Chief Interpreter - Interpretation Services, Language Services -CSF

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The Corporate Services and Facilities Department (CSF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to fill the position of Chief Interpreter of the Interpretation Services in Language Services.

Under the administrative direction of the CSF Language Services (CSFLS) Division Chief, the Chief Interpreter serves as the authority on interpretation-related matters and manages the centralized provision of interpretation services to support the mission of the IMF, ensuring effective multilingual communication for the full range of meetings and conferences held at IMF Headquarters and worldwide.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Plan, manage and supervise the centralized provision of interpretation services through a complement of staff and freelance interpreters, while maintaining an efficient engagement with internal clients and users to optimize service delivery in multiple languages and in a wide variety of settings, at IMF Headquarters and worldwide.

Manage and recruit a core team of staff interpreters and establish and expand local rosters of freelance resources in member countries. To that end, identify and test freelance interpreters, including through recruitment campaigns worldwide. Ensure ongoing service quality control, and the adoption and implementation of consistent policies, procedures, and guidelines for the provision of interpretation services.

Administer CSFLS centralized budgets for Interpretation Services, by establishing notional budget allocations for user departments and monitoring their usage. In accordance with the authority to procure interpretation services, negotiate freelance contracts, set daily and monthly rates for freelance interpreters at Headquarters and in the field, and authorize interpretation expenses.

Advise on language services arrangements, staffing and facilities requirements, including on remuneration, recruitment and service levels. Contribute to CSFLS strategic decisions and policies.

MAJOR TASKS

Lead a team of staff service analysts and interpreters (with dual responsibility as translators, under a matrix management model), and establish and expand rosters of freelance interpreters worldwide, including through in-person and virtual recruitment campaigns.

Evaluate the performance of staff, conduct performance reviews, and recommend personnel action. Design and implement measures to monitor the quality of services provided by freelance interpreters worldwide.

Determine training needs and make training recommendations as appropriate.

Recruit new staff interpreters and analysts as needed.

Monitor budget implementation and expenses and negotiate yearly budget allocations. Negotiate freelance contracts in all the countries where services need to be provided.

Establish and update procedures for the optimal operation of Interpretation Services and for the submission and processing of interpretation requests. Monitor the efficiency and currency of IT applications pertaining to Interpretation Services, identify evolving requirements and advise on the adoption of upgrades or new tools.

Ensure provision of required reporting on the operations of Interpretation Services, including on budget matters, and identify emerging reporting requirements to support decision-making.

Act as Chief Interpreter of the Spring and Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, defining staffing needs and preparing interpretation budgets, recruiting a dedicated team of freelance interpreters, preparing and issuing contracts, and managing all aspects related to the provision of interpretation services.

Maintain a technology watch to assess language technology developments and their potential application to meet Interpretation Services’ evolving needs. Maintain interactions with other institutions for the purpose of benchmarking and experience sharing.

Advise on the need to procure and deploy simultaneous interpretation equipment and facilities at Headquarters and in the field and arrange for the rental of interpretation equipment in the field.

Advise the CSFLS Division Chief on interpretation-related issues and policies and on other Language Services cross-cutting matters as necessary.

Negotiate and maintain staff interpreter exchange agreements with other institutions and maintain regular contacts with counterparts in other international organizations on matters of common interest.

Represent Interpretation Services at senior staff meetings as necessary, and as the authority on interpretation matters, represent CSFLS in other IMF meetings or fora.

Work as a Senior conference interpreter and team leader when appropriate and necessary.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

For Grade A14, educational development, typically acquired by the completion of an advanced university degree, or equivalent, in conference interpretation, linguistics, or a related field, supplemented by a minimum of eleven years of relevant work experience, is required. Alternatively, a university degree, or equivalent, in translation, linguistics, economics, or a related field, supplemented by a minimum of seventeen years of experience, is required.

In addition to the above qualifications, the incumbent must have at least three years of experience in the management and coordination of interpretation, language services, and/or conference services. Broad leadership experience, including staff and budget management, and ability to advise on matters of strategy and work processes. Solid people management skills to be able to supervise a culturally diverse and international team. Proven ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with officials and staff of diverse cultural backgrounds, and to engage with a wide range of interlocutors at different hierarchical levels.

Proven negotiating and contract management skills.

Proven ability and judgement to discern the probable effects of new or changed policies and procedures on the cost and management of interpretation services. Proven ability to provide practical, cost-effective, and integrated solutions to administrative, operational, technical, and staffing problems in the provision of interpretation services.

Proven leadership and team-building abilities, coupled with sound interpersonal skills.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with others, including senior leaders.

Decisiveness, coupled with the ability to determine and shift priorities quickly and resolve resource needs while delivering high-quality interpretation services. Ability to process concurrently and quickly a vast number of interpretation requests, and effectively manage diverse requirements.

Proven knowledge of Fund and other organizations’ policies and the profession’s practices regarding the recruitment, staffing and remuneration of conference interpreters, and interpreter-translators for missions.

People management skills in supervising, developing, motivating, and evaluating staff.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to take an interpretation test and/or other assessment tests and will be invited to an interview.

Department:

CSFLSLI Corporate Services & Facilities Dept Language Services Division Interpretation ServicesHiring For:

A14, A15The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.