Interpreter

Summary The position is in the non-European Branch, Interpreting Division of the Office of Language Services of the Department of State. The Division traditionally handles the interpreting assignments in the Federal Government, including service for the President, cabinet members, and congressional leaders. Responsibilities Provides interpreting services as the principal or sole Japanese interpreter for the President and Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and other officials of the U.S. Government at the highest level. Serves as the principal linguistic and terminology authority for the Japanese language in its spoken and written form, alerting the U.S. Government to formulations inimical to U.S. interests and providing acceptable substitute language. 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 and executes attendant follow-up reviews and paperwork. Assists with translating or reviewing of translations, depending on the needs of the Office. Interviews, tests, and may train interpreter-candidates and may be required to develop guidelines for the training of interpreters at lower levels of expertise. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 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 from Japanese into English and from English into Japanese at the senior level of the U.S. Government. Experience interpreting in meetings at the conference level on behalf of senior members of governments, including one-on-ones, bilateral meetings and press events. Experience serving as chief interpreter for a team of simultaneous interpreters at international conferences covering political, economic, social, technical, and scientific matters, leading and giving professional guidance to the team members, in addition to performing the duties of a conference interpreter. 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 PROFICIENCY ON A PASS/FAIL BASIS PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position. Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. 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 [email protected]. 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.