Interpreter (French) at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Job Code: ECW/CCJ/IF/004
Grade: P5
Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Head of Department (HOD) for Judicial Certified Translations & Interpretation, the incumbent shall perform interpretation work for the Court from languages B/C into French.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide interpretation during internal and external court sessions and meetings and during conferences or workshops.
• Provide interpretation in relevant language combinations (simultaneous, consecutive, whispering, liaison) of speeches or statements.
• Interpret sensitive meetings routinely.
• Assist in the establishment of a terminology database, glossaries, etc.
• Manage the terminology and reference database to ensure accuracy and consistency in language and terminology usage.
• Assist in the screening, examining, and training of prospective interpreters.
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Interpretation Team Leader/ Head of Language Services.

Academic Qualification and Experience
Educational Qualification:

• Master’s Degree in Conference Interpretation from a recognized university/institute.

Experience:

• 10 years of experience in interpretation, at least 4 of which should have been interpreter experience in an international organization, and use of relevant computer software, electronic tools and databases.
• Demonstrated understanding of the A -B -C language combinations system.
• Membership of AIIC would be an asset
• Demonstrated experience in the use of relevant computer-assisted translation software/tools.
• Demonstrated understanding of interpretation teams.
• Demonstrated professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the profession's tenets, such as confidentiality, collegiality, and the highest standards of professionalism.
• Ability to carry out terminology research and prepare glossaries on a wide range of themes. Excellent writing and analytical skills, highest standards of accuracy, consistency, and faithfulness to the style and nuances of the original text.
• Proven expertise in using relevant computer-assisted translation (CAT) software and tools, machine translation systems, and on-screen editing software.

ECOWAS Key Competencies
Leadership:

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a particular point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices.
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• The ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to resolve challenges with minimal direction and/or recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval.
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information, and resources.
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining the organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.

Client Service Orientation:

• Interpersonal skills with the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to timeline, quality, and quantity.
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong, trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their needs, mitigates issues, and carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs.
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult, and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards
• Excellent management capacity, including networking and alliance building.
• Ability to work within a multinational environment and with a diverse range of people and organisations at national, regional, and global levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team setting, group facilitation and good interpersonal skills.
• Proven knowledge of new developments in own occupation/profession.
• Effective organizational skills with the ability to prioritize

Multicultural Sensitivity and Advocacy:

• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness, and the ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds, nationalities, genders, ethnicities, races, and religions.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views, especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences; ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy.
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns, and apply judgement, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all work areas.
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people unbiasedly and transparently.

Knowledge of ECOWAS:

• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes, and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services, and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS culture, structures, performance issues, and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of member states' development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as they relate to the project/programme assigned to their own position.

Analytical and Critical Thinking:

• Ability to study data/information from various sources, identify anomalies, trends, and issues, present findings, and make recommendations.
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals.
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions, and/or internal committees.

Communication:

• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to use graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means.
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions, and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner.
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in two (French and English) of the ECOWAS official languages (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one (Portuguese) will be an added advantage.

Planning and Implementation:

• Ability to develop and implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals;
• Identify, organize, and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution.
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to coordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators, and risks.
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.

Eligibility:

• Must be a citizen of an ECOWAS Member State.
• Must not be more than 50 years of age at the time of recruitment. This does not apply to internal candidates.

Annual Basic Salary
USD 53,025.02 / USD 59,949.97