Translator and Interpreter (English- Myanmar-English) - Retainer Contract

Myanmar is one of UNOPS leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG), the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS Myanmar is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Myanmar and Cambodia, and for the Global Funds Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative targeting drug resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

The incumbent may offer translation and/or simultaneous translation services. Find more details below.

Translation includes translating documents related to (but not limited to) Legislation, Finance, Accounting, Public Health, Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Livelihoods. The incumbent should be comfortable in translating different types of texts, including social media content, online and off-line forms, templates, rules, regulations, and guidelines from Myanmar to English, and/or English to Myanmar.

Translations should be done in accordance with formal Myanmar and English writing guidelines/style, consisting of:

1) Primary reading through a text and correcting typographical errors, punctuation, spelling and easily-    

    corrected grammar mistakes;

2) In-depth grammar and stylistic corrections, which may entail an entire re-writing of full sentences to              

    obtain the best written English/Myanmar;

3) Consulting with technical/programme officers, and/or analysts, to clarify any confusing or unclear

    sections.

This includes but is not limited to the following tasks:

• Restructuring texts where necessary so that all the forms, templates, rules and regulations are clear and concise. Clear communications are easily understood and logical, avoiding unnecessary technical language and providing all significant and relevant information.
• Concise communications are to the point and avoid unnecessary elaboration, superfluous detail, redundancy, and wordiness.
• Checking facts and ensure error-free texts, and raising any related queries with relevant UNOPS staff.
• Ensuring that the English text has no spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
• Sub-editing text written by a number of authors to ensure a single consistent style for all        
• reports.
• Reviewing and correcting formats and ensure consistency and uniformity across all reports, checking manuscripts for correct design features, such as hierarchy of headings
• Creating and utilizing a style checklist to ensure consistency in hyphenation, capitalization, formatting of references etc. Raising, discussing and resolving any potentially libelous or particularly controversial sections.
• Preparing preliminary pages for the title, contents and preface of a publication.
• Ensuring that publications are prepared to schedule.
• Ensuring the translation of Government Department names or any Government-related terms are consistent with their official usage.
• Ensuring that all references and sources are accurately and consistently checked.
• Ensuring confidentiality of the original texts and source materials.

The translator will be required to provide 100% accurate translation of texts upon demand within the required deadlines. Content accuracy includes detailed comparison of content, facts and figures and making sure there are no omissions from the source; translations and proofreading all footnotes and/or endnotes, captions under graphics, lists etc. The translator must remain available to UNOPS for comments and corrections.

The edited documents submitted to UNOPS under the given TORs are the property of UNOPS and cannot be submitted, distributed to or used by any other party, unless arranged otherwise.

Interpretation services include:

Simultaneous/consecutive interpretation services during:

• Workshops
• Technical Working Group meetings;
• Conferences;
• Official missions;
• Workshops;
• Meetings between the international advisors and national consultants, as well as national counterparts.
• Interviews

Deliverables

The translator should deliver 100% accurate translated documents (English to Myanmar or Myanmar to English) as assigned by the Supervisor, upon demand and within the agreed and required deadlines.

Consecutive/simultaneous interpretation services on a required basis.

Monitoring and Progress Control

Relevant supervisors of the respective assignment, as well as project/programme technical personnel will monitor the performance of the consultant in line with his/her assignment.

a.     Education

• Master degree in Translation, Interpretation, English, Public Health, Economics, Agriculture, Business Administration Media or related subject is required. A Bachelor's degree in these areas with 2 additional years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent.

b.    Experience

• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in translation and interpretation is required.
• Experience in translating publications on public health, livelihoods and agriculture is desirable.
• A proven record of attention to detail is required.
• Strong experience in Office Suite (especially Microsoft Word) is essential.
• Technical training in translation, interpretation, journalism, copy writing, editing, proofreading is desirable but not mandatory. Experience In translation of UN or INGOs documents would be a significant asset.
• Proven experience in working with minimal supervision.
• Understanding of the socio-economic and political situation in Myanmar would be a significant asset.
• The ability to follow directions and maintain adequate transparency is required.

c.     Language

• Fluency in English and Myanmar is required. Excellent, translating, writing and typing skills.

• 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.