Language Officer

Duties

Skills

As a Directorate of Operations Language Officer at CIA, you will perform a critical and dynamic function within the Directorate of Operations by using your advanced foreign language skills combined with cultural experience and expertise to produce high-quality, accurate, and timely translations, interpretations, and other language-related support to clandestine operations. Language Officers are key to the success of many foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, cyber, and covert action operations and have native or near-native level fluency in one or more of the following languages:

• Arabic
• Chinese Mandarin
• Korean
• Persian/Farsi
• Russian
• Japanese
• Spanish
  
  

Language Officers generally are assigned to the Washington, DC area, but have opportunities for overseas travel. Opportunities to serve multi-year postings overseas are very limited and these positions are highly competitive.

You will receive specialized training to acquire an understanding of clandestine operations tradecraft and to maintain and/or advance your foreign language skills. Classroom training, practical exercises, and on-the-job experience are all part of the training process.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be physically in the United States or one of its territories when you submit your resume via MyLINK.
• You must be registered for the Selective Service, if applicable.
• You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age (dual-national US citizens are eligible).
• You must be willing to move to the Washington, DC area.
• You must successfully complete a thorough medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview, and a comprehensive background investigation.
• For further information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/how-we-hire/
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Personal integrity
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
• Action- and results-oriented
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently
• Flexibility, adaptability, and commitment to the mission of the CIA and the Directorate of Operations
• Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA , including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Strong command of the foreign language(s) and English in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
• Professional work experience as a translator and/or interpreter.
• Cultural and area knowledge of where the foreign language(s) is/are spoken.
• Strong critical/analytical thinking and research skills.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and ability to establish respectful relationships and to work effectively in a diverse team environment.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (applicants within one year of earning a four-year degree will be considered); there is no preferred major or program of study (degrees from foreign academic institutions are accepted, but you are responsible for obtaining and providing CIA with a credential evaluation from an accredited firm confirming that the foreign degree is the equivalent of a BA/BS and/or MA/MS degree conferred by a U.S. college or university)
• At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale is preferred