Duty Station:
Vienna, Austria
Issue Date:
28 September 2012
Application Deadline:
8 November 2012
Type/Duration of Appointment:
Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)
Organizational Setting
The Division of Conference and Document Services is one of the six Divisions in the Department of Management. One of the main functions assigned to the IAEA by its Statute is to foster the exchange of scientific and technical information and the dissemination of knowledge in the nuclear field among Member States. To enable the effective exchange and dissemination of information relevant to the IAEA's work and mandate between the Secretariat and Member States, the Division of Conference and Document Services coordinates and supports the implementation of these activities for its users and clients, both internal and external, by organizing meetings and conferences, issuing documents in the six official IAEA languages, i.e. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, and preparing and distributing publications.
The English Translation Section is one of six Translation Sections in the Division providing translations of a broad range of documents and publications into the official languages. It is responsible for translating documents from the other official languages into English. High quality translations are required and often short deadlines have to be met. It is also responsible for preparing summary records in English of official meetings conducted in all six official languages and, upon occasion, for editing texts written in English by persons of another mother tongue.
Main purpose
Reporting to the Director, the Section Head leads a professional team in shaping and implementing the programmatic objectives for the Section, ensuring the high quality and timely delivery of texts translated into English and summary records in English of IAEA official meetings for distribution to Member States and/or members of the Secretariat.
Role
The Section Head is: (1) a leader and manager, providing guidance and managerial support to the team, and planning resources with a view to achieving efficient and effective results; (2) a substantive expert, leveraging knowledge and experience in the field to policy development and operations; (3) an adviseron matters of policy, strategy and complex cases.
Partnerships
The Section Head earns the trust of senior management, staff in the Division and staff throughout the IAEA, in particular the Policy-Making Organs, by providing dependable advice and guidance on all issues within the purview of the Section. Additionally, she/he ensures consistency in collaboration with translation coordination staff.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Lead and manage an innovative and effective team of professionals and support staff, promoting internal and external collaboration, and ensuring, through work assignments, learning opportunities and recruitment, an effective balance of skills and resources.
Provide leadership and structure: develop the annual work plans in line with the programme and budget.
Manage the cost-effective recruitment of suitable freelance précis-writers, as required, to cover meetings of the IAEA General Conference and Board of Governors and their Committees.
Revise the translations done by other members of the Section, mainly from Russian, Spanish and French into English, covering a broad range of scientific, technical, administrative and legal subjects, ensuring that translations are equivalent in meaning and style to the original texts.
Translate and self-revise such texts, especially those of an urgent or confidential nature.
Revise summary records in English of official IAEA meetings for distribution and translation into the five other official languages.
Take authoritative decisions regarding terminology, style and usage in English.
Ensure strategic integration of the outputs: lead the collaborative planning of the programme of the Section, identifying and encouraging linkages with related work units; establish concrete objectives, milestones and performance indicators, and review effectiveness and the focus on priorities in line with the results-based framework.
Oversee the development of best-practice policies and standards in English translation and ensure their efficacy.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Professional expertise:
Demonstrated aptitude for technical and general translation work. Skill and initiative in researching points of terminology, language and subject matter;
Knowledge of scientific and technical subjects, particularly in the nuclear field, and the ability (not necessarily with a formal scientific background) to grasp scientific problems and handle difficult technical material;
Familiarity with the working environment in international organizations;
Knowledge of the IAEA mandate, history, current role and main activities.
Management and leadership skills:
Thorough knowledge of management principles and the ability to manage a multicultural staff and foster an environment that promotes good performance, integrity, self-development and innovation;
Ability to effectively and efficiently assign, monitor and manage human, information and knowledge resources;
Ability to create a culture of accountability for performance ensuring consistency, fairness and transparency of performance reviews.
Analytical and strategic thinking: Ability to convert IAEA priorities and goals into long- and short-term strategic action plans.
Planning and organizing skills: Ability to allocate an appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work under time pressure using the latest technology and methods and maintaining high levels of production and quality. Ability to organize précis-writing coverage of meetings.
Decision-making skills: Ability to take all relevant factors into account in making a decision and to delegate decision-making when appropriate.
Knowledge, information sharing and continuous learning: Ability to foster a culture that values, shares and preserves knowledge and offers opportunities for staff to grow and develop.
Interpersonal skills:
Ability to build effective teams, bringing together diverse backgrounds, skills and expertise to maximize innovation and goal achievement;
Understanding of gender and cultural diversity and sensitivity to related issues.
Customer orientation: Ability to create and promote a culture focused on efficient provision of translation, précis-writing and editing services as required by customers.
Communication skills: Ability to formulate in writing effective policies and procedures and to conduct effective meetings.
Education, Experience and Language Skills
Advanced university degree in languages or in a technical or scientific field, or equivalent years of relevant experience.
English as mother tongue or principal language of education, with a profound knowledge of its grammar, style and usage.
Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in translation and précis-writing.
Minimum of four years of experience in an international organization, public sector or non-profit organization, or equivalent.
Knowledge and experience in using Microsoft Office software and IT translation tools, in particular SDL TRADOS Workbench and SDL TRADOS Multiterm.
Very thorough knowledge of Russian, Spanish and French. Working knowledge of another official IAEA language (Arabic or Chinese) and German desirable.
Remuneration
The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $80 734 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $41 820*, dependency benefits, diplomatic status, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks' annual vacation,home leave, pension plan and health insurance.
How to apply to the IAEA
Complete an Online Application
* Subject to change without notice
Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged
Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. Staff members may be assigned to any location. The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or with a different contract type, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.
