Foreign Language Instructors provide CIA officers with the foreign language skills and cross-cultural savviness needed to live and work abroad. They also conduct regular language proficiency testing.
Learn more about this agency
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
As a Foreign Language Instructor, you will deliver programs that provide intelligence professionals with the Foreign language communications skills and cross-cultural awareness they need to live and work abroad effectively or to perform other language-related duties. Foreign Language Instructors apply the latest instructional methodologies to meet highly customized student needs. You will also complete a language proficiency testing certification to conduct and rate language proficiency tests in three modalities: reading, speaking, and listening. In addition, you may be asked to provide a variety of language support services worldwide.
Foreign Language Instructors have advanced proficiency in at least one of the following languages:
- BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian)
- Chinese -Mandarin
- Japanese
- Russian
- Spanish
- Vietnamese
In addition to base salary, you can earn annual incentive pay based on the language and your language proficiency. Foreign Language Instructors who speak multiple languages may also qualify for additional incentive pay in varying amounts. Furthermore, new employees may qualify for a lump-sum hiring bonus.
- 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 requirements information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/cia-requirements/
Minimum Qualifications
Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
- Native-like proficiency in one or more of the languages listed above, as well as professional level ability in English. Candidates will be required to take proficiency tests in their claimed language/languages in reading, speaking and listening
- Demonstrated ability to teach the language in the context of the culture of the region
- Ability to use the latest technology and teaching methods
- Ability to work well and collaborate within a team-teaching environment
- Experience teaching language skills to adult learners, taking them from beginner to the general professional proficiency level in an intensive setting
- Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation
Desired Qualifications
- Experience living, working, and/or studying abroad
- Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields or related studies:
- Education
- Foreign Languages
- Linguistics
- At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
For more information, please visit: https://cia.gov/careers/.
For further information, please visit: https://cia.gov/careers/.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
This post is for viewing purposes only. To get started, please visit https://cia.gov/careers/, where you can read more about this position and express your interest in up to four jobs. Upon expressing your interest, you will be taken to MyLINK, which allows you to submit your resume and job rankings and provide basic information about yourself.
Central Intelligence Agency
Website
https://cia.gov/careers
After you express interest for up to four positions on cia.gov/careers, a CIA recruiter may contact you for further discussion if your qualifications meet our needs. See the MyLINK FAQs on our website for more information.
Accepting applications
Posted 10/01/25 · Apply by 09/29/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 29, 2026
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$85,546 - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 10 - 12
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Position sensitivity and risk
NCS/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
24-12405806
