Interpreter (Sign Language)

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement:

BASIC REQUIREMENT: (IOR): 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.

AND
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

EDUCATION/SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: In addition to basic requirement, to be eligible for this position, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
Experience with English, American Sign Language (ASL), Contact Variety Sign (CVS) and Manually Coded English (MCE) to perform Sign-to-English and English-to-Sign interpretation; experience with the interpreting processes to determine the most effective means of communication for each Deaf/Deaf-blind/hard of hearing employee; experience in the development of training curriculum and utilizing current methods and materials in the instruction of sign language courses; experience with the use of telecommunication devices, assistive listening devices and other related technology for Deaf/Deaf-blind/hard of hearing employees; experience using the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) in order to maintain ethical standards for professional interpreters; experience working with sources and procedures for contracting sign language interpreter services; and effective written and oral communication skills.

Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes, interpreting for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals in meetings or trainings; Coordinating the schedules efforts with Authorized Government Representatives to include, making necessary arrangements of in-house and/or contracted interpreter services, tracking hours, following up on confirmation of services and allocation of funds. Assisting with the development and implementation of training for sign language instruction for employees; and Identifying barriers and resolving communication problems between supervisors, coworkers and Deaf/Deaf-blind/hard-of-hearing employees. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes, interpreting for deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals in meetings or training; Pre-Assignment coordination by determining logistics and purpose of interaction for all parties involved. Identifying barriers to a successful interpretation and use of professional norms such as Demand-Control Schema to mitigate these barriers. Conducting formal and informal educational programs for hearing management and staff concerning issues related to deaf/deaf-blind/hard-of-hearing individuals, Deaf culture, and related language access issues. Advising supervisors of deaf/deaf-blind/hard-of-hearing employees on policies and practices that could have an adverse impact.
OR
EDUCATION: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Sign Language Interpreting or related field of study.
OR
Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree in Sign Language Interpreting or a related field of study.
OR
LL.M, if related.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education.



For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.