Language Specialist

Summary For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Learn more about this agency Duties If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing precise and comprehensive interpreting and translating services for a variety of litigative activities. Typical work assignments will include: Serving as an expert source of information to USAO staff regarding the Spanish language at all levels of complexity to include idiomatic expressions, regionalisms, colloquialisms, culturally based expressions, profanities, slang expressions and technical terms; Providing on the record interpretation services for witnesses at court hearings, trials, grand jury sessions and depositions; Providing interpretation services for proffers, debriefs, meetings, case-related activities, and during training sessions and/or community outreach events; Preparing certified translations of court documents; law enforcement reports; accounting/financial documentations; vital records, forensic reports - including autopsies, lab reports; medical reports, etc.; text messages; prison records; treaties, statutes and regulations; high level, very formal official government documents; publications, etc. within tight deadlines; Providing summary and sight translations to AUSAs of documentation received by the office; Reviewing and evaluating transcriptions and translations prepared by third parties; Preparing certified transcriptions and translations of post-arrest interviews, intercepted phone calls, body-wire recordings, Port-of-Entry (POE) videos, immigration court proceedings, jail calls, audio messages, and recorded witness interviews in a fast-paced and challenging environment; Testifying in federal court when challenges are presented to certified transcriptions or translations presented as evidence; and Performing administrative and other related duties as assigned. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or National Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. Qualifications GS-12: To be eligible at the GS-12 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in Federal Service. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience involving expert translations and interpretations from live, recorded and written material without regard to the level of difficulty, subject matter, terminology, dialogue, idioms, colloquialisms, or degrees of inflection from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. Examples of specialized experience may include: interpreting at legal conferences that may include attorneys, defendants, and/or witnesses in which agreements are negotiated, preparing Spanish-speaking witnesses for trials, preparing certified transcription/translations and translations of court documents, law enforcement reports, etc., testifying in federal court when challenges are presented to the certified transcription or translation presented as evidence, providing sight translation to attorneys, and providing Spanish/English and English/Spanish interpretations needed in criminal and civil matters. Selective Placement Factor: A selective placement factor is determined to be essential for successful performance in this position. Those candidates who do not meet the following selective placement factor will be rated "not qualified" for the position. Must be a Federally Certified Court Interpreter by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in the Spanish language. You must include a copy of your certification with your application package, or you will be disqualified from consideration. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Additional information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Expand Hide  additional information 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 Review our benefits