Interpreter-Spanish (Language Specialist)
US Executive Office for Immigration Review
Duties
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Performs the full range of court interpretation duties consisting in large part of consecutive and simultaneous interpretation that is factually and conceptually accurate without changes, omissions, or additions, from and into Spanish and English for the Immigration Judges, non-citizens, attorneys, and alien representatives during all types of immigration proceedings, including, but not limited to individual calendar hearings on the merits of each case, master calendar hearings (pleadings), and bond hearings.
- Provides expertise in terminology, dialects, idioms, colloquialisms, and inflections.
- Stays abreast of developments, conditions, situations, and sensitive information (e.g., intelligence reports, State Department alerts, etc.) in the various countries and areas of the world which impact on the non-citizens' cases to ensure and facilitate accuracy in interpreting difficult subject matter and sensitive information.
- Translates the full range of legal, technical, and general material and information received or issued by the Immigration Court and any other EOIR component regardless of difficulty.
- Performs intensive research to determine fine shades of meaning on highly specialized terminology in order to select and express the most appropriate specialized word or phrase to present and preserve the intent of the original source language.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
- Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
- Probationary period will apply.
- May be required to file a Financial Disclosure.
- Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
- Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- Regarding vaccinations for COVID-19 (see Additional Information section)
Qualifications
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, performing all of the following duties:
- Interpreting both consecutively and simultaneously in Spanish and English on a variety of topics in a judicial setting;
- Utilizing a broad range of vocabulary to include legal terminology and subject-specific terminology in both English and Spanish;
- Translating legal, technical, and general material for legal proceedings; and
- Researching new subjects, developments, and terminology to prepare for legal proceedings.
Proficiency/Interpreting Examination: All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be tested for language proficiency in English and Spanish, their ability to interpret in the consecutive and simultaneous modes, and in sight translation. Applicants must obtain a minimum passing score of 70 on the test. The proficiency/interpreting test will be administered virtually or in-person by ICA Language Services. ICA will contact the applicants and will provide written test instructions and computer hardware/software requirements at the time of test scheduling.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Alternative work schedule options may be available. Tour of duty may include Saturdays and Sundays.
Note: This is a Competitive Service position; additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.
Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria and must submit proof of eligibility for the special selection priority. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here.
Active Duty Service Members expected to be released or discharged from active duty service may submit a written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Without this documentation, you will not receive tentative veterans' preference and your application will be evaluated based on the job application materials submitted. Veterans' preference must be verified prior to appointment.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
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 and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.
Applicants applying under Delegated Examining (all U.S. citizens) procedures will be rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your score may be lowered and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, and you pass the Proficiency/Interpreting Examination, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles. Candidates placed in the "Best Qualified" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager for further review and consideration.
You will be rated based on the following knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) or competencies:
- Legal, Government and Jurisprudence
- Planning and Evaluating
- Technical Competence
Proficiency/Interpreting Examination: All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be tested for language proficiency in English and Spanish, their ability to interpret in the consecutive and simultaneous modes, and in sight translation. Applicants must obtain a minimum passing score of 70 on the test. The proficiency/interpreting test will be administered virtually or in-person by ICA Language Services. ICA will contact the applicants and will provide written test instructions and computer hardware/software requirements at the time of test scheduling.
Those that pass the language proficiency exam will have their score combined with the assessment questionnaire for a combined final score.
NOTE: In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and/or specialized experience that is required. Your resume MUST contain your full name, some form of contact information (phone number, email address and/or living address), and the following employment information:
- Employer name and location for each position held.
- From and to dates (MM/YY-MM/YY or from MM/YY to "present") for each position held. The month and year is required to fully credit your time.
- For part-time positions, please include number of hours worked per week, positions that do not include this information will be assumed as full-time (40 hours a week).
- Grade/levels held for each federal position. (Ex. GS-11; IR-06; FV-G; etc.)
- Detailed descriptions of experience under each position held. (Applicants must provide specific supporting examples to show that they meet the qualifications of the position shown in the announcement.)
