French Translation Service Programme Manager

Org. Setting and Reporting

With its 192 member countries, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.

Responsibilities

General role: Lead all activities relating to the translation and editing of UPU documents in French, translate and revise highly specialized documents. 1. French Translation Service (STFR) management Lead the STFR, comprising the French Translation Service (4 staff members plus regular support translators), and the French Editing Unit and French Document Processing Unit (5 staff members). – Plan and organize the work of the STFR, covering translation, revision, editing, terminology and document preparation, and set priorities. – Negotiate with STFR clients regarding the services to be provided (establish deadlines, set/amend priorities, seek clarifications concerning source texts, etc.). – Take responsibility for and organize collaboration with freelance and support staff during periods with heavy workloads (recruit, assess and select candidates, establish work plans). – Estimate and prepare operating budgets and recommend/justify courses of action in terms of resources and procedures (staff management, working methods and planning, tools and other technical resources, etc.). – Monitor the output and quality of work assigned to external and internal translators, and produce statistics and various reports. – Supervise STFR members: set objectives and conduct annual performance evaluations, provide for training and professional development, motivate and communicate, ensure effective collaboration within the service, and provide technical linguistic support if needed. – Train experienced translators tasked with revision, as well as the editors of the French Editing Unit. 2. Language, standards and technical tools Translate, revise and manage terminology databases – Translate and revise particularly difficult or specialized texts, and approve the translation and revision of highly complex texts from English or Spanish into French. – Revise and finalize the editing of texts in French that are of particular importance for the UPU. – Take decisions in principle as to usage of the French language and UPU terminology (particularly in technical contexts), establish standards and compile reference material. – Lead terminological research work, to supplement the UPU’s official terminology database. – Maintain contact and dialogue with the heads of the language services of other international organizations and represent the UPU at the International Annual Meeting on Language Arrangements, Documentation and Publications (IAMLADP) and the Joint Inter-Agency Meeting on Computer-Assisted Translation and Terminology (JIAMCATT).

Competencies

Professionalism: – Takes responsibility for own actions and decisions, and for the consequences of these; – Produces and delivers high-quality results; – Drives change and improvement, continually searching for new ways to position the organization for success; – Ensures that knowledge and learning is shared across the organization and encourages staff to learn from each other. Ethics: – Ensures that personal views and convictions do not compromise ethical principles; – Understands and behaves in accordance with the UPU’s professional, ethical and legal framework; – Does not abuse power or authority vested by functions; – Respects commitments and promises made to internal and external partners; – Promptly confronts unprofessional or unethical behaviours and takes immediate appropriate action; – Maintains confidentiality and treats sensitive information with discretion. Focus on results: – Quickly identifies issues and the right person to provide solutions, and shows strong client orien tation in business dealings; – Explores the options for finding innovative solutions to improve work processes and results; – Remains focused and keeps morale high when faced with adversity; – Reallocates resources quickly and effectively when faced with unforeseen events Teamwork: – Encourages cooperation among staff within the programme and directorate and across the organization; – Collects and assesses information on a broad range of issues related to the team’s work and seeks common solutions; – Encourages others to be innovative in order to improve outcomes. Team management: – Demonstrates the ability to delegate responsibility, motivate and lead, and provide effective coaching and performance feedback; – Coordinates the activities of the team; – Delegates work efficiently within the team and evaluates the team’s work in a timely and fair manner; – Clearly communicates work expectations and defines successful indicators; – Takes ownership of the team’s problems and seeks sustainable solutions; – Recognizes team participation and rewards individual contributions; – Ensures a good planning of work and regularly reassesses priorities to ensure delivery of the expected outcomes; – Motivates team members to strive for excellence. Job-related competencies: – Ability to cooperate, communicate and negotiate in a diplomatic manner with individuals from different cultures and professional backgrounds – Ability to build and manage teams, with good interpersonal skills and the capacity to create and main¬tain a team spirit and positive work environment – Discretion and ability to work on sensitive subject matter – Methodology and rigou – Ability to deal with stress and adapt to difficult situations, particularly with regard to a growing and unpredictable workload – Ability to manage priorities, make decisions and issue authoritative guidance – Focus on customers and results

Education

– Translation diploma (recognized 1st level degree) from an institution of international repute in the field of translation. – Master’s degree – a specialization in language, linguistics, literature, economics or international relations would be an advantage

Job – Specific Qualification

Proficiency in computer-assisted translation tools (Trados or similar), is required. Proficiency in revision techniques with regard to documents of crucial importance for the organization, is required. Good project management skills, are required. Good team management skills, are required. Proficiency in office software tools (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), is required.

Work Experience

With bachelor’s or equivalent, minimum nine years’ experience translating, editing and revising in an international organization, is required. With master’s or equivalent, minimum seven years’ experience translating, editing and revising in an international organization, is desirable.

Languages

French – Mother tongue Proficiency in English and good knowledge of Spanish

Assessment

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for written test. Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.

Special Notice

Annual salary:(Net of tax) 77,326 USD Post adjustment: 88.4 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation. Type of contract: Fixed-term (Core) appointment Duration: Three years Scheduled date for taking up appointment: As soon as possible French is the official language of the UPU. English and French are the working languages of the UPU International Bureau. Priority shall be given for an internal promotion. The UPU is committed to encouraging diversity within its workforce. Interested candidates from minority groups and/or with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated equally and in the strictest confidence. Candidates might be considered for other similar posts (for a period not exceeding one year). Candidates must ensure that they provide relevant contact details so that they can be contacted at any time, to prevent them from being excluded from the selection process. The UPU is committed to securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for its staff members. In this regard, candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to satisfactory background checks aimed at validating the educational and professional background records as indicated by candidates in their respective application forms.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.