Foreign Language Interpreter (Spanish) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. SOD-2025-0001 Department District of Columbia Courts
Salary $99,200.00 to $128,956.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/17/2025 Close Date 3/31/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


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.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

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.

Duties

Brief description of the major duties:

  • 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.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Background and security investigation are required.
  • A probationary period of one (1) year must be successfully completed.
  • Ability to speak, interpret, read and write Spanish and English fluently.

To qualify for this position, you must submit the following:

  1. Resume
  2. Completed Vacancy Questionnaire
  3. Documentation /Proof of Education (e.g. copy of HS diploma, GED certificate, college transcript or degree)
  4. Copy of Federal Certification (issued by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts), or National Center for State Court (NCSC) Interpreter Certification
  5. List of three (3) professional references

All required documentation must be received by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

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.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

A bachelors degree plus four (4) years of experience providing interpreting services in a court or legal setting between Spanish and English. Documentation of education and certification as Spanish/English Court Interpreter must be submitted with your application or your application will not be considered.

Membership in an interpreting and translation professional associations is highly desirable.


Please note that authorization for the release of your adult criminal record revealing any convictions and forfeitures, and any criminal cases currently pending before the courts are required.  If you are selected for the position, a criminal history records check will be conducted.

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, upload a copy of your college transcript or degree. The transcript must show the name of the college or university, your name, list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking.

Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for District of Columbia Courts employment.  You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.  

Foreign Education: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must upload a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript at 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.

Benefits

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.

Please click on the following for more information about these benefits:

http://www.opm.gov/Insure/health/enrollment/new_employees.asp

The DC Courts leave policy is as follows:

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 minimum qualification requirements. Answers submitted in the questionnaire must be supported on your resume.

Your resume must reflect the relevant experience and that you meet the minimum qualifications or your application will not be considered.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

To qualify for this position, you must submit the following:

  1. Resume
  2. Completed Vacancy Questionnaire
  3. Documentation /Proof of Education (e.g. copy of HS diploma, GED certificate, college transcript or degree)
  4. Copy of Federal Certification (issued by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts), or National Center for State Court (NCSC) Interpreter Certification
  5. List of three (3) professional references

All required documentation must be received by the closing date of the announcement.

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 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.

Agency contact information

S. Juarez
Address
District of Columbia Courts
Moultrie Building
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20001
United States

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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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