Chief, Spanish Translation Section, LPC

Languages, Publications and Conference Management (LPC), within the Bureau of Administration and Services (ADB), promotes and coordinates the implementation of the ICAO Multilingualism Strategy. It provides interpretation, translation, editorial and programme support services in the six ICAO working languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish). Based on the principle of simultaneous distribution, it ensures the issuance of documentation to the Council, its deliberative bodies, the Air Navigation Commission, and other ICAO meetings held within and away from the Headquarters. LPC is also responsible for the efficient and successful management of the ICAO Headquarters International Conference Centre.

The Spanish Translation Section provides translation services from English into Spanish. The incumbent, as Chief of the Section, is accountable for the high quality and timely delivery of these services. S/he leads and supervises all staff in the Section in terms of delegation of duties, performance evaluation, technical guidance, training and coaching. The Chief reports directly to the Deputy Director, LPC, with whom s/he consults on complex technical matters.

The incumbent will be translating from English into Spanish. S/He will also perform interpretation duties as applicable, when required.

Leads, supervises and manages the work and staff of the Section, achieving results such as: 

• Promote customer-oriented services by providing direction, motivating staff and fostering good performance and teamwork. 
• Maintain and promote a harmonious working environment among team members.
• Organise and manage assigned resources to provide timely and effective service delivery, overseeing attendance and absence management of staff.
• Develop operational plans for the Section and supervise, monitor and report on their implementation.
• Define work strategies for the Section to ensure provision of comprehensive translation services to the Organization. 
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of monthly/periodic reports and statistical data and analysis on the work of the Section for management.
• Establish, monitor and report on annual performance and work plans for Section staff, ensuring appropriate distribution of workload, and adjusting priorities as required, in order to meet operational needs. 
• Evaluate the performance of the staff of the Section; train and coach, as necessary.
• Provide input to the Deputy Director, LPC on all relevant matters, and act as Officer-in-Charge, as required. 

Manages the translation and revision of texts covering a broad range of technical, legal or administrative subjects dealt with by ICAO, exercises quality control and executes terminological research, in compliance with the ICAO Multilingualism Strategy, achieving results such as:

• Promote and participate in the implementation of the ICAO Multilingualism Strategy and the streamlining and digitalization of language services. 
• Translate into Spanish, using standard computer-assisted-translation (CAT) tools and systems, and revise translated texts, with particular attention to those that are of a sensitive, confidential, difficult, or complex nature.
• Produce accurate and complete versions in the target language, using the most appropriate vocabulary and the commonly accepted equivalents of professional, scientific or technical terms.
• Convey faithfully the full meaning of each text as befits the intended use and the target readership of the translated version.
• Meet deadlines with regard to translation/revision assignments, maintaining a high degree of quality and the expected productivity.
• Ensure terminological consistency and cross-cultural equivalence between the translation and the source texts.
• Alert the Terminology Officer of any new terminology or gaps in terminology databases and make recommendations to fill the gaps.
• Pro-actively provide input to the development of translation databases.
• Exercise independent judgement and discretion in researching and selecting the right terminology in the target language, regardless of the difficulty of the text. 
• Address translation queries presented by clients, editorial and text processing staff.

Manages the quality of all texts and documentation provided to the Secretary General and/or President of the Council, achieving results such as: 

• Ensure quality of all correspondence and documentation to be issued by the Secretary General and/or President of the Council. 
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of text in the target language, using the most appropriate range of vocabulary and the commonly accepted or established equivalents of professional, scientific or technical concepts and terms.
• Take accountability that deadlines are met with regard to translation assignments, maintaining a high degree of quality.

