Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all United States citizens.

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Translator, GS-1040-11, you will be responsible for:
• Review and edit Spanish translations to ensure linguistic accuracy, clarity, and alignment with FSA standards, plain language guidelines, and the English–Spanish glossary.    
• Perform quality checks on Spanish customer facing materials, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form (online and PDF), StudentAid.gov pages, publications, forms, emails, videos, and related communications.
• Verify that contractor Spanish translations meet FSA quality, style, and timeline expectations, escalating and resolving issues affecting accuracy or schedule.
• Utilize translation technologies and tools (including updated CAT features and workflow platforms) to improve efficiency, accuracy, and the overall quality of Spanish content.
• Complete user acceptance testing (UAT) for Spanish content (and additional languages when assigned) ensuring all test cases are executed accurately and on schedule. 

As a Translator, GS-1040-12, you will be responsible for:
•  Lead the review and editing of Spanish translations to ensure linguistic accuracy, clarity, and alignment with FSA standards, plain language guidelines, and the English–Spanish glossary.
• Oversee quality checks on Spanish customer facing materials, including the FAFSA form (online and PDF), StudentAid.gov pages, publications, forms, emails, videos, and related communications. 
• Manage the work required to verify that contractor Spanish translations meet FSA quality, style, and timeline expectations, escalating and resolving issues affecting accuracy or schedule.    
• Oversee translation tracking systems and documentation to ensure transparency, accuracy, and timely completion of translation requests. 
• Manage user acceptance testing (UAT) for Spanish content (and additional languages when assigned) ensuring all test cases are executed accurately and on schedule.

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must complete a Background Investigation.

Condition of Employment:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: • your performance and conduct; • the needs and interests of the agency; • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factor
You must meet the following selective placement factor:
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: A selective placement factor is determined to be essential for successful performance in this position. Those candidates who do not meet the following selective placement factor will be rated "not qualified" for the position.

Applicants must be fluent in Spanish, which includes the ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish.

AND

Minimum Qualification Requirements
You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-11, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two.

Specialized Experience for the GS-11
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-09 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1. Experience applying Spanish translation principles, methods, and quality-assurance practices to support translation, review, and editing tasks to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance with plain-language guidelines.
2. Experience coordinating Spanish translation requests and workflows for digital and print materials.
3. Experience in multilingual user acceptance testing (UAT) processes and quality control procedures to execute assigned test cases for Spanish content accurately and within deadlines.

OR

EDUCATION (see EDUCATION SECTION of the vacancy announcement)

OR

A combination of both education and experience in which the total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Knowledge of Spanish translation principles, methods, and quality assurance practices sufficient to conduct comprehensive reviews and edits ensuring accuracy, clarity, and plain language guidelines.
2.    Knowledge of Spanish language proficiency equivalent to that of a native speaker, sufficient to speak, read, and write Spanish at an advanced professional level.
3.    Ability to assist in analyzing contractor-submitted Spanish translations, providing clear corrective guidance, and ensuring final deliverables meet established quality, style, and timeline requirements.
4.    Skill in using translation memory systems, term bases, and computer assisted translation (CAT) tools to update terminology, maintain version accuracy, and support consistent translation outputs across projects.
5.    Knowledge of multilingual user acceptance testing (UAT) processes and quality control procedures sufficient to execute assigned test cases for Spanish content accurately and within deadlines.

Specialized Experience for the GS-12
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of  three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1.  Experience applying Spanish translation principles, methods, and quality-assurance practices to lead translation, review, and editing processes and coordinate translation projects.
2.  Experience utilizing collaborative platforms and workflow tools (e.g., Smartsheet, computer assisted translations (CAT) tools, or workflow platforms) to support tracking, coordination, and communication across cross-functional teams.
3.  Experience managing user acceptance testing (UAT) for Spanish content ensuring all test cases are executed accurately and on schedule.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Knowledge of advanced Spanish translation principles, methods, and quality assurance practices sufficient to conduct comprehensive reviews and edits, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and plain language guidelines.
2.    Knowledge of Spanish language proficiency equivalent to that of a native speaker, sufficient to speak, read, and write Spanish at an expert professional level.
3.    Ability to analyze contractor-submitted Spanish translations, provide clear corrective guidance, and ensure final deliverables meet established quality, style, and timeline requirements.
4.    Skill in using translation memory systems, term bases, and computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools at an expert level to update terminology, maintain version accuracy, and support consistent translation outputs across projects.
5.    Skill in applying multilingual user acceptance testing (UAT) processes and quality control procedures sufficient to execute assigned test cases for Spanish content.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

          1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications

Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements. 

          2. Rating and Ranking

If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications and competencies listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials, and the result of the Monster Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies. 

Non-Supervisory: Oral Communications, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management 

Based on the outcome of this evaluation candidates will be placed into one of three categories.

Under category rating procedures you are placed into one of three categories based on the evaluation results:

Best Qualified -Candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the position’s minimum qualifications, including appropriate quality ranking factors.

Highly Qualified- Candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position’s minimum qualifications.

Qualified-Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are proficient in some but not all of the position’s requirements.

Based on the outcome of this evaluation, your application data may be further assessed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel.  If your qualifications are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

Veterans’ Preference: Veterans’ preference eligibles will be ranked ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category for which they are qualified. Qualified veterans’ preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the Best Qualified category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 grade level or higher. 

     3. Referral and Selection

If you are found to be amongst the best qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.

• Your DD-214 or Statement of Service shows if you qualify for Veterans' Preference, the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 or the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heros Act. We prefer the member 4 copy of your DD-214.
• If you are a disabled veteran and want to claim preference, you must submit a letter on VA letterhead with your overall combined service-connected disability rating.
• Include a performance appraisal as proof of federal employment.
• A separation notification used to determine employment eligibility.
• Your SF-15 shows if you qualify for 10-point Veterans' Preference.
• Your SF-50 shows a federal position you've held, grade level and duty location. Your SF-50 can support position changes, conversions or separation for employment eligibility.
• Transcripts may support your qualifications for a federal job and can include high school, college or other schools.

• • You must submit (REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS): A resume demonstrating your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiating your responses to the occupational questionnaire. Please limit your resume to 2 pages with the font size no smaller than 10 points. If your resume is more than 2 pages, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed and considered for the qualifications determination.

    • Transcript: If you meet the qualification requirements based on education you must submit an unofficial transcript that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, major(s), grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. This also applies to ED employees.
    • If you are claiming Veteran's Preference, you must submit: A copy of your DD-214 that shows active service and character of discharge (Separated Members only); OR A certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days from the date of application (Current Active Duty Members only); AND/OR The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) AND all documents indicated on the form as proof of type of preference; AND/OR Proof of Sole Survivorship Preference (e.g., certificate of death or 100% disability as a result of serving in the armed forces).

    • Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP)?

      • If you are a current or former Federal employee who was displaced (for example, due to a Reduction-in-Force) and want priority consideration, you must submit the documents listed below.
      • Required documents for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration (All are required):
        • RIF as the Nature of Action (Box 5B)
        • Career or career-conditional status (Box 24 must be 1 or 2)
        • Competitive status (Box 34 must be 1)
        • Promotion potential or full performance level of the position from which you were or are being displaced. This is likely your appointment SF-50 for that position.
        • Duty location
      1. Proof that you were displaced, such as Reduction-in-Force (RIF) notice or notice of proposed removal.
      2. SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Action) showing:
      3. Your most recent performance appraisal showing a rating of Fully Successful or higher.
      • Your Federal position at the time you were displaced must be within the local commuting area for a location listed in this announcement. The definition of local commuting area varies based on duty location and hiring agency policy. To receive priority consideration, you must also be found well-qualified, which means you score 75 or higher based on this announcement's assessment rating criteria.

Next steps

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