Federal

Translator GS-1040-11/12, FPL-12 (DE only)

Federal Student Aid · Department of Education
📍 San Francisco, California GS-11/12 $75,897 - $145,468/yr
Posted: May 4, 2026 Deadline: May 13, 2026

About This Position

This position is located in Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), Office of Institutions of Higher Education Oversight & Enforcement, in Washington, DC. The Office of Institutions of Higher Education Oversight & Enforcement is responsible for administering the federal financial aid programs under Title IV of Higher Education Act of 1965.

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.

  1. Experience coordinating Spanish translation requests and workflows for digital and print materials.
  2. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. Knowledge of Spanish language proficiency equivalent to that of a native speaker, sufficient to speak, read, and write Spanish at an expert professional level.
  5. Ability to analyze contractor-submitted Spanish translations, provide clear corrective guidance, and ensure final deliverables meet established quality, style, and timeline requirements.
  6. 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.
  7. Skill in applying multilingual user acceptance testing (UAT) processes and quality control procedures sufficient to execute assigned test cases for Spanish content.

Major Duties

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

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.

Education

(GS-11) Ph.D.

OR

equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related or A combination of specialized experience and education that when taken as a percentage of the required education and experience total 100% or more. Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, please click Foreign Education.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

Veterans' Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email [email protected] to schedule a session with a career counselor (“Veterans Counseling Session” should be placed in the subject line of the email). Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education.

If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment. Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check. Essential/Non-Essential: This position is considered non-essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.

Financial Disclosure: This position does not require financial disclosure. Bargaining Unit: This position is included in the bargaining unit (American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252). Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized.

We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency. Structured Interview: 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 that you complete a Spanish translation assessment/exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.

How to Apply

Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. Step 2: Create a resume using the USAJOBS resume builder or upload a resume into your USAJOBS account. Ensure that your resume demonstrates your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiates your responses to the occupational questionnaire.

Step 3: Upload any required documents into your USAJOBS account (must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX)). Step 4: Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire and attach any required documents. Verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the agency's hiring system.

You will have the opportunity to upload any additional required documents in the agency's hiring system.

Click “Finish” to submit your application.

NOTE: You may update your application or required documents at any time while the announcement is open by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking on "Application Status," clicking on the position title, clicking "Update Application,” and following the prompts. In order to receive consideration for this position, you must submit your complete application, including all required documents, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If the vacancy announcement has an application limit, we recommend that you submit your complete application at the time of initial application.

We will not accept any required documentation after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If you have any questions regarding submitting your application, please contact the HR Specialist listed under the Agency Contact Information.

Required Documents

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 Proof that you were displaced, such as Reduction-in-Force (RIF) notice or notice of proposed removal.

SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Action) showing: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Translator GS-1040-11/12, FPL-12 (DE only) position at Federal Student Aid?
The salary range for this position is $75,897 - $145,468/yr. This is a GS-11/12 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Translator GS-1040-11/12, FPL-12 (DE only) job located?
This position is located in San Francisco, California. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
(GS-11) Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related or A combination of specialized experience and education that when taken as a percentage of the required education and experience total 100% or more. Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, please click Foreign Education.
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is May 13, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.