Spot-checks texts translated by other translators, colleagues or freelance and contractual translators, ensuring their accuracy and high linguistic quality, achieving results such as:

• Pro-actively spot-check and revise texts translated by other translators, colleagues or outsourced services.
• Ensure that translations are both accurate and stylistically appropriate, and check for errors in spelling, grammar and style.
• Apply high-level revision skills and considerable drafting and analytical ability to especially difficult, complex and urgent documents.
• Produce final versions in the target language that are equivalents of the original text in terms of accuracy, completeness, meaning, style and effectiveness.
• Consult with substantive units or originators to clarify possible inconsistencies or errors in the original text.
• Develop and conduct training sessions and workshops for translators, as necessary.

Decides on the outsourcing of translation services, and manages general administrative functions, achieving results such as: 

• Ensure adequate staffing, optimum productivity and efficient management and operation of the Section.
• Analyse the need and make recommendations for freelance and outsourcing support, including translation from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English.
• Make recommendations regarding freelance translators and outsourced translation work.
• Prepare testing material for prospective candidates for freelance translation; administer tests, assess results and make recommendations on their suitability.
• Contribute to the expansion of the roster.
• Obtain feedback from clients and other sources on the quality of the language services provided; adapt own work and make recommendations on the improvement of the work of the Section. 
• Identify the need for adapting guidelines to cases not covered in existing rules and practices.
• Make recommendations for improving or revising the formulation and standardization of translation and revision guidelines.

Acts as additional supervisor for Spanish interpreters and second level supervisor for Spanish text processing operators (TPOs)/proofreaders, achieving results such as:

• Coordinate with Chief, Interpretation and Conference Services Section (C/ICS) on the availability of interpreters for translation assignments.
• Make translation assignments to available interpreters, maximizing the use of resources and managing the quality.
• Release translators/interpreters, as applicable, to support interpretation services, in coordination with C/ICS.
• Contribute to performance evaluation of interpreters and TPOs/proofreaders.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Essential

• An advanced-level university degree (Master’s degree or academic equivalent), preferably with emphasis on translation, languages, international or scientific studies. 

Desirable

• Successful completion of the United Nations exam for translators.

Essential

• A minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in translating and revising from English to Spanish, , preferably technical or legal texts of difficult and complex nature, in a government, a large-scale private organization, or an international organization. 
• Sound experience in the planning, coordination and supervision of translation services. 
• Demonstrated experience to translate sensitive, political or technical texts. 
• Experience in the use of standard computer-assisted-translation (CAT) tools and systems.
• Desirable 
• Training/experience in conference interpreting.

A complete command of Spanish as the mother tongue or the language used for the purpose of education is essential, along with a thorough knowledge of its syntax and stylistics.  The incumbent must also have excellent knowledge of English.

 

Desirable 

A working knowledge of any other language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

Professionalism: Excellent knowledge of revision rules and procedures and practices; ability to type and format documents in a text processing software; familiarity with the objectives and procedures of international organizations functioning at government level; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

It should be noted that this post is to be filled on a fixed-term basis for an initial period of 3 years (first year is probationary for an external candidate). 

ICAO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Secretary General and may be assigned to any activities or offices of the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the ICAO service code (Staff Regulations).

ICAO staff members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status as international civil servants. In this connection, ICAO has incorporated the 2013 Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service into the ICAO Personnel Instructions.

ICAO offers an attractive benefit package to its employees in accordance with the policies of the International Civil Service Commission [link removed] (ICSC).

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service after 1 January 2014 is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

Remuneration:	Level P-5	Rate	Net Base Salary  per annum	+	Post Adjustment (net)  per annum(*)
USD $103,165	USD $37,036

(*) Post Adjustment is subject to change.

Special Notice: 

The ICAO Assembly [link removed] recently reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing gender equality and the advancement of women by supporting UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” 

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for ICAO positions, especially in the Professional and higher level categories.

Interested candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit: ICAO's e-Recruitment website [link removed]

ICAO does NOT charge any fees or request money from candidates at any stage of the selection process, nor does it concern itself with bank account details of applicants. Requests of this nature allegedly made on behalf of ICAO are fraudulent and should be disregarded.