Summary
This position functions as an expert Diplomatic Interpreter in the European Branch of the Interpreting Division of the Office of Language Services, Bureau of Administration in the Department of State. The Division traditionally handles the most difficult interpreting assignments in the Federal Government, including service for the President, cabinet members, and congressional leaders.
Duties
- Provides simultaneous and consecutive interpreting service at the expert level between English and Spanish in formal and informal settings in support of foreign affairs programs and diplomatic activities.
- Provides interpreting services in diplomatic settings, serving as an interpreter for the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of State and other U.S. Government officials.
- Serves as a member of the Emergency Relocation Group (ERG) provides essential interpreting support during national emergencies.
- Handles complex logistics to perform liaison and coordinating work with officers of the government and private organizations for various engagements such as conferences and negotiation sessions.
- Interviews, tests, and may train interpreter-candidates and may be required to develop guidelines for the training of interpreters at lower levels of expertise.
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
- This position requires the applicant to pass a Language Proficiency Test.
- Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.
Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.
Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
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.
IN ADDITION, this position requires the following additional specialized experience:
- Experience with simultaneous and consecutive interpreting at the conference level Spanish into English and English into Spanish.
- Experience with the contemporary politics, economy, international relations, and the other country or countries in which Spanish is spoken.
- Experience interpreting in meetings at the conference level on behalf of senior members of governments, including one-on-ones, bilateral meetings, and press events.
Must have experience in interpretation of Spanish into English and English into Spanish.
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.
ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE TESTED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROFICIENCY ON A PASS/FAIL BASIS PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT.
There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position
Education
Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.
Additional information
- For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov.
- If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume will be conducted and compared against your responses to the assessment questions to determine if you are qualified for this job. Note: Responses to questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement, will be assigned to one of three quality categories:
- Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of the required competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) for the position.
- Well Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in some but not all of the required competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities) for the position.
- Highly Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must fully demonstrate proficiency in all of the required competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) for the position.
- Ability to interpret between English and one of the foreign languages listed in this announcement.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in English and in one of the listed foreign languages.
- Ability to complete several translation assignments simultaneously, under time-related and other constraints and according to instructions.
- Skill at evaluating interpreting tests.
- Knowledge of source language, with particular attention to the written languages.
Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never been a Federal employee, you are not CTAP or ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category for this position and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement to receive consideration for selection priority.
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