This position is located in the Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Language Services Division (A/OPR/LS/I). The incumbent serves as a Chinese Interpreter for the President, Vice President, Secretary of State and other government officials at the most senior level. The incumbent interprets public statements at arrival, departure, and other ceremonies, press conferences, private meetings, negotiations and discussions. Additionally, the incumbent provides advice both within and outside the Department on proper language usage; settles disputes and negotiates mutually acceptable terminology with foreign delegations.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• 25% or Greater
• Travel Required.

RELOCATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• This position requires the applicant to pass a Language Proficiency Test.
• One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.

DUTIES:

• Using the consecutive and the simultaneous mode of interpreting at the master level, interprets from and into English and Chinese, mostly in formal situations on predominantly difficult assignments involving high level officials in the Federal Government;
• Providing professional guidance to other Interpreters assigned to meetings or conferences, in addition to performing the duties of a diplomatic and conference interpreter;
• Serving as linguistic, cultural and political advisor to U.S. delegations or representatives; serving as a consultant on methods and technical aspects of consecutive and simultaneous interpreting;
• Interviewing, recruiting, testing and training of interpreter-candidates and contract interpreters for the Office of Language Services.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Must have experience in interpreting (Chinese) into English and English to Chinese.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience in translating, interpreting, or other work requiring the use of
English and the other language; or a combination of work (that required English and the other language) and training at the Defense Language
Institute, Foreign Service Institute, or comparable training.

IN ADDITION, this position requires the following additional specialized experience: 

• Experience using the consecutive and the simultaneous modes of interpreting at the master conference level from and into English and Chinese.
• Experience serving as principal reviewer of Interpreters in the language(s) specified

Please follow this link to see more details on how to APPLY

You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the following four-step application process: STEP 1: Select the "Apply On-line" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS. STEP 2: Submit a detailed resume or any other written format you choose documenting your job-related qualifications, experience, and education (if applicable). Cover letter is optional. If you submit a cover letter, you must also submit a resume. Please see the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Answer the job-specific self-assessment questions on-line through the Gateway to State automated application system. These questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications and experience for this job opportunity. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation, applicable to you, listed in the Required Documents section of this job opportunity to the Department’s automated application system "Gateway to State" prior to the closing date of this announcement. For instructions on how to view the status of your supporting documentation, please click here. If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package by fax. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, at least two working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.