The Foreign Language (Spanish) Interpreter works in the Office of Court Interpreting Services in the Special Operations Division of the District of Columbia Courts. The incumbent is a certified court interpreter skilled to interpret court hearings, mediations, conversations, meetings, in-house training sessions, or other required/requested events between English and Spanish.
Summary
The Foreign Language (Spanish) Interpreter works in the Office of Court Interpreting Services in the Special Operations Division of the District of Columbia Courts. The incumbent is a certified court interpreter skilled to interpret court hearings, mediations, conversations, meetings, in-house training sessions, or other required/requested events between English and Spanish.
United States Citizens or individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residency or authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service to work in the United States.
Serves as a Spanish language interpreter (providing simultaneous and consecutive interpretation and sight translation services) in the courtroom and at any other judicial or quasi-judicial event that qualifies for interpreting services.
Provides written translations of official court documents, judicial orders, correspondence, forms, and general public information between English and Spanish.
Assists the Language Access Coordinator in hiring contract interpreters, analyzing cases requiring interpreting services for the purpose of identifying the type of interpreting services required and placing the appropriate type of interpreter in the assignment.
Provides and organizes training programs and conducts orientation workshops for court staff, contract interpreters, and judicial officers.
Speaks fluent English and Spanish with mastery of interpreting techniques to interpret simultaneously and consecutively accurately in court proceedings, conversations, meetings, mediations, or conferences with clarity and precision.
Translates Spanish and English sufficient to render written translations with correct grammar, syntax, and spelling and has in-depth knowledge of legal terminology frequently used in the courts and ancillary agencies.
Determines the appropriate, expedient, and logical course of action in accordance with policies and standard operating procedures of the Office of Court Interpreting Services and the Special Operations Division.
Manages competing priorities and complex projects with multiple deadlines and provides excellent customer service.
Supports the Language Access Coordinator in the overall management of the Language Access Program.
Analyzes, recommends, designs, formulates, and implements new program policies, practices, and procedures.
A background and security investigation is required.
A probationary period of one year is required for all new Court employees.
Ability to speak, interpret, read and write Spanish and English fluently.
Qualifications
Required Education & Experience:
A high school diploma plus eight (8) years of experience providing interpreting services in a court or legal setting between Spanish and English. Must possess Federal Certification or National Center for State Courts Certification as a Spanish/English Court Interpreter.
Ability to speak, interpret, read and write Spanish and English fluently is required.
The incumbent should be an enthusiastic and engaged professional who enjoys working with a diverse group of Court personnel and customers and lives the DC Courts' values of Accountability, Excellence, Fairness, Integrity, Respect, and Transparency.
Education
To qualify based on education, you must upload a copy of your college transcript or degree for consideration. The transcript must show the name of the college or university, your name, degree conferred date, a list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking.
Foreign Education: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must upload a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript at the time of application to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/
Additional information
This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive Federal civil service.
Please note there is a mandatory one year probationary period for all new court employees.
All required information must be received by the vacancy announcement closing date.
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.
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.
This is not a federal position.
The District of Columbia Courts is an independent branch of the District of Columbia Government and is not under the authority of the City Mayor or the D. C. Council. DC Courts' appropriation comes directly from Congress. All DC Courts non-judicial employees receive federal benefits for the following programs: Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Health Insurance and Workers Compensation.
Annual Leave: New full-time employees earn four (4) hours of annual leave biweekly. After three years of service this increases to six (6) hours biweekly, and at 15 years it increases to eight (8) hours biweekly. Most military, federal and District of Columbia government service counts toward the time required to go into the next higher annual leave category. Employees can carry over no more than 240 hours of annual leave into the next leave year.
Sick Leave is used for personal medical needs, care of a family member, or adoption related purposes. Full-time employees earn four (4) hours of sick leave biweekly. This leave can be accrued without limit.
In addition to the federal health plans, the DC Courts offer employees supplemental vision and dental plans as well as a commuter transit benefit subsidy, for a maximum of $150 a month. There are 26 pay periods in the year.
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.
Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure that you meet the basic qualification requirements. Answers submitted in the questionnaire must be supported by your resume. Your resume must reflect the relevant experience and demonstrate that you meet the minimum qualifications, or your application will not be considered.
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.
This is not a federal position.
The District of Columbia Courts is an independent branch of the District of Columbia Government and is not under the authority of the City Mayor or the D. C. Council. DC Courts' appropriation comes directly from Congress. All DC Courts non-judicial employees receive federal benefits for the following programs: Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Health Insurance and Workers Compensation.
Annual Leave: New full-time employees earn four (4) hours of annual leave biweekly. After three years of service this increases to six (6) hours biweekly, and at 15 years it increases to eight (8) hours biweekly. Most military, federal and District of Columbia government service counts toward the time required to go into the next higher annual leave category. Employees can carry over no more than 240 hours of annual leave into the next leave year.
Sick Leave is used for personal medical needs, care of a family member, or adoption related purposes. Full-time employees earn four (4) hours of sick leave biweekly. This leave can be accrued without limit.
In addition to the federal health plans, the DC Courts offer employees supplemental vision and dental plans as well as a commuter transit benefit subsidy, for a maximum of $150 a month. There are 26 pay periods in the year.
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.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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 vacancy questionnaire. Afterward, click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
District of Columbia Courts
500 Indiana Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
US
Next steps
Once your completed application is received, the qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. All applicants will be notified of the final outcome.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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 vacancy questionnaire. Afterward, click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
District of Columbia Courts
500 Indiana Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
US
Next steps
Once your completed application is received, the qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. All applicants will be notified of the final outcome.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
