UNDP Jobs - 63611- Language Services Specialist

Language Services Specialist

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

25-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) leads and supports the organization in cultivating, building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of UNDP. Within BERA, the Communications Group leads and manages external communications through strategy, media, digital communications, marketing, branding and global storytelling.

As the United Nations’ leading development agency, UNDP communicates with its constituents and partners in English, French and Spanish and various UN languages. As the organization’s language specialist, the Language Services Manager oversees the translation and revision activities for the Communications Group and the Executive office, and provides advisory support on translations for other offices. He/she helps to upgrade UNDP’s language service practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures efficient organization and management of translation services:

Manages the translation and revision from English into French and/or Spanish; occasionally into Arabic, Chinese and/or Russian of web content, press releases, media advisories, speeches, internal communications products, corporate publications, etc. ensuring high-quality translations are delivered on time;
Provides language service guidance to UNDP Headquarters and Country Offices;
Organizes the competitive recruitment and maintains the contracts of translation companies and consultants;
Analyzes trends, manages budget and creates monthly reports containing summaries on total number of translations, expenditures, cumulative total and breakdown by requesting teams;
Proposes creative and cost-efficient ways to expand UNDP’s translations capacity;
Oversees the creation and maintenance of language style guides and management of UNPD terminology resources;
Promotes the introduction and use of translation workflow tools to enhance the efficiency of translation management;
Facilitates the adoption of organization-wide operational standards and explores new approaches to language services;
Builds partnerships with academic institutions to spot and nurture future language professionals and ensure adequate succession planning; engages specialized interagency and technology associations to keep abreast of trends in language service arrangements and translation technology.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Innovation:

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Knowledge Management:

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Change Management:

Ability to apply a systematic approach to adapt, control and effect change.

Operational Efficiency:

Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency.

Knowledge Curation:

Ability to turn raw information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to stated need.

Secondary:

Cultural Translation:

Ability to translate information into the context of the culture.

Innovator support:

Ability to manage organizational resources and deployment in pursuit of innovative approaches and initiatives.

Managing Performance:

Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in translation, linguistics, communications, and/or related field;
First degree is acceptable with 2 additional years of relevant work experience.

Experience:

At least five years of experience in translation, revision, language-related management, of which at least two in an international organization.

Language:

English and/or French as main language;
Command of Spanish or any other UN language is an asset.

Other:

Very good knowledge of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and knowledge of Translation Management Suite (TMS) tools;
Ability to exercise sound editorial judgment;
Excellent knowledge of global translation industry practice;
Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies.