The purpose of this position is to translate documents in claim files from Spanish into English belonging to claimants who are appealing decisions before the Appeals Council or the Federal District Courts seeking benefits under one or more Titles of the Social Security Act and/or several related Acts in DCARO/Office of Appellate Operations, DO, Division of Civil Actions, Translation Branch.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CLOSE WHEN 200 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED (MAY BE SOONER THAN THE CLOSING DATE)
Summary
The purpose of this position is to translate documents in claim files from Spanish into English belonging to claimants who are appealing decisions before the Appeals Council or the Federal District Courts seeking benefits under one or more Titles of the Social Security Act and/or several related Acts in DCARO/Office of Appellate Operations, DO, Division of Civil Actions, Translation Branch.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CLOSE WHEN 200 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED (MAY BE SOONER THAN THE CLOSING DATE)
Translates a wide variety of highly technical claim file material containing complex subject matter such as confidential medical records, evaluation reports involving different medical fields.
Translates legal briefs discussing issues of fact and law, judicial misconduct in administrative hearings, court resolutions, judgments and sentences, contracts between attorneys and claimants.
Translates attorney fee petitions, appointment of representative forms, affidavits, divorce decrees, alimony judgments, proof of income statements, income tax returns, deeds, bills of sale, among many others.
Provides complete, summarized, or partial translations or abstracts of photocopies of articles from foreign language publications such as newspapers, magazines, medical and/or legal journals
(cont'd) covering a broad range of medical, legal, vocational, cultural, and geopolitical issues that have been introduced into the evidentiary record.
Idiomatically translates such documents as sales contracts, birth, baptismal, marriage and death certificates, school transcripts, certifications of employment and wage earnings, letters, and other material from foreign countries
(cont'd) such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Cuba, among other Hispanic countries, relating to technical issues of coverage, wage earnings and benefit entitlements.
Audits and provides voice translation of taped testimonies offered by claimants, their legal representatives, witnesses, and medical/vocational experts, and of examinations conducted by Administrative Law Judges (ALJs),
(cont'd) in order to prepare full transcripts; summaries of portions of the hearing recordings, for in house use; or translation renditions of words, terms or phrases as required.
Post edits, reviews, verifies or corrects translation work previously completed by personnel from field offices,
(cont'd) processing centers, other SSA components and/or Foreign Service posts to ensure consistency, technical accuracy and responsiveness to program and court needs.
Recommends alternative wording to resolve differences relative to the meaning of illegible entries, taking the whole evidence of record into consideration ("Translator Notes") in order to produce an accurate translation of the overall records.
Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
Relocation expenses will not be paid
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
Qualifications
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CLOSE AFTER 200 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED, WHICH MAY BE SOONER THAN THE LISTED CLOSING DATE.
PLEASE NOTE: A writing exercise will be required as a part of the interview process.
To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following:
At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-9, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled which has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes knowledge of medical and legal terminology used in both Spanish and English; experience in translating written materials such as birth certificates, certification of employment, death certificates, medical reports, certifications of treatment and diagnostic medical assessments, court filings, legal briefs, bills of sale, contracts and other legal documents from Spanish into English and vice versa; experience auditing recordings and transcribing them into written form from Spanish to English and vice versa; and experience reviewing and deciphering translations and providing notes and corrections to ensure technical accuracy and proper grammar, syntax, and spelling.
NOTE: To be creditable, experience in translating, interpreting, or other work requiring the use of English and Spanish; or a combination of work (that required English and Spanish) and training at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Service Institute, or comparable training. (In order to be considered, applicants must indicate the month, day, year and the number of hours worked per week for each position held. If this information is not provided, you will be found ineligible.)
OR
A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree studying Spanish from an English-speaking college or university, English from a college or university in a Spanish-speaking country, or translating or interpreting where English and Spanish were prerequisites.
NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate claimed education. Applicants who do not provide a transcript will not be considered.
OR
When combined, graduate education and experience total 100% of the requirements.
NOTE: Transcripts are required to substantiate claimed education. Applicants who do not provide a transcript will not be considered.
Information on this series may be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1000/language-specialist-series-1040/
If you are qualifying on the basis of education or satisfying an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.
Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
Additional information
Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.
This is a bargaining unit position represented by AFGE.
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.
You may attend the Social Security Administration's Open House via MS Teamson June 17, 2024at 10:00AM CST/11:00AM EST until 11:00AM CST/12:00PM EST at the following link: https://msteams.link/6I32
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.
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.
The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include:
Experience writing in English and Spanish.
Experience translating documents such as birth certificates, certification of employment, death certificates, and etcetera from both Spanish to English.
Experience editing Spanish language publications.
Experience translating and/or interpreting written materials from more than one Spanish speaking country using the proper dialect, idioms, and colloquialisms for that country.
Experience evaluating prepared materials or abstracts of published articles to ensure technical accuracy and proper grammar in both Spanish and English.
Experience studying the idiomatic differences in the Spanish language during contact with individuals from more than one Spanish speaking country.
Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12433111
Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:
1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.
2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.
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.
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.
You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.
INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:
proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15)and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.
Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CLOSE AFTER 200 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED, WHICH MAY BE SOONER THAN THE LISTED CLOSING DATE.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume
The Occupational Questionnaire
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 06/21/2024.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact OPE Staffing OAO at OPE.Staffing.OAO@ssa.gov or 410-965-1234.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
DCARO - OAO
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Next steps
Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.
INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:
proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15)and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.
Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CLOSE AFTER 200 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED, WHICH MAY BE SOONER THAN THE LISTED CLOSING DATE.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Resume
The Occupational Questionnaire
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 06/21/2024.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact OPE Staffing OAO at OPE.Staffing.OAO@ssa.gov or 410-965-1234.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
DCARO - OAO
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Next steps
Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
