Direct Interpretation Service Provider

SHORT-TERM POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (2 positions)

Background

Funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Tt DPK’s Justice Sector Assistance Project (JSAP) IV rule-of-law program is responsible for facilitating the participation of Palestinian law students in the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition ("Jessup Competition").

Administered by the non-profit International Law Student Association (ILSA), the Jessup Competition involves law students competing in oral advocacy rounds based on a legal problem simulating an international dispute. The basis for the fictional dispute in each year’s Jessup Competition is detailed in the yearly released Compromis--often referred to as the ‘Jessup Problem’-- which is written by leading scholars of international law and includes the agreed upon facts about the fictional dispute. After the Jessup Problem is released, competing law students from around the world begin researching and preparing arguments for both sides of the dispute, drafting and editing written pleadings, called “memorials,” and practicing oral presentations (www.ilsa.org).

Towards fulfilling its role, JSAP IV requires professional direct (“simultaneous”) interpretation services to deliver clear and accurate Arabic/English interpretation between Palestinian university law students and other relevant persons, in support of the Palestinian law students’ participation in the 2018 Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

JSAP IV is seeking to hire two (2) qualified persons to fill two vacancies for the same position:

Direct Interpretation Service Provider (Arabic/English)

Position Summary

JSAP is soliciting the services of two (2) prospective Direct (“simultaneous”) Interpretation Service Providers (hereafter, Interpreters) to provide high-quality direct interpretation services (Arabic to English and vice versa) between Palestinian university law students and other relevant persons, in support of the Palestinian law students’ participation in the 2018 Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. High-quality direct interpretation services will be required during training activities as well as during high-pressure moot court competition rounds.

Travel requirements

As requested, these positions will require travel to different universities throughout the West Bank territory to provide direct interpretation services during the delivery of training to Palestinian law students on principles of international law, general advocacy skills, and other related subjects. Overnight stays in accommodations arranged by JSAP near the location of different universities may be required. In addition, these interpreter positions will require the delivery of direct interpretation services for Palestinian law students and volunteer judges during the Jessup National Rounds, which will be held by JSAP in February 2018. If deemed necessary, and as requested, one or both interpreters may be required to travel to the United States on a single occasion to provide direct interpretation services to the two Palestinian university teams that will be advancing to the Jessup International Rounds in Washington DC; these competition rounds will take place April 1 – 7, 2018. As deemed necessary and as requested by JSAP, contracted interpreters will be expected to be available for any and all such required travel throughout the entire period of performance as it will be specified in service agreements for both positions.

Position requirements:

-       direct interpretation services between Arabic and English that meets the highest possible standard (ability able to perform under pressure is required during training activities and Jessup National Competition held in February 2018);
-       as requested, and according to JSAP’s schedule, ability to travel throughout the West Bank to different universities to provide direct interpretation services during trainings delivered to Palestinian law students by an external trainer;
-       as requested, over-night stay in accommodations arranged by JSAP among near the universities in different regions of the West Bank, also in support of trainings delivered to Palestinian law students by an external trainer;
-       if deemed necessary, and if requested by JSAP, travel to the United States during the period of late-March and early-April 2018 to provide direct interpretation services as needed to one or both of the Palestinian teams during the Jessup International Rounds held in Washington DC.

Qualifications:

-       5+ years of experience as a provider of direct (“simultaneous”) interpretation services (experience in interpretation of international law-related subjects and/or relevant education may be substituted for years of experience);
-       ability to travel throughout the West Bank, as requested;
-       ability to stay overnight in accommodations arranged by JSAP, as requested;
-       ability to travel to the United States during late-March and early-April 2018, if deemed necessary by JSAP;

Specific roles and responsibilities can be changed and/or amended by the JSAP Chief of Team.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for these open vacancies by sending their CV and one (1) recommendation letter to JSAP by email (see email address below).  

Note: In the body of the email with attached CV and recommendation letter, candidates must include the number of years of experience they have gained while performing direct interpretation services as well as confirmation of their understanding of the position requirements, including all potential travel and overnight lodging requirements.

Short-listed candidates who are asked for an interview will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

-amount of experience performing direct interpretation services (experience in interpretation of international law-related subjects and/or relevant education may be substituted for years of experience);

-ability and willingness to travel as described in this position vacancy announcement;

-quality of direct interpretation skills (Arabic to English and vice versa)--the interviewee must demonstrate their skill-level before a JSAP selection committee in an organized “test environment” during the interview

Note: For purposes of neutrality and transparency, JSAP will not consider for these positions any current or former faculty or staff members from any of the competing universities. For the same reasons, JSAP will not consider for these positions any currently enrolled students or recent graduates from any of the participating universities in this year’s Jessup Competition (note: a recent graduate is former student who completed a university degree fewer than five years ago). Participating universities in this year’s Jessup Competition include the following: Palestine Ahliya University, Al-Istiqlal University, Hebron University, Al-Quds University, Arab American University in Jenin, An-Najah National University, Modern University College, and Birzeit University

Note: The first priority of JSAP is to contract with service providers who can deliver high quality direct interpretation services, however, short-listed applicants who already have a US visa or do not require a visa to travel the United States may be preferred if they are considered to be capable of delivering direct interpretation services that are comparable to other short-listed candidates.

Note: JSAP is looking to contract service providers for this year’s Jessup Competition with the possibility to renew the agreements for two (2) additional option years during the periods of the following two annual competitions (Jessup 2019 and Jessup 2020). As such, JSAP may exercise the option of renewing the services agreements for both of these short-term direct interpreter positions. Prospective service providers should therefore consider the possibility of their contracted services being renewed for additional short-term periods during the following two option years.

Applications should be submitted no later than Sunday, November 19, 2017 by 12:00pm. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. JSAP is an equal opportunity employer.

E-mail:

[email protected]

Fax: (02) 297-2230

No phone calls, please. Applications that do not meet the minimum requirements listed above will not be considered.

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