Reporting LinesThe Language Service Specialist reports to the Senior Reviser of the relevant translation group.
The incumbent operates independently and exercises initiative for dealing with specific cases that deviate from standard assignments.
Supervision received focuses on methodological and procedural matters and the quality of work outputs.
Technical Focus The role of the Language Service Specialist is to check the quality of translated documents; ensure proper formatting of documents according to the FAO Style guide for the relevant language; bring to the attention of their supervisor any doubts related to the original documents or the translations; liaise with CSGL's Programming, Terminology and Reference teams in order to point out possible errors in the original documents or obtain any clarifications, additional information or files/material necessary to finalize the documents assigned to him/her.
Tasks and responsibilitiesThe Language Service Specialist works closely with a wide range of colleagues in the Division, performing translation-related tasks and providing procedural guidance and information.
• Perform quality control of external translations, correcting errors (style, spelling, grammar or punctuation), and bring to the attention of the Supervisor any inconsistencies both in translated documents and original texts.
• Liaise with Programming Team and/or document originators to request clarifications or additional material needed to complete the jobs.
• Perform quality checks to ensure proper usage of terminology and consistency across texts.
• Ensure adherence in documents and publications to the FAO Style guide for the relevant language.
• Create complex tabular material and graphs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for official meeting documents and for publications.
• Check for file name accuracy and adherence to the file-naming convention and upload completed and finalized translations to the eDPR.
• Using the computer-assisted translation (CAT) corporate software, pre-process original documents for translation, carry out alignments of previously translated documents, and import alignments into the appropriate translation memory (TM).
• Insert in the bilingual (xliff) files corrections made in translations and import xliff files into the appropriate TM.
• Process urgent documents and in-session translations, working outside of regular working hours if necessary.
• Perform other duties as required.
The incumbent's work impacts directly on the smooth and efficient working of the Division.
He/She plays a critical role in the timely processing, issuance and distribution of documentation.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWINGMinimum Requirements• University degree in Linguistic or related field, or in one of FAO's fields of activity with a specialization in languages• One year of relevant experience in translation or translation support work and documentation processing.• Working knowledge of English and of one or more of the following; Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.FAO Core Competencies• Results Focus• Teamwork• Communication• Building Effective Relationships• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous ImprovementTechnical/Functional Skills • Excellent knowledge of the MS Office suite of applications, Internet browsers and office technology equipment.• Knowledge of CAT tools.
• Knowledge of reference and translation procedures.• Extensive and relevant experience in supporting conference services in international organizations.
• Knowledge of the FAO documentation planning, processing and distribution workflow and related computerized systems (eDPR).
• Familiarity with FAO meeting planning and organization procedures.
• Ability to draft correspondence independently, verify information and analyze developments.
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing) Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The list can be accessed at For more information, visit the FAO employment website Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
