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Individual Consultant: Translators (to and from English)

UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Bangkok

Job Family: Public Information

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 30-Aug-2024

 

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

 

1. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

To enhance the visibility and impact of UNESCO’s work in the region, the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok) is seeking qualified individuals to join a roster of English Translators (from English to target languages and vice versa). The qualified candidates will be added to the roster and selected for projects on an ‘on-call’ basis to provide support with publications, documents, and communications materials (‘manuscripts’). 

The call is open to individuals of any nationality who can provide the requested services and deliverables. The roster will be valid from 1 September 2024 to 31 December 2024 and subject to renewal annually.

The themes of potential translation projects include those falling under UNESCO’s mandated sectors of education, culture, communication and information, social and human sciences, ocean sciences and natural sciences. Themes of work may occasionally lie outside these parameters.
 

2. TERMS OF REFERENCE

a. Undertake assignments to provide high-quality translation from English to target languages and vice versa (list of target languages provided in item ‘3. Scope of Word…’) for assigned manuscript;
b. Receive assignment brief and coordinate with the Responsible Officer(s) to regularly report on progress made during the assignment via email, online meetings or phone;
c. Ensure that terminologies and spellings are accurate and compliant with the national usage guidelines (if any). For translation into English, ensure that the UNESCO Style Guide is applied;
d. Mainstream UNESCO’s gender strategy and ensure that gender-neutral language is applied throughout the manuscript;
e. Ensure overall accuracy, clarity and stylistic consistency of translation in terms of language, presentation, and word choice while ensuring that texts are engaging and accessible to the target audience;
f. Be sensitive to cultural and social differences and address these issues properly in the local context; 
g. Ensure consistency of terminology, abbreviations, acronyms and formatting of footnotes;
h. Demonstrate mastery of standard software, especially MS Word, and competence using all the basic elements of tracked changes;
i. Check cross-references (e.g. ‘See page xxx’) where the actual page number needs to be filled in;
j. Use proper names and place names that correspond to UNESCO official usage, including the names of UNESCO Member States;
k. Align page numbers in the table of contents, list of tables, figures, and boxes with headings and subheadings in the manuscript;
l. Ensure that works are in full compliance with international copyright policy to prevent any legal infringements;
m. Submit work in MS Word file with tracked changes and a clear list of comments or questions to UNESCO;
n. Improve and incorporate suggested changes until the manuscript is considered satisfactory by UNESCO; and
o. Meet the committed deadline.
 

3. SCOPE OF WORK AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE RATE PROPOSALS

Candidates must propose their service in flat rates per word in US$ (candidates may provide rates for multiple language pairs) according to the following specifications:

  • Language pair: English to target languages (and vice versa)

    • English to Thai 
    • English to Lao 
    • English to Myanmar 
    • English to Vietnamese
    • English to Cambodian
    • English to Indonesian
    • English to Malay
    • English to Filipino
    • English to Pashto
    • English to Dari
    • English to Hindi
    • English to Nepali
    • English to Bengali
    • English to Kyrgyz
    • English to Uzbek
    • English to Korean
    • English to Japanese
    • English to Chinese
    • English to Russian
    • English to Arabic
    • English to (other target languages)
  • Size: standard (A4, A5, etc.) or customized
  • Number of words: to be specified for each assignment
  • Software: MS Word
  • Feedback/revision circle: until deemed satisfactory by UNESCO
     

4. DUTY STATION

The assignment will be remote-based (off-site) and on an ‘on-call’ basis, with regular communication with the Responsible Officer(s) via email, online meeting and phone; no travel is anticipated. Candidates located in the same time zone as, or in closer time zones to, Bangkok (GMT+7) are preferred.

5. FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY UNESCO (if any)

The candidate will be responsible for providing their own off-site working space and equipment e.g. computer, software, printer, and any other equipment that may be required for the successful completion of the assignment.

6. COMPETENCIES (Core/Managerial)

Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)

–

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

7. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

At the time of application, the candidate must possess the following qualifications:

Education:
University degree in English, foreign language studies, literature, linguistics, journalism, communications, international relations, or other to UNESCO’s fields of competence.

 

Work Experience:
Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrable professional translation experience, particularly in the fields of journalism, publishing, education, culture, communication and information, social and human sciences, ocean sciences and natural sciences.

Previous experience working with UNESCO or other UN agencies and/or other multicultural organizations is an advantage.

 

Skills/Competencies:

  • Familiarity with gender equality and gender-neutral language.
  • Comprehend English grammar with near-native fluency. 
  • Strong knowledge of the grammar, style, and cultural nuances of your native language (target language).
  • Understand and apply in-house style guides to ensure consistency within the manuscript.
  • Ability to verify the accuracy of information, especially for technical or academic content.
  • Familiarity with publishing workflows.
  • Competency in MS Word software.
  • Meticulous researching skills with strong attention to detail.
  • Collaborate with colleagues effectively with strong communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and efficiently under tight deadlines and revision cycles.
  • Adhere to in-house branding guidelines, style manuals and templates.
  • Stay up to date on the latest translation trends in the field (note: using AI apps or related programmes is prohibited).

 

Languages:
Native-level proficiency in the target language(s) and fluency in English.
 

8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

UNESCO shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks with regard to all materials which bear a direct relation to, or are produced in consequence of the services provided by candidates to the Organization.

Candidates will grant to UNESCO exclusive worldwide rights including the editable artwork file to exploit, to publish, to reproduce, to diffuse, to communicate to the public, and so forth, in any form and on any supporting platform, including digital, all or part of the work and to license these rights to third parties on the basis of the rights herein vested in UNESCO. The candidates warrant that:

a.    The work made under the assignment is created by the candidates and candidates are the sole and unrestricted owners of the exclusive rights in the work
b.    The work made under the assignment is free from encumbrances and no third party is entitled to any intellectual property rights with regard to the work
c.    No third-party rights have been infringed upon in the making of the work
d.    The work has not been generated by AI apps or similar programmes.
 

9. APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should apply through the UNESCO careers website and follow these steps: 

  1. Create/login to the account. 
  2. Download and complete/update your ‘employment history form’. 
  3. Prepare your ‘cover letter, CV, portfolio and standard service rates (see below)’:

a. Cover letter: highlights your most relevant skills and experiences, and explains how your qualifications and experiences make you suitable for the assignment
b. Curriculum vitae (CV): outlines your professional and educational history. The CV should include contact information, work experience (including company names, dates, positions, and key achievements), software skills, language skills, etc.
c. Portfolio: showcases your translation skills. The portfolio should include samples of three of the candidate’s recent works and brief descriptions of the project.
d. Standard service rates: provide your ‘flat rate of service per word in US$’ for (1) English to target language(s) and (2) target language(s) to English. 
4. Combine and upload all five (5) items (employment history form, cover letter, CV, portfolio and standard service rates) as a single file. 
5. Complete/update your ‘candidate profile’; save and submit your application.
 

10. SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization. 

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