- Any submitted documents not required or requested for this vacancy will not be considered (i.e. training certificates, case filings, letter of recommendations, etc.).
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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes:
1. Your Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. (Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section)
2. A complete initial Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable to you:- Transcripts, if qualifying based on education. (Must include your name, college name and address, courses, dates attended, major and degree, cumulative grade point average (GPA), any honors received, and date the degree was awarded/conferred.)
- CTAP/ICTAP documents (Please see the Additional Information section)
- Veterans' Preference and documents: (DD214 MEMBER-4 copy, SF-15, and required documentation that is acceptable proof of your claim for preference.) If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you claim on your resume. You must submit a DD214 Member-4 Copy,"Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and separation under honorable conditions. If you are entitled to veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, award of the Purple Heart, or derived preference, you must submit an SF15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference," and required documentation that is acceptable proof of your claim for preference. (e.g. An official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying the veteran's service-connected disability and combined disability rating.) For more information on Veterans' Preference click here.
- Schedule A: To be considered for a Schedule A appointment, you must submit proof of your disability. This proof may be in the form of documentation obtained from licensed medical professionals, state or private vocational rehabilitation specialists, or any Government agency that issues or provides disability benefits. You must submit valid documentation regardless of the date of determination of your disability. Proof of disability documentation needs to specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history or need for accommodation. To view sample Schedule A proof of disability letters click here.The Schedule A letter must be separate from any Veterans' Preference documentation.
- Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries above are an approximation.
COVID- 19 Additional Information: The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Some jobs, however, may be subject to agency- or job-specific vaccination requirements, so please review the job announcement for details. To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the federal government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply.How to Apply
You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire, which can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11938877.
- Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
- It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
- To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact EOIR@opm.gov
You must submit a complete application by the close of the announcement.
Agency contact information
Midwest Services Branch
Phone
8164265706
Email
EOIR@opm.gov
Address
Office of the Chief Immigration Judge
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
USNext steps
You will be notified of your application status during the hiring process, as applicable. You may check your application status by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking "Application Status". The process may take up to 6 weeks.
The four points of notification are:- Application Received or Application Incomplete
- Minimum Qualification Requirement Met/Not Met
- Eligible (Application Referred) or Ineligible (Application Not referred)
- Selected or Not Selected
- Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview. You will receive notice via email once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes:
1. Your Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. (Please see the How You Will Be Evaluated section)
2. A complete initial Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable to you:
- Transcripts, if qualifying based on education. (Must include your name, college name and address, courses, dates attended, major and degree, cumulative grade point average (GPA), any honors received, and date the degree was awarded/conferred.)
- CTAP/ICTAP documents (Please see the Additional Information section)
- Veterans' Preference and documents: (DD214 MEMBER-4 copy, SF-15, and required documentation that is acceptable proof of your claim for preference.) If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you claim on your resume. You must submit a DD214 Member-4 Copy,"Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and separation under honorable conditions. If you are entitled to veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, award of the Purple Heart, or derived preference, you must submit an SF15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference," and required documentation that is acceptable proof of your claim for preference. (e.g. An official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying the veteran's service-connected disability and combined disability rating.) For more information on Veterans' Preference click here.
- Schedule A: To be considered for a Schedule A appointment, you must submit proof of your disability. This proof may be in the form of documentation obtained from licensed medical professionals, state or private vocational rehabilitation specialists, or any Government agency that issues or provides disability benefits. You must submit valid documentation regardless of the date of determination of your disability. Proof of disability documentation needs to specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history or need for accommodation. To view sample Schedule A proof of disability letters click here.The Schedule A letter must be separate from any Veterans' Preference documentation.
- Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries above are an approximation.
COVID- 19 Additional Information: The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Some jobs, however, may be subject to agency- or job-specific vaccination requirements, so please review the job announcement for details. To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the federal government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply.
This job is open to
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Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
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Individuals with disabilities
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The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
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Veterans
Clarification from the agency
This position is open to all U.S. Citizens. CTAP/ICTAP; and/or Schedule A Hiring Authority Eligibles may also be considered.
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