Interpreter

Location Type: Not Specified

 

Summary

This position is located in the Department of State, Executive Office for Management, Office of Language Services, Interpreting Division (M/EX/LS/I). The Division traditionally handles the most difficult interpreting assignments in the federal government. This position provides master-level simultaneous and consecutive interpreting between English and Japanese in exceptionally high-level settings.

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Duties

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• Provides simultaneous and consecutive interpreting services between English and Japanese 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 congressional leaders, cabinet members, and other U.S. Government officials.
• 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.
• Plans the assignment of contract interpreters to various projects, executes attendant follow-up reviews and paperwork and assists with translating or reviewing of translations. Advises, interviews, tests, and may train interpreter-candidates.
• Serves as a member of the Emergency Relocation Group (ERG) and provides essential interpreting support during national emergencies.

Requirements

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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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/
• This position requires the applicant to pass a Language Proficiency Test.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 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 Japanese; or a combination of work (that required English and Japanese) 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 Japanese into English and English into Japanese at the senior executive level.
• Experience with the contemporary politics, economy, international relations, and the other country or countries in which Japanese is spoken.
• Experience interpreting in meetings at the conference level on behalf of senior executives, including one-on-ones, bilateral meetings and press events.

THE FOLLOWING SELECTIVE FACTOR IS REQUIRED:

Must have experience in translation of Japanese into English.

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 INTERPRETING SKILLS ON A PASS/FAIL BASIS PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT.**

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

• To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the “Request a Reasonable Accommodation” button within the Assessment Application.

  For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at OAA@state.gov.

  OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests:

  • RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only.
  • Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.
  • Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.
  • Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.
  • Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.
  • Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.
  • If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at OAA@state.gov.
• If eligible, situational 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.
• Veterans: Veterans’ preference points are added to the passing score of candidates eligible for either 10-point or 5-point preference. Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% or more are listed at the top of a certificate regardless of score. Other 10-point and 5-point preference eligible veterans who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed in score order. View information on veterans’ preference on OPM’s Fed Hire Vets website.
• Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM’s CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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 windowLearn 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.