, World Bank, United Nations, business, or other organizations; or professor, teacher, or instructor work at the high school or college level that required use of the foreign language.

Testing Provisions

Agencies may test applicants for foreign language proficiency on a pass/fail basis prior to appointment. Agencies must document the connection between the level of proficiency required and the duties of the position to be filled. Test material for applicants for the same position or grade level should be equally difficult, and should be selected from typical work-related documents.

You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector).

Specialized experience is defined as: experience using the following signed languages to interpret/transliterate conversations, meetings, training sessions, interviews or other special events: American Sign Language (ASL), Contact Sign and Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE).

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages.

For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures:

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist DD-3145-4 dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist DD-3145-3 to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist DD-3145-2 to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist DD-3145-1 to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.