Head, French Translation Section

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 204,886 USD and 256,769 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the French Translation Section of the Language Division, Administration, Finance and Management Sector. The Language Division is responsible for delivering comprehensive and high-quality language services in relation to: the translation of treaties and other international instruments administered by WIPO, national legislative texts, documents for the Assemblies of Member States, publications, reports of meetings and conferences and working documents for committees of experts and other bodies, and the WIPO website; and the provision of interpretation services for the meetings of the WIPO Assemblies, committees and meetings organized by the various sectors.

b. Purpose Statement

The Head of the French Translation Section is responsible for the day-to-day management of the work of the Section and its staff and shapes and implements the objectives for the Section, ensuring high quality and timely delivery of texts translated into French.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Language Division.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent performs the following principal duties:

a. Lead, plan and control translation, revision, editing, terminological, reference and word processing work, determining priorities and allocating staff resources for the timely, quality and cost-effective delivery of outputs in accordance with results-based management principles.

b. Manage and evaluate the work performed by staff of the Section (including temporary staff) and by contractual translators. Guide and counsel staff and develop training plans to promote the best utilization of their skills and experience.

c. Revise and approve complex and urgent texts; translate particularly complex, difficult or sensitive texts from English and at least one other official UN language.

d. Make informed linguistic determinations concerning the French language and take authoritative decisions regarding terminology, style and usage.

e. Organize and supervise French terminology work, including glossaries, technical vocabularies and related data collections; direct terminological research within the Section, and in collaboration with other language Section Heads, participate in the enhanced design and development of terminology databases and computer-assisted-translation and terminology (CATT) tools.

f. Promote and supervise the use of artificial intelligence (AI) based modern translation technologies, including machine translation, as a means to combine human and machine intelligence to ensure a timely delivery of high quality translation in a cost-efficient manner and ensure that the most effective use is made by the Section of all the translation technologies available.

g. Design and prepare the documentation required for and lead the process of public tenders for translation in the Section; promote, administer and execute the tender process, review the bids, select and administer the tests and select the successful bidders in accordance with established procurement rules and under the guidance of the Procurement and Travel Division.

h. Establish and maintain contacts with translation institutions and individual translators with a view to expanding the network of translators; organize the testing of prospective translators and make decisions on their selection.

i. Represent the Section in working groups and internal and external meetings; liaise with other language sections and relevant work units to achieve improved efficiencies, knowledge management and information sharing.

j. Perform other related duties as required. In particular, the incumbent should be prepared to support teams in the Patents & Technology and Brands & Designs Sectors as required, and should be prepared to spend time with the different language teams as part of the induction process and potentially on a periodic basis thereafter, to ensure strong understanding of activities across WIPO.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in modern languages, linguistics, translation or related discipline. A first-level university degree plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the experience mentioned below may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential)

At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in translation, editing, revision and using CATT tools, mainly acquired in international organizations.

Experience in supervising staff.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience with and understanding of Results-Based Management.

Languages (Essential)

Mother tongue level of French and excellent knowledge of English and at least one other official UN language.

Languages (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job-Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent managerial skills and proven ability to provide leadership and to motivate and train staff.

Advanced translation and revision skills.

Thorough knowledge of concepts and terminology in various areas of specialization, as well as modern translation technologies, including machine translation and the related revision/post-editing work.

Strong aptitude regarding translation technology and software tools that aid the translation process and ability to rapidly assimilate information regarding new technology.

Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.

Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the Internet.

Job-Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of the subject matter dealt with by WIPO.

4. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Showing team spirit.

3. Demonstrating integrity.

4. Valuing diversity.

5. Producing results.

6. Showing service orientation.

7. Seeing the big picture.

8. Seeking change and innovation.

9. Developing yourself and others.

5. Information

Mobility: WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization. Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary****:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment. Please note that this estimate is for information only. The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice. The figures quoted below are based on the February 2023 rate of 79.7%

P5

Annual salary

$90,664

Post adjustment

$72,259

Total Salary

$162,923

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions. The selected candidate’s appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with no possibility of renewal beyond that term. S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

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By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.