Job Description

Spanish-English Technical Translator (Part-Time, Remote)

CONTINGENT UPON CONTRACT AWARD

Organization: Federal diplomatic and engineering agency supporting U.S.-Mexico treaty implementation

Employment Type: Part-Time Contract (30 hours per week maximum)

Duration: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 (with one option year through December 31, 2027)

Note: This position is contingent upon contract award to the employing organization.

Position Overview

A federal agency Foreign Affairs Office requires contract translation services to convert documents from Spanish to English. The agency applies boundary and water treaties between the United States and Mexico. This part-time role supports the diplomatic and engineering functions of the organization.

This is a part-time position with a maximum of 30 hours per week.

Primary Responsibilities

Translation Services

Translate Spanish documents to English following agency procedures and formatting guidelines:

• Letters from the Mexican Section (1-3 pages, 15-20 per month)
• News articles from Mexican media (1-3 pages, 2-4 per week)
• International agreements and reports (3-20 pages, fewer than 12 per year)
• Technical reports, presentations, and procedures (1-50 pages, 3-4 per month)
• Review existing translations for accuracy (1-10 pages, twice per month)
• Occasional English to Spanish translation (once per year)

Document Management

• Format translations using Microsoft Word or PowerPoint to match original documents
• Maintain translation records and spreadsheets on shared OneDrive folder
• Distribute translated documents via email
• Prioritize incoming letters from the Mexican Section (one-day turnaround required)

Translation Memory Management

• Use MemoQ 10.5 Translation Memory and machine translation services provided by the agency
• Update databases with new translations
• Serve as subject matter expert on MemoQ and translation memory systems

Meeting Participation

• Attend weekly webinar staff meetings to review translation assignments
• Attend quarterly webinar meetings with U.S. and Mexican personnel (virtual via Microsoft Teams or Zoom)

Required Qualifications

Experience

Documented track record of translating complex documents from Spanish to English such as contracts, legal briefs, international agreements, engineering specifications, water studies, or scientific reports.

Technical Competency Demonstration

Provide one or more of the following:

• Previous work for the Department of State as a Spanish to English translator
• Technical document translation samples (original Spanish and English translation)
• Client references in water, engineering, or scientific fields
• Translator accreditations or certifications (American Translators Association, State Department, National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, or similar)

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in MemoQ Translation Memory software
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Experience with OneDrive/SharePoint
• Ability to convert PDF documents using text recognition

Work Requirements

• Work offsite from contractor facility with necessary office equipment (phone, computer, email, internet, dictionaries, office furniture)
• Available during normal U.S. business hours
• Treat all documents as confidential
• Part-time schedule with maximum of 30 hours per week

Agency-Provided Resources

• English-Spanish glossaries of water and engineering terminology
• Access to MemoQ and machine translation services
• Access to historical translation files via web page or OneDrive/SharePoint
• Training on agency translation procedures and systems

Contract Details

• Performance by no more than two individual translators
• Primary challenge is gaining expertise in unique technical vocabulary used by the agency
• Workload varies; holiday period (December 19-January 6) typically has no translation requests
• Approximately 200 letters per year involve repetitive content
• Rush assignments occur approximately once per month

Application Information

IMPORTANT: This position is contingent upon contract award. Employment will begin only if the contract is awarded to the employing organization.

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