Translator/ Interpreter

Vacancy code VA/2012/B5106/1286
Position title Translator/ Interpreter
Department/office EMO, Jerusalem
Duty station Ramallah, occupied Palestinian territory
Contract type Local ICA Support
Contract level LICA-3
Duration One year with possibility of extension
Application period 10-Oct-2012 to 20-Oct-2012


Background Information - UNOPS

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.”
-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS employs more than 6000 personnel and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.


Background Information - Jerusalem


The UNOPS Jerusalem office opened in 2006 and now has sub-offices in East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Jericho. The portfolio includes infrastructure, procurement, human resources, capacity building, access coordination and security projects for partners and beneficiaries throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.
Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS JMPC is supporting the Canadian government with the implementation of two components of the Sharaka project, a 5-year CIDA-funded program of assistance directed at strengthening the Office of the Attorney General/Public Prosecution (OAG/PP) in order to enhance its contribution to the stability, prosperity and democratic development of the West Bank.  The first component is a procurement component, which will satisfy a substantial part of the operational objectives of the project by supplying concrete and tangible support to the PA through (i) retrofitting the new OAG headquarters building; (ii) furnishing and equipping PP district offices; (iii) equipping the OAG/PP offices with IT equipment; (iv) providing videoconferencing facilities for the OAG/PP; and (v) purchasing vehicles for use by the OAG/PP.  The second component is a technical legal assistance component, which will satisfy the structural, knowledge and capacity building objectives of the project by supplying assistance to the OAG/PP in the following areas: (i) supporting the creation of a Planning Unit within the OAG; (ii) strengthening the internal structure, organization, management and operational capacity of the OAG/PP; (iii) creating human rights and gender units; (iv) providing targeted training support; and (v) supporting Canada’s coordinating role for donor and implementing agency activities within the OAG.
 
The Canadian-funded Sharaka Project requires the services of a qualified translator/interpreter to provide operational support to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in Ramallah.  The translator/interpreter will work with OAG management to enable it to handle a variety of correspondence and interpretation duties related mostly to the assistance and initiatives being provided by a variety of foreign donors and implementers.  The translator/interpreter will assist the OAG/PP in enhancing its communications and coordination capabilities, including by facilitating the posting of English-language content on the institution’s website.
 
The translator/interpreter will be embedded within the OAG for the duration of the contract and will provide services directly to the Attorney General and his staff.  Management of the position will be provided by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in conjunction with the OAG and the Sharaka Project.  UNOPS will be responsible for remuneration and contract related matters.  The Sharaka Project, headed by the Sharaka Field Director, will be the Project Authority and will be responsible for providing overall project-related direction to the translator/interpreter in his/her support to the OAG.  The OAG, through the Head of the Planning Unit, will act as the Technical Authority providing daily supervision and substantive guidance to the translator/interpreter on matters of internal OAG management, needs and priorities, and will facilitate the associate’s integration with the OAG.  In all of his/her dealings, the translator/interpreter will be driven by a focus on attaining the strategic objectives of the OAG and will work closely with the heads of OAG divisions and Sharaka team members in order to achieve this.

Reporting to the OAG Planning Unit Head, the translator/interpreter will be responsible for translation of documents from English to Arabic and from Arabic to English, as well as interpretation services required for various meetings.
Functional Responsibilities

The Translator/Interpreter core duties will include, but are not limited to:

-Ensure translation of necessary documentation from English to Arabic, or Arabic to English, as required to assist the Office of the Attorney General, especially website material related to core services delivery;
-Assist with interpretation services for OAG Planning Unit staff in meetings with donors and implementers and other organizations; and
-Assist with interpretation services for visiting donors and implementers as required.

Competencies

-Possesses an eye for detail;
-Ability to work effectively under pressure;
-Capacity to change work schedule to take into account variations in workload;
-Good interpersonal skills;
-Capacity to work as part of a team;
-Reliability;
-Punctuality and discretion.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a-Education
Bachelor degree in Arabic/English Translation or related field. Additional years of relevant work experience, in combination with a relevant certificate or diploma, may substitute for the requirement for a bachelor’s degree.

 
b-Work Experience
-At least 3 years of relevant experience working as a translator or interpreter;
-Knowledge of Palestinian legal system and terminology; and
-Practical knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel and Power Point.

 
c-Languages
-Strong written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: Local ICA level 3
Contract duration: One year with possibility of extension

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs .aspx

Additional Considerations

-Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
-Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
-Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
-Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
-UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post
-The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.