Overview
The incumbent supports the operation with translation and interpretation related activities. S/he has frequent contacts involving the exchange of a wide range of information some of which may be complex.
Tasks Summary
- Perform oral interpretation during interviews conducted for registration, refugee status determination (RSD), resettlement (RST) and general protection activities.
- Interpret oral conversations, discussions and counselling sessions with refugees and asylum-seekers, including psycho-social counselling, and other counselling sessions with vulnerable and/or traumatized individuals.
- Interpret at public meetings or events, as required.
- Interpret and/or translate from hand-written reports and applications, certificates, documents, newspapers, magazines etc.
- Translate documentation and correspondence from local languages into English and/or Arabic and vice versa;
- Support the RSD-RST unit with coordination, preparing interview schedules and setting interviews communication.
- Assist with contacting persons of concern to UNHCR via telephone, upon the request of RSD and/or RST caseworkers.
- Travel with UNHCR staff on their missions to the field for interpretation and other assistance, as needed.
- Provide other support to the RSD/RST teams and performs clerical duties to support RSD, RST and general protection caseworkers (such as scanning, copying, retyping translations and/or interview transcripts).
- Assist other units, including the public information and external relations units regarding interpretation and translation.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Experience Requirements
Extensive experience with UN agencies and foreign embassies (at least two years) performing in a similar role. Managerial experience would be an asset. Previous experience with UNHCR would be considered an asset. Experience translating complex and sensitive texts, including legal documents and laws. Minimum 2 years of professional job experience. Ability to work with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Qualification Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in English literature/translation, along with an accredited international language certificate, such as the Language Proficiency Examination (or equivalent qualification) in English is preferred. Business Administration; Secretarial;
