Sign Language Interpreter

External Header
Source: External Applicants Only
Open: 2026-10-26
Closed: 2026-11-14
Band: 03
Location: St Louis, MO, Springfield, VA
Cover Letter
Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application.
Pay Band, Salary Range - Ext
2026 DC Salary Chart (Step 10 Max):

Band 3 $85,447 - $158,322


2026 St. Louis Salary Chart (Step 10 Max):

Band 3 $76,573 - $141,880
Permanent Change in Station
PERMANENT CHANGE IN STATION: PCS expenses are not authorized.
NGA Marketing Message
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is the world leader in Geospatial Intelligence. We analyze imagery and data from many sources and incorporate it into visual displays of essential information for use in national defense, homeland security and safety of navigation. The extraordinary talents and skills of our teams of analysts and other professionals are vital to our success as the worldwide provider of GEOINT.
Know the World, Show the Way...from Seabed to Space!
Assignment Description
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Sign Language Interpreters facilitate communications with deaf and hard-of-hearing employees in a variety of settings using a wide range of interpreting techniques. They act as an advocate for the provision of interpreting services, as well as an advocate for the profession of interpreting. They may be responsible for administering interpreting services programs.
Promotion Opportunity
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Promotion opportunities allow applicants at all band levels to be considered. Qualifications for NGA positions do not include specific time-in-band requirements. NGA will emphasize quality of experience, rather than duration, and assess how the quality of the experience demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance in the NGA occupational structure.
Additional Information
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: As a Sign Language Interpreter at NGA, you will facilitate vital communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing employees across a variety of complex, intelligence-related settings. Operating within the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), you 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 selectee will join a dynamic interpreting team within the Reasonable Accommodation: Sign Language Interpreters Branch.
Primary duties include:
- Active Interpreting: Providing high-level American Sign Language (ASL)/English interpretation and transliteration for NGA employees during meetings, training sessions, conferences, and other work-related situations.
- Program Administration & Scheduling: Assisting with the daily provision of interpreting services, including scheduling support, resource coordination, and general administrative support for the SLI Services Program.
- Contract Oversight Support: Monitoring the performance of contract interpreters in coordination with the Government Point of Contact (GPOC), Program Manager (PM), and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
- Advising & Education: Developing and delivering training materials for the NGA workforce regarding the SLI Services Program and acting as an advocate for the interpreting profession.
- Accommodation Resolution: Assisting the EEO in identifying and resolving accommodation issues in partnership with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
- Travel: Traveling locally and globally (CONUS and OCONUS) up to 25% of the time to support mission requirements.
Qualifications Mandatory
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement’s mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

Experience interpreting between American Sign Language (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 interpreting 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 variety of linguistic variations within the signing community to ensure accurate, context-appropriate, and culturally sensitive interpretation.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A minimum of 6 years of experience in facilitating communications with deaf and hard-of-hearing employees or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work.
AND
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Professional Interpreter Certification -OR- A proficiency level of 4 or 5 from the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) -OR- Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Advanced or Master Certification -AND- May require state licensure.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: Prolonged periods of standing; Near visual acuity of 20/40 or better with or without corrective lenses; Hearing - 25 dB or better, aided or unaided, for 250 - 4000 hz frequencies; Repetitive use of both hands/arms; Far visual acuity of 20/40 or better binocular with or without corrective lenses; Prolonged periods of sitting
Qualifications Desirable
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

Experience evaluating customer requests, documenting technical/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 showcasing flexibility and adaptability for shifts/changes in crisis situations.
Experience interpreting dense, highly specialized, or acronym-heavy technical discourse.
Experience delivering remote interpreting on enterprise video platforms and coordinating complementary accessibility technologies (e.g., CART, captioning workflows, 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 to meet customer needs.
Special Info External
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship
- Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
- Polygraph & Drug Test
- Direct Deposit
- Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service
Applicant Evaluation Process
APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS:

1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,
2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,
3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. You must use the NGA resume builder and limit your resume to 2 pages.

In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). Reemployed annuitants must meet additional selection criteria as outlined in the DODI 1400.25, v300.

All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
DCIPS Statement
NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.
Benefits
Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the Federal Government. We offer a broad array of benefits programs and family friendly flexibilities to meet the needs of you and your family.

For more information on the array of benefits programs, please visit https://www.nga.mil/careers/Benefits_&_Pay.html.
How To Apply
Application submission involves applying using NGA's online application process at NGA Careers Portal. Additional information concerning NGA's hiring process can be found by visiting NGA Hiring Process.

All announcements close at 11:59PM EDT on the closing date listed. Be sure to complete and submit your application by that time in order to be considered.

ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Both applicants for employment and current employees of NGA are entitled to request religious accommodations from generally applicable employment-related rules and requirements, so long as the accommodation requested would not result in an undue hardship to the conduct of NGA’s business.
What To Expect Next
After visiting the NGA Careers Portal and applying via NGA's online application process, applicants can follow their status via that same NGA online application functionality. Several other topics relating to what is involved in the hiring process and how long it takes can be found by visiting the NGA Hiring Process.
Special Requirements
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.