Organisational Context

The Language Services Section (LSS) provides high-quality language services to the organs of the Court for the efficient conduct of Court business. Such services include translation, revision and editing of Court documents; consecutive and simultaneous interpretation for meetings, trial hearings, press conferences, specialized seminars, diplomatic briefings and other events, held in-house or away from the seat of the Court; assistance and guidance regarding terminology and references; management of language tools to ensure that consistent terminology is used throughout the Court; recruitment, training and accreditation of interpreters needed for work with Registry officials in the field and/or at the seat of the Court; provision of relevant information to service users to familiarize them with all the language services provided and with the procedures and requirements of the professions in question.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Reviser (French) will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the French Translation Unit/Senior Reviser (French) and under the overall supervision of the Chief of LSS. The incumbent will be expected to:

• Revise translations covering a wide range of topics including but not limited to legal, political, military, medical, forensic, technical, administrative, financial and human rights matters from English (and possibly other languages) into French, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of accuracy and faithfulness and are appropriate in terms of grammar, usage, readability, register, style and terminology;
• Produce self-revised translations to the same standard;
• Carry out and document appropriate terminological and other research to ensure the accuracy and faithfulness of translations;
• Contribute to the Section’s terminological records to facilitate the work of the Section and the rest of the Court;
• Consult with other revisers as well as translators and authors, and carry out research to clarify ambiguities and rectify errors where appropriate;
• Coordinate translation projects by, inter alia, checking the consistency of longer texts involving more than one translator, harmonizing terminology and identifying recurring passages;
• Contribute to the design and implementation of procedures to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency and conformity with the Section’s linguistic standards, policies and practice;
• Provide feedback to other revisers; provide detailed feedback to Translators and Associate Translators with a view to developing their skills;
• Work with the terminology and references team on the consideration of new terminology and the organization of translation projects;
• Participate in the testing and recruitment of language staff for the Unit;
• Deputize for the Head of Unit in his or her absence, in particular in matters pertaining to the negotiation of deadlines, work schedules and staff attendance.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree in translation, languages, law or another relevant area. A first-level university degree, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience, is accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of seven years (nine years with a first‑level university degree) of relevant work experience as a translator/reviser.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Superior academic knowledge of the required languages.
• Knowledge of legal concepts in general, and of international legal instruments and ICC legal instruments in particular; knowledge of terminology relevant to the work of international organizations; high degree of specialization in topics dealt with by the Court, namely legal, political, military, medical, forensic, technical, administrative, financial and human rights matters.
• Knowledge of relevant IT applications and a high level of proficiency in the use of word‑processing programs, language tools and electronic document management systems.
• Organizational skills, in particular as regards coordinating the timely translation of voluminous texts; interpersonal skills.
• Superior writing and editorial skills; acute sensitivity to nuance and attention to detail; outstanding analytical skills.
• Ability to lead a translation team working to deadlines.
• Ability to provide guidance and coaching and to improve staff motivation and competencies.

Knowledge of languages: 

Mother-tongue proficiency in French and a high level of proficiency in English are required. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish), Dutch or another language relevant to Court business would be considered an asset.