Summary You are encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application package. Your application may not receive full consideration if you do not follow the instructions as outlined. This position is located at 500 "D" Street, SW., Washington, DC., within the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Responsibilities Administers and manages the sign language interpretation and transliteration program for the Department, and by special arrangement, assists other agencies of the Federal Government. Serves as American Sign Language interpreter/translator and may be called upon to interpret/transliterate for a wide range of clients, including high-level officials in Governmental and private sector circles. Oversee the preparation, presentation to Agency leadership, submission to the EEOC< and public dissemination of the mandatory EEO Program Status Report (MD-715 Report) Part J (Special Program Plan). Develops training curriculum and provides sign language instruction at the basic, intermediate and advanced levels, including assessing needs, selecting training materials/learning strategies, and conducting and evaluating training Advises on sections 501, 504, and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the American with Disabilities Act, the RID Interpreter Code of Professional Conduct, recruitment sources for people with disabilities, and various communication technologies. Maintains collaborative working relationships with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the Government Accountability Office to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Basic Requirement: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- the appropriate foreign language from an English-speaking college or university, English from a college or university in the other country, or translating or interpreting where English and the foreign language were prerequisites. OR 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. Specialized Experience: GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the next lower level for this position include: a) interpreting and translating material of a highly sensitive nature such as domestic and overseas briefings, contract negotiations, instruction for safety inspectors, office of security/diplomatic security (clearances, interviews, etc.), and highly classified or restricted information; b) analyzing trends in spending and progress towards meeting budgetary objectives to assure funds are used for the purpose for which they were allocated; and c) facilitating communication between hearing and non-hearing individuals within the agency and with external individuals or groups, including interpreting, transliterating, and sight translation duties to enhance understanding and provide opportunities for advancement for Deaf/Hard-Of-Hearing employees. Selective Placement Factor: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placements Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not demonstrate the experience below are ineligible for further consideration. 1. Must have a certification from a professional national certifying organization i.e., Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), National Association for the Deaf (NAD) at least level 4, and; 2. Must have fluent command of the American Sign Language (ASL), Pidgin Signed Language (PSE), and spoken English in order to interpret and transliterate in a diverse and expansive range of subject matter to include complex technical terminology in a variety of fields, including a mastery of simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, transliteration, and sight transliteration techniques from ASL to English and English to ASL. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience relevant to the position's duties to be filled, including volunteer experience. CTAP/ICTAP candidates will be referred to the selecting official if they are found well qualified. Well-qualified means an eligible applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that clearly exceed the position's minimum requirements. In addition, a well-qualified employee must meet the qualification and eligibility requirements of the position, including any medical qualifications, suitability, and minimum education and experience requirements, meet all selective factors (where applicable); meet quality ranking factors and are assigned to the Silver Category or higher Category; be physically qualified with reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position; meet any special qualifying U.S. OPM-approved conditions; AND be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry without additional training. A well-qualified candidate will not necessarily meet the definition of highly or best qualified when evaluated against other candidates who apply for a particular position. Therefore, selecting officials will document the job-related reason(s) for qualification determinations without selective and quality ranking factors. Education This position does not have a positive education requirement. However, you must provide proof of certification as stated below: Additional Information USAID is an independent Federal Government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in the District of Columbia, we operate in more than 100 countries worldwide, playing an active and critical role in the promotion of U.S. foreign policy interests. When crisis strikes, when rights are repressed, when hunger, disease, and poverty rob people of opportunity, USAID acts on behalf of the American people to help expand the reach of prosperity and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. USAID employees and contractors must commit to maintaining a workplace free of sexual misconduct, including harassment, exploitation, and abuse, and adhere to USAID's Counter-Trafficking in Persons Code of Conduct. For information on the effort to counter all forms of human trafficking, including the procurement of commercial sex acts and the use of forced labor, visit http://www.state.gov/g/tip. For more information about USAID, visit http://www.usaid.gov. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill positions if there is an urgent Agency need. If an HR Specialist determines you are among the best-qualified applicants for this position(s), our Office will share your application with multiple hiring managers for consideration. You agree to share your application for similar jobs within USAID by submitting your application to this advertisement. Moving and relocation expenses are not authorized. EEO Policy: EEO Policy Statement. Veterans' Information: Veterans' Preference Advisor. Telework: https://www.telework.gov/. It is the Government's policy not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. USAID will use information about an individual's employment experience only to determine their qualifications and assess their relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: USAID is committed to equal employment opportunity; therefore, reasonable accommodations are available to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Reasonable Accommodation Division in the Office of Civil Rights at [email protected]. Reasonable accommodation decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more about the Reasonable Accommodation Division, please visit our website at: https://www.usaid.gov/careers/reasonable-accommodations.