Language Specialist

at  US Drug Enforcement Administration

ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION:

A. Length of Tour: The initial tour of duty for this assignment is 3 years. Employees are limited to a maximum of 5 years of service in an overseas assignment. After the initial tour of duty has been completed, extensions may be granted in one-year increments up to the six-year maximum. Employees who wish to remain on an overseas assignment in excess of the six-year maximum must request a tour extension or renewal before the end of their current assignment. Employees who are approved to extend their overseas assignment beyond the six-year maximum will forfeit the right to return to an office of preference. They will be placed in an appropriate position at a DEA domestic office where a vacancy exists.
At the conclusion of an overseas tour, DEA will attempt to return employees to their home location. If such a placement is not possible, employees’ office of preference lists will be considered. However, employees are reminded that assignments are determined based on the needs of DEA.
B. Rest & Recuperation: 2
C. Post (Cost of Living) Allowance: None
D. Post (Hardship) Differential: 10%
E. Danger Pay Allowance: 15%
F. Relocation Incentive: None
G. Educational Allowances*: Yes, see below
H. Housing: Housing paid for by U.S. Government. Bogota is a furnished post.
I. Language Requirement: None

J. Home Leave: Allowed after the initial 24 months incident to tour renewal.

• Post (Cost of Living), Post (Hardship) Differential, and Danger Pay rates (if applicable to the advertised post) are subject to change. Detailed post (cost of living) information can be found here. Detailed post (hardship) differential information can be found here. Detailed danger pay information can be found here and here.

Please review https://intranet13.shpt.sbu.dea.doj.gov/sites/hr/special-agent-resources/Pages/Overseas-Advertisements-Information.aspx for the “Prospective Post Priorities Worksheet”. This worksheet, along with the post report, will help you consider what’s important to you/family in the decision process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Selective Placement Factor.
This position requires a Selective Placement Factor. Selective Placement Factors are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of a particular position. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is a demonstrated Spanish language aptitude with proof of certification from an independent outside source with at least a satisfactory working proficiency level or higher in the areas of speaking and comprehension.
GS-07: Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level Federal grade level in interpreting meetings, conferences, translating notes and providing reports. Translating communications such as letters and memoranda. Listens in on telephone conversations and take notes in shorthand.
GS-09: Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 Federal grade level in translating, interpreting, or performing 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. The following are examples of work in the required language that may have provided the required abilities: performing translations and/or interpretations from Spanish language into English or English into Spanish language with accuracy; translating notes and other written documents; and preparing official records and correspondence; or
Master’s or equivalent graduate degree; or
2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or
LL.B. or J.D., if related or a combination of experience and education.
Click on the following link to view occupational requirements for this position:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1000/language-specialist-series-1040/
Applicants must meet the AND Specialized Experience requirements as noted below. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying specialized experience. Specialized 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, including volunteer experience.

ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Training Requirements: Selectee(s) for this position must successfully complete five mandatory foreign assignment courses on DEALS: Serving Abroad for Families and Employees (SAFE); Personnel Recovery 1 (PR1); Foreign Orientation Program (FOP); Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT) and Promoting International Religious Freedom (PIRF). Selectees must also successfully complete Personnel Recovery Emergency Preparedness (PREP), a two week in-person course conducted by the DEA Office of Training in Stafford, Virginia and West Virginia. Selectee’s family members 18 years of age and older are also required to take CTAT and may have additional training requirements if they intend to work at an embassy abroad. More information regarding training requirements can be found here

EDUCATION

K-12 Education: Education of dependents through high school is provided by, or paid for by, the U.S. Government as allowable and authorized in accordance with appropriate regulations. The Department of State’s (DOS) Regional Education Officer from the Office of Overseas Schools determines a school’s adequacy level based upon numerous factors. All questions and concerns regarding school’s adequacy clarification should be directed to the Regional Education Officer from the DOS’ Office of Overseas Schools at 202-261-8200. Any questions regarding Education Allowances for K-12 may be directed to DEA’s Operations Budget Foreign Unit (OMBI) at EDA.SNA.REQUESTS@dea.gov .
Additional Note: Dependents (under the age of 23), who are enrolled in college, are allowed one round trip to overseas location each 12 months.
Preparing to Transition Overseas: Please contact DEA Family Liaison Officers, Kieran Mandato (Kieran.g.mandato@dea.gov) or N’Dorah Z. Walker (ndorah.z.walker@dea.gov) for post reports.
This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.
If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

• How to Apply

To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the “Required Documents” section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply.
2. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the “Required Documents” section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required.
3. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package.
4. Complete the assessment questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply:
5. Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application.
We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Writing Video Tutorial.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations or how to contact an agency.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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.
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DUTIES

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

As a Language Specialist your typical work assignments may include:

• Interprets from and into English, using the consecutive and the simultaneous technique, often in formal situations, on assignments involving high officials of the Federal Government or foreign governments.
• Is routinely assigned as chief interpreter at the site of a meeting or conference staffed by additional interpreters.
• Responsible for translating reports from Spanish to English ensuring contents of all accounts on incidents are grammatically and idiomatically correct.
• Occasionally serves as escort interpreter for high-ranking foreign leaders during meetings of particular difficulty or sensitivity. When required, prepares the official record or transcript of restricted or classified meetings, especially when, apart from the principals, no other U.S. official or note-takers are present.
• Assists with translating or reviewing translations and provides assistance with interpretations consisting of dialects, colloquialisms, etc.