Chief of the English Translation and Editorial Service

This position is located in the English Translation and Editorial Service, Documentation Division, Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. The incumbent will report to the Director, Documentation Division.

Responsibilities

The Chief of the English Translation and Editorial Service is responsible for the following duties:

• Directing and controlling the work programme of the Service to ensure the timely issuance in English of documents and publications for United Nations bodies as required.
• Participating in the senior management group of the Division and assuming the leadership role on ad-hoc task forces or projects as required.
• Making recommendations to the Director of the Documentation Division on policy, administrative and operational matters of the Service.
• Organizing all activities of the Service to ensure maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Supervising and monitoring the performance of all staff in the Service and preparing e-PAS reports as First and Second Reporting Officer.
• Formulating and developing guidelines, instructions and priorities governing editing, translation, revision, precis-writing and terminology work of the Service.
• Ensuring the implementation of language technologies as applied to translation, editing, precis-writing and text-processing.
• Preparing internal information notes on work procedures.
• Screening applications from and evaluating potential freelance staff and contractors, and preparing requests for contractual translation, precis-writing and editing or the recruitment of temporary assistance as needed.
• Carrying out quality control checks for work done in-house and by outside contractors.
• Making long and short-term projections of the work of the Service and its staffing requirements.
• Organizing training and preparing reports on all aspects of the Service.
• Coordinating long-term meeting coverage with other precis-writing Services; making recommendations on such personnel actions as recruitment, renewal of contracts, transfers, assignments and promotions.
• Selecting papers for examinations, marking scripts, establishing pass lists, participating in examination boards and interviews to ensure appropriate recruitment.
• Serving as the final arbiter on all technical problems connected with the language of the Service.
• Translating, editing and/or revising particularly important, sensitive or confidential texts, as required.
• Serving as Officer-in-Charge of the Division when required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, i.e. political, social, legal, economic, financial, administrative, scientific and technical. Ability to work under continuous stress in dealing with a broad range of subjects. Ability to demonstrate tact and negotiating skills, good judgment, decision-making and analytical skills. Ability to serve as final arbiter on language, translation and other technical issues arising in the Service. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

A first-level degree from a university or institution of equivalent status. Candidates for this position must have passed the relevant combined United Nations Language Competitive Examination for Translators/Précis-writers, Editors, Verbatim Reporters and Copy Preparers/Proofreaders/Production Editors or relevant United Nations language competitive examinations held before 2017.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in editing, translation, revision, precis-writing and/ or in the provision of other language or language related services is required.

Significant language-related management experience in international, regional or national institutions is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, a thorough command of English, which must be the candidate’s main language, and an excellent knowledge of at least two other official languages of the United Nations, is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.