Department of State

Translator

Washington, District of Columbia Full time

Translator

Department: Department of State

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $121785 - $158322 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in the Office of Management, Executive Office, Office of Language Services (M/EX/LS). The Translating Division prepares diplomatic translations in over one hundred language combinations, both into and out of English, as required by the Department of State, the White House, and, under special or general support agreements, other Federal Government agencies. The workload ranges from diplomatic correspondence and treaty texts to financial, legal, and scientific documents.

Major Duties:

  • Serves as a reviewer at international conferences, assuming full responsibility for all texts translated into the French language, ranging over a wide spectrum of specialized subjects.
  • Translates, between French and English, a wide variety of documents, including diplomatic correspondence, treaties, laws, court records, presentations, and technical and financial reports.
  • Reviews and edits translations prepared by staff and contractor colleagues and provides feedback on proposed changes.
  • Compares between the English and French language texts of treaties and international agreements and drafts memos citing substantive and non-substantive discrepancies between the two.
  • Finalizes translations using a variety of electronic formats, including word processing, briefing slides, spreadsheets, web-based applications, or Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tools.

Qualifications: Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 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 translating from English into French and French into English, a wide variety of documents, types, and subjects, in a variety of formats, for example, diplomatic correspondence, laws, memoranda, speeches, position papers, training materials, presentations, and technical and financial reports. Experience reviewing translations to ensure accuracy, completeness, correct grammar and spelling, consistency, proper formatting, and appropriate terminology and register. Experience researching terminology and subject matter encountered in translation assignments, using online resources, dictionaries, glossaries and references, as well as terminology databases and consultations with subject matter experts. Experience using computer assisted technology tools such as SDL/Trados Studio Freelance or Professional, MemoQ, WordFast, Déjà Vu, OmegaT or equivalent. THE FOLLOWING SELECTIVE FACTOR IS REQUIRED: Must have experience in translation of French into English. The following are examples of work in the required language that may have provided the required abilities: translator; interpreter; librarian or information specialist required to make abstracts, screen, index, and scan material; intelligence; writer or editor; international organizational work, such as the Peace Corps, World Bank, United Nations, business, or other organizations; or professor, teacher, or instructor work at the high school or college level that required use of the foreign language. **ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE TESTED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROFICIENCY ON A PASS/FAIL BASIS PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT.** There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

How to Apply: Prepare your application in USAJOBS To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents. During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS. STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section. To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at mgshelp@monster.com or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Alternate Application Procedures If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package. 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 2 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. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-19