Header

Section Head (P-5)

Issue Date: 25 October 2011
Application Deadline: 6 December 2011
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting

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 French Translation Section is one of six Translation Sections in the Division providing translations of a broad range of documents and publications. It is responsible for translating documents into French. High quality translations are required and often short deadlines are involved.

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 French 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 adviser on matters of policy, strategy and complex cases.

Partnerships

The Section Head establishes the trust of senior management, staff in the Division and staff throughout the IAEA by providing dependable advice and guidance on all issues within the purview of the Section. Additionally, she/he ensures consistency with translation coordination staff.

The Section Head also builds on networks of specialists and counterparts in other international organizations, the public and private sector, to compare experiences with innovative policies and methods for the efficient delivery of service.

Functions / Key Results Expected

  • Lead and manage an innovative and effective team of professionals and staff, promoting internal and external collaboration, and ensuring, through learning opportunities, work assignments 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.
  • Revise the translations done by other members of the Section.
  • Translate and self-revise texts, mainly from English into French, covering a range of scientific, technical, administrative and legal subjects, ensuring that translations are equivalent in meaning and style to the original texts.
  • Take authoritative decisions regarding terminology, style and usage in French.
  • 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 French 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.
  • 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 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

  • University degree in languages or in a technical or scientific field.
  • French as mother tongue or principal language of education, with a profound knowledge of its grammar, style and usage.
  • At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in translation.
  • At least 4 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 written and spoken English. Working knowledge of another official IAEA language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or German desirable.

Remuneration

The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $80 629 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $48 700*, 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 to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.