Chief Editor at African Development Bank - AfDB

The Complex

• The Vice-Presidency, Technology and Corporate Services (TCVP), serves as the cornerstone for the Bank's technological and corporate service initiatives. Dedicated to efficiency and client satisfaction, TCVP is tasked with the design, development, and delivery of superior information technology solutions and corporate services.
• Its responsibilities range from the strategic development and implementation of the Bank’s IT systems, cybersecurity, and business continuity plans to the management of real estate assets, procurement, corporate travel, and language services.
• Through its leadership, TCVP ensures these critical functions are executed in alignment with the Bank's mission, enhancing overall institutional effectiveness.

The Hiring Department / Division

• The Language Services Department is responsible for ensuring quality translation of major Bank documents primarily into English and French, but also into Arabic and Portuguese, as well as other languages as required, providing high standard interpretation in English and French or Arabic and Portuguese, editing documents meant for publication and ensuring quality, analysing and evaluating strategic choices and making relevant recommendations on the use of English and French within the Bank Group, reviewing, updating and implementing practical guidelines and procedures for the efficient delivery of language services, assisting partner organizations eliciting the Bank’s assistance in establishing, restructuring or improving their language services, and promoting bilingualism to enhance communication among staff and with the Bank’s clients and partners.
• Within the Language Services Department, the mandate of the French and English Translation Division is to provide high-level translation services by ensuring quality translation of all Bank documents primarily into and from the Bank’s working languages (French from English), and occasionally Arabic and Portuguese, as well as editing key documents such as the Bank Group's Annual Report in English and French.

The Position

• Under the supervision and guidance of the Division Manager, Translation Division (TCLS1), the Chief Editor will support the delivery of clear, concise and better focused documents produced by the Bank staff and collaborators.
• The Chief Editor also steers knowledge management by supporting the alignment of documents to policy, institutional, strategic and international standards.
• He/she will provide supervisory oversight of the editing process and support the development of harmonised norms across the institution for all users, through providing institutional guidelines and standards and supporting on going awareness of editing norms.

Key Functions

• Reporting directly to the Division Manager, Translation Division, the Chief Editor provides high quality editing services for policy, technical, social, legal and financial documents that reflect institutional and international standards and serves as the institutional reference point for editing.
• The incumbent collaborates with consultants, affiliate and partner institutions.
• As a key member of the Language Services Department, the Chief Editor oversees all editing activities in the Bank, provides advisory services and contributes to strategic thinking on editing for the Bank.

Editing Activities:

• Provide high level editing services to the Bank, by working on flagship reports and other critical documents.
• Lead the editing process Bank-wide, ensuring the quality of editing commensurate with the Institution’s Style Guide and overseeing the edition of flagship Bank documents to the highest quality.
• Oversee collaboration with inhouse authors and external consultants to ensure that they meet specific aspects of editorial policy and practice in preparing Bank documents.
• Ensure the alignment of editing in the Bank to ISO Standard 9001:2015 on Quality Management System.
• Supervise all editing work, including work done by consultant editors, providing guidance in evolving institutional editing standards.
• Championing editing best practice in the Bank.

Advisory Services:

• Provide high-level advisory services to Bank clients.
• Engage actively with clients across the Bank to plan and deliver work on Bank publications, especially flagship reports.
• Coordinate the editing of the Bank’s Annual Report, the African Economic Outlook, and similar documents.
• Proactively seeks ways of reducing editing costs for the Bank, particularly through optimal use of cutting-edge editing tools.

Strategic Thinking and Knowledge:

• Lead strategic thinking in editing to review and improve the editing function in the Bank.
• Participate in various working groups set up by the Bank to focus on specific issues pertaining to the Department or broader issues of interest to the Bank.
• Foster strategic partnerships with sister institutions on editing issues.
• Monitor global developments on editing standards and processes, with a view to continually improving editing products.
• Build the capacity of inhouse editors and consultants to deliver quality documents for the Bank.
• Ensure knowledge management, inclusion and diversity, policy coherence and strategic orientation across Bank documents.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• At least a Master's Degree in English, Translation, Modern Languages, Journalism or related field.
• At least seven (7) years or more experience in editing, of which at least four (4) years editing major documents in an international organization.
• Relevant experience working in the banking and finance sector, international development or similar organizations.
• Evidence of certification following editing or publishing training.
• Practical knowledge of online editing tools and resources. Ability to use standard editing tools and software.
• Ability to lead teams and deliver under pressure.
• Awareness of digital tools.
• Evidence of certified training in international editing standards.
• Strong awareness of corporate policies, procedures and institutional orientation and practices, and their relation to editing.
• Broad general knowledge and ability to quickly adapt to a multicultural and complex environment.
• Capacity to quickly fit into multilingual teams and maintain harmonious working relations.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively and deliver under pressure and stress.
• Ability to work collaboratively with authors and others.
• Ability to provide authors and others providing documents for editing with clear guidelines of editorial policy and standards and support them in preparing their documents.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other.
• Knowledge of the Bank’s standard software: Excel, Word, Power Point, MS Project, Access, etc.