Sign Language Interpreters are on the front lines of delivering the best customer service, technical support, administrative services, and management services. They facilitate communication in mission and support fields and provide expertise in the field of interpreting.
Summary
Sign Language Interpreters are on the front lines of delivering the best customer service, technical support, administrative services, and management services. They facilitate communication in mission and support fields and provide expertise in the field of interpreting.
The Office of Reasonable Accommodation Services has an immediate opening for Sign Language Interpreters to provide interpreting and transliterating services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) employees.
The incumbent will:
Provide reasonable accommodations by using American Sign Language (ASL) to facilitate communication between D/deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) ASL users and hearing spoken-English users. Provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and transliterating services; interpret complex subject matter in a variety of classified, highly technical, sensitive and unique situations from polygraphs, high profile platform interpreting and highly technical transliterations to training and informational discussions for various disciplines and personnel to include Engineers, Mathematicians and Computer Scientists. Prepare appropriately for assignments (for example, reading materials ahead of time, researching terminology for technical communications, researching presenter and audience language styles). Interpreters may provide education or consultation to facilitate interactions for employees, associates, and visitors.
- Demonstrate superior working knowledge of the various modalities of American Sign Language (ASL), including, but not limited to, Pidgin Signed English (PSE), and Manually Coded English (MCE).
- Demonstrate superior and accurate interpretation when working between English and ASL sources/targets.
- Exhibit discretion, professionalism, and sensitivity in the workplace.
- Commute to satellite offices during the work day, as required.
- Travel CONUS and OCONUS to provide accommodations as required.
Specialized Tasks:
Working Under Physically Demanding Conditions
- Perform tasks that involve repetitive motions of the fingers, hands, arms, or other body parts
- Stand, walk, or kneel for long durations of time
- Perform physical activities indoors under extreme conditions (for example, heat, cold, dust, clean-room environment)
- Perform physical activities outdoors under all weather conditions
- Travel domestic and internationally for work purposes
Suggest best practice solutions to problems/issues involving the interpreting profession
Maintain accurate and timely accounting of assignments
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.
Qualifications
The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.
RID Certification (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) is required.
Degree in any field is acceptable.
Relevant experience must be in sign language interpretation with a superior working knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL), Pidgin Signed English (PSE), and Manually Coded English (MCE) in order to simultaneously transliterate/interpret in a variety of settings. Senior work level: At least one year of experience interpreting in a Federal Government setting is also required.
FULL PERFORMANCE
Entry is with a HS diploma/GED plus 9 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 years of relevant experience.
SENIOR
Entry is with a HS diploma/GED plus 12 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 10 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or an Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Doctorate degree plus 2 years of relevant experience.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.
Salary Range: $74,678 - $163,514 (Full Performance, Senior)
Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.
Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.
Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).
DCIPS Trial Period:
If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agency's organizational goals; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.
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.
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 candidate must have:
- Valid Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Certification.
- Ongoing adherence to the RID Code of Professional Conduct (CPC).
The ideal candidate should have:
- Minimum of 4 years' experience as a RID-certified ASL Interpreter.
- At least 1 year of experience as an ASL Interpreter in the DOD or Intelligence Community.
- Ability to interpret and/or transliterate highly specialized terminology and adapt to a wide variety of interpreting settings, incorporating new signs as appropriate to facilitate a cryptologic-associated vocabulary.
- Familiarity with STEM content for language translation purposes.
- Demonstrated Accountability, Computer Literacy, Conflict Management, Continual Learning, Decisiveness, Language Processing, Problem-Solving, Safeguarding Information.
- Superior working knowledge of ASL, Pidgin Signed English (PSE), and Manually Coded English (MCE) in order to simultaneously and/or consecutively interpret and/or transliterate in a variety of settings.
- Skill indicating nuances and tones associated with verbal communication in order to accurately convey the intended message.
- Experience with Intranet, Internet, Microsoft Office Suite (Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, PowerPoint, and Excel).
- Valid driver's license (maintain licensure throughout employment).
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.
**VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS**
Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority.
Veterans' Preference
In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application.
Acceptable documentation includes:
- DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4);
OR
- Certification of Service:
A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date;
AND
- Standard Form 15 (SF-15)
Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf).
If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability;
AND
- VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating)
You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/).
**Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.
**VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS**
Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority.
Veterans' Preference
In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application.
Acceptable documentation includes:
- DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4);
OR
- Certification of Service:
A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date;
AND
- Standard Form 15 (SF-15)
Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf).
If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability;
AND
- VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating)
You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/).
**Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.
