This position is located in the Russian Translation Section, Languages Service, Division of Conference Management, United Nations Office at Geneva.
ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
- Organizes the translation, revision, quality control and related activities of the Section and ensures that they are carried out as efficiently as possible and within the specified deadlines;
- Supervises and monitors the performance of all his/her regular and temporary staff by spot- checks of their work, discussions with them as required, and oral and/or written reports from revisers on the work of translators;
- Makes recommendations to the Chief of the Service in respect of recruitments, transfers, training, contractual status, promotions and all other administrative operational matters affecting the Section and in respect of linguistic standards;
- Bearing in mind the capacity of the Section, makes long-term and short-term work projections based on the calendar of conferences and the latest forecasts of the Central Planning and Support Service, and makes arrangements for the recruitment of temporary staff;
- Monitors expenditure on both temporary staff and contractual translation in order to ensure the appropriate balance between quality, timeliness and cost-efficiency;
- Oversees the daily programming of work, especially in order to make any arrangements that may be necessitated by an emergency or unforeseen demand on the capacity of the Section, including establishing rosters for all staff, special shifts and other assignments, in the light of work forecasts and leaves schedules, including weekends and holidays if necessary;
- Monitors the performance of newly recruited temporary staff on the basis of oral or written progress reports from the revisers and of spot-checks and discussions with the staff concerned;
- Prepares performance evaluation for all regular or temporary staff, either as FRO or SRO, ensuring staff are appraised fairly and consistently throughout the Section;
- Exercises quality control over contractual translation, selects contractors for specific jobs and recommends contractors for addition to the roster to the Chief of the Contractual Unit;
- As member of examination boards, selects papers for official examinations, marks scripts and participates in interviews in order to ensure appropriate recruitment; administers informal proficiency tests for candidates for temporary appointments and/or contractual translation;
- Prepares instructions for translators and internal information notes on editorial matters and work procedures, and serves as final arbiter on all technical problems connected with the language of his/her Section; translates and/or revises particularly important or confidential texts, as required;
- Monitors the introduction and utilization of technological innovations and makes arrangements for the training of staff, temporary staff and contractual staff in his/her Section in coordination with the Language Support Unit (LSU), with a view to ensuring quality and enhancing the efficiency of the workflow;
- Coordinates terminological requirements arising from the expanding range of new subjects and their increasingly technical nature, identifies areas of needs and sources and validates terms;
- Maintains close contact with the other sections to ensure smooth flow of urgent documents (text-processing, contractual translation);
- Participates in activities with universities to support DGACM outreach strategy;
- Responds to enquiries from delegations and other organizations as well as departments on translation and other linguistic matters;
- Participates, as required, in panels on linguistic, technical, administrative and Section-related and other matters. These panels may include experts from inside and outside the Secretariat;
- Prepares reports on all aspects of the work of the Section for, or at the request of, the Chief of Service;
- Deputizes for the Chief of the Languages Service, as required.
PROFESSIONALISM:
- Thorough knowledge of language issues, excellent writing and analytical skills, ability to serve as final arbiter on translation issues and other technical issues arising in the Section. Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply United Nations rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. 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.
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.
COMMUNICATION:
- Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. - Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. - Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. - Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. - Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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.
JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING:
- Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.
A first-level university degree from a university or institution of equivalent status. Success in a relevant United Nations Language Competitive Examination is required.
Work ExperienceAt least ten (10) years of professional experience in translation, revision and/or in the provision of language or language-related services is required.
Significant language-related management experience in international, regional or national institutions is required.
Out of ten (10) years, four (4) years within the United Nations or another international or intergovernmental organization is desirable.
Experience in handling administrative, personnel and budget issues is desirable.
Experience in delivering projects or change management processes is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in Russian, which must be the candidate’s main language. Knowledge of two other United Nations official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish), one of which should be English. (The requirement related to knowledge of a third language will be waived if the candidate passed the relevant LCE without a third language).
AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice• The duration of the appointment is for a short term with possibility of extension subject to availability of post (until the full recruitment process is finalized). If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
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.
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.
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.