Language Instructors/Mentors - Air Force Training Program

McColm & Company is a mission-driven professional services firm that equips change makers with the knowledge, skills, and insights they need to succeed in an increasingly complex world. McColm specializes in supporting U.S. federal customers with foreign affairs, national security and human services portfolios by designing and managing bespoke professional training programs, delivering effective capacity building solutions, and by providing highly specialized technical assistance and analysis expertise to decision makers.

McColm is seeking language instructors/mentors who can deliver high-impact, proficiency-oriented instruction grounded in best practices for adult language learning and foreign language methodology to individuals or small groups of two to four Scholars, using the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale to guide instruction. This role requires instructors who can operate in a high-tempo, performance-driven environment and deliver measurable proficiency outcomes aligned with mission needs of the U.S. Air Force. These positions are contingent upon contract award.

McColm is specifically expanding its bench of language instructors across the following languages.

• Priority 1: Arabic (Modern Standard, Levantine, and Egyptian), Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian (Afghan and Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (European and Brazilian), Pashto, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese
• Priority 2: Akan, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic (Jordanian, Lebanese, Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian, Iraqi, Saudi, Sudanese, Yemeni), Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cambodian, Cebuano, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Ewe, Finnish, Fulani, Georgian, Greek, Haitian-Creole, Hausa, Hungarian, Ibo, Icelandic, Ilocano, Krio, Lao, Latvian, Lingala, Lithuanian, Malay, Mongolian, Nepalese, Norwegian, Pidgin English, Punjabi, Serbian-Croatian, Singhalese, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Swahili, Swedish, Tajik, Telugu, Urdu, Uzbek, Wolof, and Yoruba languages for a U.S. Air Force foreign language training program.

Responsibilities will include:

• Design and deliver participant-centered language instruction that develops functional proficiency from ILR 0 through advanced performance ILR 3 + (e.g., professional/technical topics as required).

• Plan instruction using provided measurable proficiency objectives mapped to ILR levels (e.g., tasks, functions, accuracy, and discourse control expected at target levels).

• Create learning experiences that prioritize real-world communication and cross-cultural knowledge across all four modalities: listening, speaking, reading, and writing through meaningful tasks and performance outcomes.

• Build psychologically safe learning environments that motivate adult professionals and maintain high expectations.

• Follow structured, government-supplied lesson plans, syllabi, and learning materials aligned to program goals and learner proficiency.

• Adapt copyright-free authentic materials (e.g., news, professional documents, audio, and video) to align with learner proficiency levels and instructional objectives.

• Integrate technology effectively for virtual learning (platform tools, shared docs, digital resources).

• Demonstrate working knowledge of the ILR scale, including what performance “looks like” across levels.

• Support placement, progress checks, and readiness activities using ILR-aligned performance tasks (e.g., role plays, presentations, interviews, summaries, professional scenarios).

• Incorporate current geopolitical events and mission-relevant content such as technical vocabulary, near-peer adversary context, diplomacy and coalition building skills, and agile combat employment concepts, particularly for Scholars at ILR Level 2 and above.

• Assign homework with an expected workload of up to one hour per two-hour session including grading and provide written and one on one oral feedback on homework and assessments.

• Provide clear, actionable one-on-one learner feedback tied to ILR proficiency indicators across all four modalities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), using a client-provided rubric.

• Maintain reliable scheduling and timely communication with program staff.

• Complete required documentation (e.g., session notes, learner progress inputs) as specified by the contract/program.

• Ensure Scholars receive timely communication regarding session access (e.g., updated virtual classroom links) in accordance with Client procedures.

• Uphold confidentiality and professional conduct in U.S. Government training environments.

• Attend required professional development sessions as directed by the ISST staff.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of instructional quality by identifying learner–instructor mismatches and supporting reassignment or coaching recommendations as needed.

Requirements

• Must possess language proficiency equivalent to ILR Advanced Professional Proficiency or ACTFL “Superior” in speaking and writing for each language and dialect instructed.

• Must be capable of delivering instruction and conducting assessments across proficiency levels ranging from ILR Level 0 through ILR Level 3+.

• Demonstrated experience teaching (not translation/interpretation or localization) target language(s) to adult learners virtually.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply ILR proficiency descriptors to both instruction and assessment.

• Strong interpersonal skills, reliability, and learner-centered professionalism.

• Experience delivering instruction (synchronous) via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Cisco Webex, Slack or similar, including technical troubleshooting related to all core functions of the platform.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot live session issues during instruction, including audio, video, and connectivity challenges.
• Ability to guide learners in configuring language input tools (e.g., keyboards, fonts, character sets).
• Ability to adjust platform settings (e.g., video, bandwidth, screen sharing) to support instruction in low-bandwidth environments.
• Demonstrated experience tailoring lesson plans and instructional content, including thorough explanations of cultural, technical, and military concepts (e.g., rank structures, regional military systems, geopolitical context, and U.S. military relationships).
• Demonstrated expertise in the relevant cultures and ability to integrate cultural context into instruction.

• Demonstrated experience performing various assessments ranging from ILR 0 through ILR Level 3+.  

• Government, military, foreign affairs, or professional language program experience.

• Bachelor’s level degree in language instruction or a related social science field, such as History, Political Science, International Relations, Anthropology, Archeology, and Cultural Geography, and/or a minimum of five years of embedded experience in the target culture(s). 

• Training/certifications in foreign language methodology, andragogy, instructional design, and assessment preferred.

• DLPT, OPI, ACTFL or equivalent certifications preferred.

Benefits

McColm offers a competitive compensation and benefits package to all of our staff. Compensation is offered according to job requirements, market dynamics, and experience/skills of the successful candidate. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurances, generous Paid Time Off, 11 paid federal holidays, and annual performance-based bonuses.

We are an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, gender identity or expression, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Due to the high volume of applications McColm receives and to ensure we comply with our internal hiring policies, we regret we are not able to respond to individual phone calls or emails regarding application status.