Responsibilities

The Interpreter will be responsible for the following duties (these are generic and may not be carried out by all interpreters):

• Service several interviews/meetings per week (the week is 5.5 days), usually of no more than three hours duration, however, certain meetings/interviews may run longer than three hours duration
• Provide accurate and complete high quality interpretation. Arabic interpreters provide interpretation into Arabic from English, or from Arabic into English - as appropriate, during interviews of individuals or during meetings
• Routinely assigned to sensitive meetings
• Assist the Chief of Service, as appropriate, in the screening, training and examining of prospective interpreters
• May function as Programming Officer (assigning interpreters)
• May instruct and advise interpreter trainees
• May perform other related duties as required

Competencies

• Professionalism - High level of concentration, split-second accuracy; clear delivery; ability to work under continuous stress and to assimilate an exceedingly broad range of subjects.
• Judgement and decision-making - Good judgement and decision-making combined with tact and negotiating skills
• Planning and organizing - Willingness to constantly improve linguistic skills and monitor own work; good documentary and terminological preparation for meetings; punctuality and readiness to travel and to keep very flexible working hours
• Communications - Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Teamwork - Demonstrated ability to gain the assistance and co-operation of others in a team endeavour through the demonstration of technical leadership; and the ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Qualifications

Education: Degree from a university or from an institution of equivalent status; he/she must have passed the UN Competitive Examination for Interpreters

Experience: At least seven years of internationally recognized professional interpreting experience, four of which would normally have been within the United Nations system.

Language: A perfect command of one official language (specifically Arabic) of the United Nations, normally expected to be the incumbent's main language, and excellent or total command of English

Other skills: Proven ability to interpret from or into other official languages will be an asset