IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

a.    Organizational Setting

The position of Associate Translation Management Officer is located in the Language Division of the Patents and Technology Sector.
The Language Division is responsible for delivering comprehensive and high-quality language services in relation to: the translation of treaties and other international instruments administered by WIPO, national legislative texts, documents for the Assemblies of Member States, publications, reports of meetings and conferences and working documents for committees of experts and other bodies, and the WIPO website;  and the provision of interpretation services for the meetings of the WIPO Assemblies, committees and meetings organized by the various sectors.

b.    Purpose Statement

The incumbent is primarily responsible for applying sound language translation skills and drafting ability, and translating texts from at least two languages into the target language. The incumbent will also coordinate translation requests and maintain the translation workflow management system according to internal guidelines, requirements, and procedures for the translation of WIPO official documentation.

c.     Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Language Division.

d.    Work Relations

The incumbent liaises with a wide range of colleagues within the Division, and maintains close relations with all requesters of translations across the Organization.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.   Translate documents, correspondence and technical materials intended for internal use covering a broad range of subject matter dealt with by the Organization from two or more languages into the target language.

b.   Acquire information on the subject matter concerned needed to provide a complete, accurate and clear rendition of the original version.

c.   Monitor and follow up on pre-processing translation workflow tasks, and liaise with translation requesters as required.

d.   Participate in terminology work by identifying potential terms and subject fields requiring terminological research. Ensure the maintenance of multilingual terminological entries, and work with language sections to ensure quality, consistency, and availability in all related languages of the terms used in the terminology database of the Division.

e.   Liaise with the meeting secretariats and other translation requestors about translation forecast, compliance with internal rules, rationalization, and control measures as well as editorial practice. Draft summary records of proceedings of meetings as required.

f.    Rearrange work priorities and, if necessary, negotiate deadlines with translation requestors to prioritize translation requests in case of conflicting demands and to avoid delays in processing requests.

g.   Analyze all incoming translation requests, verify, and determine word count by leveraging translation memory, and prepare references and packages using computer-assisted translation and terminology (CATT) tools, including machine translation, and keep informed of technical developments in these areas.

h.   Manage translation memories and prepare references and packages using CATT tools including machine translation, with a dual objective of ensuring consistency in translation and driving cost-efficiency.

i.    Identify issues or areas of improvement related to the translation workflow management system;  make recommendations to the Director of the Division for possible enhancements to the system; and provide analysis and other reports on the trends of translation requests.

j.    Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in modern languages, linguistics, terminology, translation or a related discipline.

Education (Desirable)

Advanced university degree in modern languages, linguistics, terminology, translation or a related discipline.

Experience (Essential)

At least three years of experience in terminology, referencing, translation and/or documentation, including experience using CATT tools.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Knowledge of translation technology and software tools that aid the translation process.
Ability to grasp scientific and technical issues in a wide variety of fields.
Ability to work accurately and to respect strict deadlines.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of the subject matter dealt with by WIPO.

1.     Communicating effectively.

2.     Showing team spirit.

3.     Demonstrating integrity.

4.     Valuing diversity.

5.     Producing results.

6.     Showing service orientation.

7.     Seeing the big picture.

8.     Seeking change and innovation.

9.     Developing yourself and others.

Mobility:  WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization.  Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment.  Please note that this estimate is for information only.  The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice.  The figures quoted below are based on the January 2024 rate of 92.6%.

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions.  The selected candidate’s appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with no possibility of renewal beyond that term.  S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.  Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

   Additional background checks may be required.