Sign Language Interpreter

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency • Saint Louis, MO

2d

About The Position

Sign Language Interpreters facilitate communication with Deaf and hard-of-hearing employees in a variety of settings using a wide range of interpreting techniques. They advocate for the provision of interpreting services and for the interpreting profession, and may administer interpreting services programs.

At NGA, the interpreter will facilitate communication for Deaf and hard-of-hearing employees across complex, intelligence-related settings. Working within the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the Reasonable Accommodation: Sign Language Interpreters Branch, the selectee will serve as a primary interpreter, a subject matter expert on reasonable accommodations, and a key administrator for the agency’s Sign Language Interpreting (SLI) Services Program. The position includes ASL/English interpretation and transliteration, program scheduling and administrative support, contract oversight support, workforce education, accommodation resolution, and travel locally and globally (CONUS and OCONUS) up to 25% of the time.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
• Must undergo a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination and drug testing; employees may be subject to periodic random examinations.
• Must meet NGA fitness-for-employment standards and complete a trial period.
• Experience interpreting between ASL and English in a variety of subject matters in compliance with the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct.
• Experience conducting pre-assignment preparation, including assessing assignment logistics, reviewing specialized ASL vocabulary or subject-matter materials, and/or accommodating individual consumer communication modes.
• Experience collaborating effectively with Deaf consumers, teams, and/or organizational stakeholders.
• Knowledge of American Deaf Culture and linguistic variations within the signing community to ensure accurate, context-appropriate, and culturally sensitive interpretation.
• At least 6 years of experience facilitating communication with Deaf and hard-of-hearing employees or in a related area demonstrating the ability to perform the job duties.
• One of the following credentials: Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Professional Interpreter Certification; National Association of the Deaf (NAD) proficiency level 4 or 5; or Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Advanced or Master Certification.
• May require state licensure.
• Physical ability to stand for prolonged periods and sit for prolonged periods.
• Near visual acuity of 20/40 or better, with or without corrective lenses.
• Hearing of 25 dB or better, aided or unaided, for frequencies of 250–4000 Hz.
• Ability to use both hands and arms repetitively.
• Far visual acuity of 20/40 or better binocularly, with or without corrective lenses.

Nice To Haves

• Experience evaluating customer requests, documenting technical or operational communication-access requirements, and advising stakeholders on appropriate language-access accommodations.
• Working knowledge of federal disability access laws and policies, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and reasonable accommodation processes within an agency or large institutional EEO framework.
• Experience demonstrating flexibility and adaptability during shifts or changes in crisis situations.
• Experience interpreting dense, highly specialized, or acronym-heavy technical discourse.
• Experience delivering remote interpreting on enterprise video platforms and coordinating accessibility technologies such as CART, captioning workflows, and Section 508 standards.
• Experience performing administrative, program coordination, or operational support duties, such as contributing to agency-wide workgroups, supporting office operations, participating in committees, or engaging in interdisciplinary project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide American Sign Language (ASL)/English interpretation and transliteration for NGA employees during meetings, training sessions, conferences, and other work-related situations.
• Assist with the daily provision of interpreting services, including scheduling support, resource coordination, and general administrative support for the SLI Services Program.
• Monitor contract interpreter performance in coordination with the Government Point of Contact (GPOC), Program Manager (PM), and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
• Develop and deliver training materials for the NGA workforce regarding the SLI Services Program.
• Advocate for the interpreting profession.
• Assist the EEO in identifying and resolving accommodation issues in partnership with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
• Travel locally and globally (CONUS and OCONUS) up to 25% of the time to support mission requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed