Closing date: Thursday, 16 April 2015
Posting Title: 2015 - LCE FRENCH TRANSLATORS / PRÉCIS-WRITERS, P-2/P-3, P3
Job Code Title: TRANSLATOR, FRENCH
Department/ Office
Department for General Assembly and Conference Management
Duty Station
VIENNA; ADDIS ABABA; NAIROBI; BANGKOK; NEW YORK; GENEVA
Posting Period
17 March 2015-16 April 2015
Job Opening number
15-LAN-DGACM-40082-L-MULTIPLE D/S (L)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
SPECIAL NOTICE TO EXTERNAL APPLICANTS
The purpose of the present Job opening is to invite applications from external candidates who wish to take the competitive examination for French Translators-Précis-writer in 2015.
The competitive examination is to establish a roster from which present and future vacancies for French language Translators/Précis-writer will be filled. When vacancies occur in the language services of the United Nations Secretariat, successful candidates will be recruited from the roster, subject to the requirements of the service in terms of expertise and language combinations.
Examinees who are successful in this examination and are selected for inclusion in the roster will be appointed to fill vacancies as they occur in the language services of the United Nations Secretariat in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Bangkok. Successful examinees will be expected to take up their functions as required by the needs of the Organization, specifically in the duty stations where vacancies are located. Appointments are subject to rotation and successful examinees may thereafter be called upon to serve at other duty stations according to the needs of the Organisation. Successful examinees are expected to serve a minimum of five years in a language post. Successful candidates should note that, in accordance with the needs of the Service, they may be called upon to work outside normal working hours, including weekends and holidays.
The competitive examination for the recruitment of French language Translators-Précis-Writer will be held on 23 June 2015 in New York, Geneva and other locations according to the number and location of qualified applicants invited to take the examination.
Only applications submitted in French will be reviewed by the Board of Examiners. In instances where a large number of applications are received, the Board of Examiners reserves the right to admit to the examination only the most qualified applicants based on a review of qualifications over and above the minimum criteria. All applicants will be notified in writing for the Board's decision in respect of their application. The Board's decisions are final.
On the basis of the results of the written examination, the Board of Examiners will invite selected examinees to a competency-based interview. The Board will interview each examinee to assess whether she or he possesses the competencies required for the position. Examinees may also be required to take some additional short tests at the time of the interview (including a sight translation test). The interview is an integral part of the examination. Therefore, examinees who are invited for an interview should not assume that they will be automatically placed on a roster or offered an assignment.
Successful examinees who receive an offer of appointment are strongly encouraged to accept it, as declining may affect their prospects of receiving a subsequent offer. A successful candidate who declines two offers will be removed from the roster.
Successful examinees selected from the roster to fill vacancies are normally offered an initial two-year fixed-term appointment at the P-2 level. This level comprises 12 steps, each corresponding to an annual increment awarded if performance is satisfactory. Upon satisfactory completion of this trial period, their appointment will be extended and they may be promoted to the P-3 level, which comprises 15 steps. The fixed-term appointments of translators whose performance proves unsatisfactory will not be extended. Fully qualified translators with several years of internationally recognized professional language experience and demonstrated ability to perform high-quality work may be recruited at the journeyman level (P-3).
Successful candidates in translation assigned directly to duty stations away from Headquarters will normally be required to spend the first six months of their trial period in the corresponding service at Headquarters.
Candidates to this competitive exam must submit their application in French, referring to the French version of the Job opening, accessible under the French version of the UN careers Website .
Incomplete application (including without the essay or evidence of languages) and applications that are received after the above deadline will not be considered. No extensions for submission will be given if applications cannot be sent by the deadline set in Inspira. (New York HQ local time)
SPECIAL NOTICE TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS
The Job opening is open to the applications from staff members of the Secretariat at the P-3 level and below who wish to take the competitive examination for French-language translators/précis-writers in 2015, in accordance with the provisions of ST/AI/1998/7 and ST/AI/2000/1, as amended by ST/AI/2003/1.
The competitive examination is to establish a roster from which present and future vacancies for French language Translators/Précis-writer will be filled. When vacancies occur in the language services of the United Nations Secretariat, successful candidates will be recruited from the roster, subject to the requirements of the service in terms of expertise and language combinations.
The competitive examination for the recruitment of French language Translators-Précis-Writer will be held on 23 June 2015 in New York, Geneva and other locations according to the number and location of qualified applicants invited to take the examination.
The examination is open to staff members of the United Nations at the P-3 level and below who meet the eligibility requirements, as well as qualified external candidates.
Staff members who are successful and are selected for inclusion in the roster will be assigned to fill vacancies for French-language translator/précis-writer posts as they occur in the language services in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Bangkok. Assignments are subject to rotation, and translators/précis-writers may thereafter be called upon to serve at other United Nations duty stations according to the needs of the Organization. Translators/précis-writers are expected to serve a minimum of five years in language posts.
The assignment of staff members of the United Nations who are successful in the examination and are selected to fill vacancies will be subject to the following conditions: 1. Staff members selected to fill vacancies will be assigned as French-language translators/précis-writers for a trial period of two years. Staff members below the P 2 level or in the General Service category will receive a special post allowance to the P-2 level. Staff members at the P-2 and P-3 levels will be assigned at their respective levels.
2. Staff members with a special post allowance to the P-2 level and those already at the P-2 level who successfully complete the trial period and are recommended by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management and the Office of Human Resources Management may be promoted to the P-3 level. Staff members already at the P-3 level who successfully complete the trial period will be confirmed in their functions at the P-3 level. After two years of satisfactory service on a fixed-term appointment, the candidate will be considered for a continuing appointment. This means that the candidate will have to demonstrate within that time that he or she possesses the requisite qualifications to serve as a career staff member of the United Nations in order to receive such an appointment. Staff members who do not successfully complete the trial period will be reassigned to posts at their previous levels, and the special post allowance, if any, will be discontinued.
3. In accordance with the needs of the service/section, translators/précis-writers may be called upon to work outside normal working hours, including on weekends and holidays.
Staff members from subsidiary organs of the United Nations and staff members whose service is limited to a particular organ, fund or programme of the United Nations or special missions are considered external candidates for the purpose of this examination. Such candidates, if successful in the examination, will be offered a new appointment with the United Nations, subject to normal United Nations recruitment procedures and standards.
All applications will be reviewed by the Board of Examiners. In instances where a large number of applications are received, the Board of Examiners reserves the right to admit to the examination only the most qualified applicants based on a review of qualifications over and above the minimum criteria. All applicants will be notified in writing for the Board's decision in respect of their application. The Board's decisions are final.
On the basis of the results of the written examination, the Board of Examiners will invite selected examinees to a competency-based interview. The Board will interview each examinee to assess whether she or he possesses the competencies required for the position. Examinees may also be required to take some additional short tests at the time of the interview (including a sight translation test). The interview is an integral part of the examination. Therefore, examinees who are invited for an interview should not assume that they will be automatically placed on a roster or offered an assignment.
On the basis of the overall results of the examination, the Board will recommend to the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management the names of candidates who qualify for inclusion in the roster. All examinees will be informed in writing of the Board's final recommendation in respect of their candidature. The Board's recommendations are not subject to appeal. The Board does not release individual scores or results.
Successful candidates who receive an offer of appointment are expected to accept it.
Successful candidates in translation assigned directly to duty stations away from Headquarters will normally be required to spend the first six months of their trial period in the corresponding service at Headquarters.
Staff members selected to fill vacancies will be recruited as French language Translator/Précis-writer according to the staff rules in force.
Candidates to this competitive exam must submit their application in French, referring to the French version of the Job opening, accessible under the French version of the UN careers Website .
Incomplete application (including without the essay or evidence of languages) and applications that are received after the above deadline will not be considered. No extensions for submission will be given if applications cannot be sent by the deadline set in Inspira (New York HQ local time).
Organizational Setting and Reporting
These positions are located in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) at Headquarters and in its offices at the United Nations Offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, as well as in two of the five regional commissions (Economic Commission for Africa, and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). These positions are under the general supervision of the Chief of the French Translation Service at Headquarters or the relevant Chiefs of Section/Unit in Offices away from Headquarters.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Associate Translator/Précis-writer is responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic and may not be carried out by all Associate Translators/Précis-writers.)
Translates, subject to revision, documents, including summary records, covering a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, i.e., political, social, legal, economic, financial, administrative, scientific and technical.
Attends meetings as part of a team, takes notes either directly from statements delivered in the languages of competence or from the interpretation and subsequently uses the notes to produce draft summary records, subject to revision.
Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Ability to demonstrate a high level of concentration and work under continuous stress. Knowledge of a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, i.e., political, social, legal, economic, financial, administrative, scientific and technical. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.
Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.
Education
Hold at least a three-year first-level degree or an equivalent qualification from a university or institution of equivalent status in which French is the language of instruction or hold a three-year first-level university degree from a recognized school of translation and/or interpretation.
The requirement for a university degree or its equivalent from a university or institution of equivalent status mentioned above may be waived for staff members who, in the judgement of the Board of Examiners, have adequate post-secondary educational qualifications from a university or institution of equivalent status and adequate secondary educational qualifications from an establishment at which the principal language of instruction is French, in addition to five years of continuous service with the United Nations Secretariat by 31 December 1989.
Work Experience
No experience is required.
Languages
Have French as their main language (The main language should be understood to be the language in which the candidate is best able to work);
Have a perfect command of French and an excellent knowledge of English and at least one of the other official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish). The Board of Examiners, appointed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, requires that applicants' claims of knowledge of official languages must be supported by relevant documentation. Applicants must substantiate their claims of knowledge of those languages by attaching to their application a copy of a diploma or a certificate from a language school. Applicants may be required to submit further evidence of degrees, knowledge of languages and/or relevant experience prior to convocation;
As an exception, for applicants who do not have a third language but hold a university degree in law, accounting or finance, or have at least five years of experience in translating texts on these subjects in an international organization, the requirement of an additional official language may be waived by the Board of Examiners.
Assessment Method
Applications will be screened and carefully assessed on the basis of the eligibility criteria, and only those applicants who are deemed qualified will be convoked for the written examination. Only those examinees who are successful in the written examination will be invited to the oral examination.
The written examination will consist of four parts: (a) Translation into French of a general text in English (two hours and a half). It should be noted that this paper is eliminatory. Only examinees who are successful in this paper will have their other papers marked;
(b) Summary in French of a text in French (one hour);
(c) Translation into French of a text chosen by the examinee from a total of four texts, one in each of the following official United Nations languages: Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Alternatively, for examinee with no knowledge of a third language but with a degree in law, finance or accounting or at least 5 years of experience in translating texts on these subjects in an international organization, translation into French of a legal or financial text in English. Examinees with a degree in law, finance or accounting or equivalent experience and knowledge of a third language may opt for either the foreign language text or the relevant specialized text (one and a half hours);
(d) Translation into French of one English text to be chosen by the examinee from a total of five specialized texts (economic, financial, legal, social and political). Examinees with no knowledge of a third language must select the legal text if they have a degree in law or equivalent experience and the legal or the financial text if they have a degree in finance or accounting or equivalent experience (one and a half hours).
United Nations Considerations
Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.
