Translator

Qualifications for Translator Positions (GS-9, GS-11, GS-12)

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: specialized experience, education, or a combination of education and experience.

• Specialized experience: one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level, defined as experience in a Translator position that involved knowledge and skills of techniques in translating documents from Spanish to English and vice versa, including extracting and summarizing information and using AI or CAT tools.
• Education:
  
  Masters or equivalent degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in Translation, Interpretation, Linguistics, Spanish Language, or a closely related field or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Education must be at the graduate level in an accredited institution and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a Translator.
• A combination of experience and graduate level education:
  The combined percentages of education and experience must equal at least 100%. Only graduate level education in excess of the first full year can be used in this calculation. To calculate: total graduate-level hours that exceed 18 semester hours, divide by 18, then add months of qualifying experience divided by 12. The sum must be 100% or more.

To be eligible at the GS‑11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions: specialized experience, education, or a combination of education and experience.

• Specialized experience: one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑7 level, involving advanced techniques in translating documents from Spanish to English and vice versa with accuracy, completeness, and impartiality. This includes producing grammatically correct translations, certifying translations for evidence, transcribing and translating audio/video, providing summary and sight translations, demonstrating knowledge of technical and legal terminology, using AI or CAT tools, and preparing transcriptions with software.
• Education:
  
  Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in Translation, Interpretation, Linguistics, Spanish Language, or a closely related field, or LL.M. if related. Education must be at the graduate level in an accredited institution, demonstrating the requisite knowledge and skills.
• A combination of experience and graduate-level education:
  Combined percentages of education and experience must equal at least 100%. Only education in excess of 2 full years is creditable. Calculate education percentage by exceeding 36 semester hours, divide by 18 or your school’s definition; add months of experience divided by 12; the sum must be 100% or more.

To be eligible at the GS‑12 level, you must possess one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑11 level in Federal Service.

• Specialized experience: one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑11 level, involving expert transcription and translations from live, recorded, and written material across all difficulties and subject matters. Examples include advanced source of information, high-quality transcription, advanced research methods for complex requests, new term application, complex technical and nontechnical translations, testifying in federal court, interpreting in criminal and civil matters, and using AI or CAT tools.

The selective placement factor for this position is professional competence in English and Spanish and certification by the American Translators Association (ATA). Applicants must include a copy of their ATA certification with their application. Failure to provide certification will result in disqualification.