Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Chinese Translation Section, Languages Service, Division of Conference Management, Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, Geneva. This position is under the general supervision of the Chief of the Chinese Translation Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Reviser will be responsible for the following duties:
• Revises translations dealing with a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, in particular those of an exceptionally sensitive, complex or technical nature, while exceeding required workload standards and meeting deadlines, and provides feedback that helps revisers become autonomous, self-revising translators.
• Translates on a self-revising basis texts covering a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, in particular those of an exceptionally sensitive, complex or technical nature, while exceeding required workload standards and meeting deadlines.
• Makes effective use of relevant language technologies and tools and assists the Chief in promoting their utilization.
• Directs the identification of new terminology material and plays a leading role in the setting of terminology standards.
• Actively seeks to learn and develop own skills and knowledge relevant to the job.
• Contributes to the professional development of staff, including by coaching, overseeing the preparation of manuals and guidance and delivering or arranging training activities and materials.
• Coordinates and supervises the work of revisers and translators and advises and assists them in the performance of their responsibilities.
• Assigns individual tasks and supports the Chief with programming long-term work, if required.
• Performs quality control of externally produced translations and establishes quality control criteria and procedures.
• Advises and assists the Chief in selecting texts for United Nations competitive examinations and other tests, in marking candidates’ scripts and in evaluating results.
• Advises and assists the Chief in managing policy, administrative and operational matters by helping to prepare recommendations to senior management and to implement them once approved.
• Undertakes cross-assignments to perform other language functions, if required.
• Leads team members’ efforts to collect and analyse data, as appropriate, as input for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentations and reporting. Ensures that team members can discover, access, integrate and share the data that they need.
• Acts as First Reporting Officer, if required.
• Serves as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Chief.
• Performs 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.

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.

EMPOWERING OTHERS:
Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE:
Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

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

Job – Specific Qualification

Passing the relevant United Nations Competitive Examination for Chinese Translators/Précis-Writers or the relevant combined United Nations Competitive Examination for Translators/Précis-writers, Editors, and Verbatim Reporters is required.
This requirement will be waived for candidates who passed one of the relevant United Nations competitive examinations held before 2017 for Editors or Verbatim Reporters, subject to an assessment test to be conducted by the Hiring Manager as part of the Inspira selection process.

Work Experience

At least ten (10) years of experience in translation or in another relevant language field, and in the use of relevant language technologies, is required.

Out of the afore mentioned, eight (8) years of experience in the United Nations Common System or similar international organizations is desirable.

At least four (4) years of revision experience is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in Chinese (as assessed in the relevant Competitive Examination), which must be the candidate’s main language, is required. An excellent knowledge of English (as assessed in the relevant Competitive Examination) is required. Knowledge of one other official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.