Org. Setting and Reporting

The editing and translation services of the United Nations Secretariat are responsible for the timely provision of parliamentary documentation and key publications in the six official languages of the United Nations. These positions are located in the English Translation and Editorial Service of the Documentation Division of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) in New York, under the general supervision of the Chief of Service.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and in line with the candidate’s experience and training, the English Linguist (English Reviser) will be primarily responsible for performing one or more of the following duties: • Edit, on a self-revising basis, documents, including texts of a specialized or technical nature, while meeting workload standards and deadlines. • Translate, on a self-revising basis, texts covering a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, while meeting workload standards and deadlines. • Draft, on a self-revising basis, summary records, while meeting required workload standards and deadlines. • Revise edited texts, translations and/or summary records produced by others, providing feedback that helps revisees become autonomous, self-revising English Linguists. In addition, the English Linguist (English Reviser) may perform some or all of the following duties: • Draft reports of meetings, either after attending meetings as part of a team and taking notes or using recordings, and/or compile the report, while meeting workload standards and deadlines. • Contribute to the development of editorial policy and practice. • Provide authors with information on specific aspects of editorial policy and practice and guide them in the drafting of documentation. • Identify new terminology material, submit it for approval and contribute to the setting of terminology standards. • Actively seek to learn from feedback and develop own skills and knowledge relevant to the job, especially through self-study, being able, afterwards, to share the knowledge gained. • Make effective use of relevant language technologies and tools and contribute to promoting their utilization. • Advise and assist team members and brief them on procedures and practices, terminology and a broad range of subjects, as required. • Coordinate the work of small teams, determining and monitoring deadlines and providing guidance. • Assign individual tasks and support the Chief with programming long-term work, if required. • Perform quality control of documents produced externally and contribute to the establishment of quality control criteria and procedures. • Act as First Reporting Officer, if required. • Undertake cross-assignments to perform other language functions, if required. • Collect and analyse data, as appropriate, as input for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentations and reporting. • Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to demonstrate good writing skills; high standard of accuracy, consistency and faithfulness to the spirit, style and nuances of the original text with a good grasp of the subject matter. Knowledge of a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, i.e. political, social, legal, economic, financial, administrative, scientific and technical. Ability to use all sources of references, consultation and information relevant to text at hand. Ability to work under pressure and maintain adequate speed and volume of output and deliver clear interpretation on a broad range of subjects. Ability to show a high level of versatility, judgement and discretion. 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. • 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. • Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

A first-level degree from a university or an institution of equivalent status is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Combined United Nations Competitive Examination for English Translators/Précis-writers, Editors, Verbatim Reporters and Copy Preparers/Proofreaders/Production Editors is required; this requirement will be waived for candidates who passed any relevant United Nations language competitive examination held before 2017, subject to an assessment test to be conducted by the hiring manager as part of the Inspira selection process.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in English translation, editing or another relevant language field, and in the use of relevant language technologies, is required, of which three years in the United Nations or a similar international organization. Experience editing texts on a self-revising basis, and/or translating from French and Spanish, is desirable.

Languages

A perfect command of English, which must be the candidate’s main language, and knowledge of at least two other official languages, as assessed in the relevant Competitive Examination.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.