Japanese - English Interpreter, Multiple positions

African peace-keeping locations are increasingly remote, often requiring considerable preparation efforts to enable mission start-up. “Horizontal” engineering activities which include site clearance, levelling and security measures, airfields, roads, both internal and external and helipad construction activities are often one of the initial major challenges in the establishment of peace-keeping missions. 

The Triangular Partnership Project was created as an engineering education programme, bringing United Nations Member States skilled military engineering expertise to provide training to Troop Contributing Country military personnel. Training focuses on practical field skills aimed to assist African TCC’s in creating and/or improving their own engineering units, to be capable of supporting peace-keeping missions. The project has been running since 2015 and plans are in place for continued operations in 2018. 

UNOPS engagement in the project has two main aspects scheduled for 2018:

1. Support the Triangular Partnership Project  training activities
2. Support Training Needs Assessments of regional military engineering units.

Reporting to the Training Manager, the Japanese Interpreter will provide translation services between Japanese and English, supporting the training programme that will be undertaken in Nairobi, Kenya.  There are possible requirements to travel within East Africa region to provide translation services to support Training Needs Assessment of other regions military engineering units. The Interpreter will provide competent delivery of verbal translation services to the Japanese Instructors and experts.

The duties include;

• Verbal translation between Japanese Instructors and trainees for onsite training, national field trips, regional assessments, ceremonies and public presentations as directed.
• Verbal translation of training schedules, lesson and safety plans and powerpoint presentations as directed.
• Translation support to Training Needs Assessment requirements
• Liaison between Instructors and Trainees, soliciting feedback from both parties, highlighting issues and difficulties and making recommendations based on trainee responses and feedback.
• Liaison and support to non English speaking Japanese personnel involved.
• Participation in After Action Review meetings.
• Writing Daily Reports if requested by Instructors.

• Secondary education is required. 
• Technical/Professional Diploma in the relevant field  is an advantage. 
• A Bachelor degree University in the relevant field  is an asset.

• Minimum of six years of relevant experience working as a Japanese English translator and/or an interpreter are required;
• Prior technical translation experience in heavy machine operation is advantageous;
• Experience working with Japanese culture is advantageous;
• Skills in Translation and Interpretation are essential.

• Fluency in oral Japanese is required
• Fluency in written and oral English is required
• Fluency in written and oral Swahili is advantageous
• Fluency in written and oral French is advantageous 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Background Information - East Africa Hub (EAH)

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the East Africa Hub manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The East Africa sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in South Sudan and a portfolio of engagements managed by the Kenya based East Africa Hub office. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Somalia, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and several island states.