Head, French Translation Section

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

1.     Organizational Context

a.  Organizational Setting

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Translation Division is responsible for delivering high-quality translation in relation to patent applications filed under the PCT. Activities of the Division include: the translation of scientific, technical and legal documents, mainly the abstracts of international patent applications and scientific, technical and legal reports relating to the patentability of inventions; ensuring the quality of the resulting translations while creating, leveraging and publishing technical terminology and creating other translation resources; and performing other PCT-related translation as required.

The French Translation Section is responsible for handling translation between the official languages of the PCT into French within the PCT Translation Division.

b.  Purpose Statement

The Head of the French Translation Section is responsible for the day-to-day management of the activities taking place within the section. This involves line management, administrative and supervisory responsibilities for the French Translation Section providing all translation and quality assurance services from the official languages of the PCT into French, within the PCT Translation Division.

c.  Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the PCT Translation Division.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Manage staff of the Section and evaluate their work. Lead, plan, control and supervise the translation, revision, and quality control work, determining priorities and allocating resources for the completion and timely delivery of work products in accordance with results-based management principles. Make informed linguistic decisions concerning translation between English into French and take authoritative decisions regarding translation and quality control outcomes and style;

b.  Plan and organize the distribution of translation work to a global network of translation suppliers including agencies, individual contract suppliers, and internal translators taking into account cost and capacity, administer requisitions, and ensure that the translation suppliers deliver the translation services in a timely and satisfactory manner;

c.  Plan and oversee the translation quality assurance process for the Section, including planning the quality control work for internal staff, closely monitoring the performance of the translation suppliers and taking all necessary measures to ensure that quality standards are being met and maintained;

d.  Design and prepare the documentation required for and lead the process of public tenders for translation in the Section; promote, administer and execute the tender process, review the bids, select and administer the tests and select the successful bidders in accordance with established procurement rules and under the guidance of the Procurement and Travel Division;

e.  Organize, coordinate and participate in the preparation and updating of guidelines and learning materials of the PCT Translation Division, counsel and assist translators on the procedures and practices of the Division, and formulate draft instructions and guidelines governing the work of translation staff;

f.   Guide, counsel and train or supervise the training of translators, trainee revisers, revisers and fellows, evaluate their performance and promote the best utilisation of their skills and experience. Take action on personnel, budgetary, procedural and other matters relating to the efficient operations of the Section managed;

g.  Work with the Translation and Terminology Technology Section (TTTS) to ensure that workflows for all of the types of translation being performed within the Section are optimal; Oversee the testing of and implementation of new technologies within the Section to ensure that the most effective use is made by the Section of all the translation technology made available by the TTTS;

h.  Establish and maintain contacts with translation institutions and universities and actively prospect for and identify prospective translators. Lead the preparation of examinations and testing of candidates for employment, including prospective contractual translators and in making recommendations concerning the selection of staff and coordinate the work of the Section with the other sections and units of the PCT Translation Division and the Operations Division when necessary;

i.   Represent the PCT Translation Division in WIPO working groups and meetings and at international or inter-agency meetings and conferences;

j.   Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in a technical or scientific field, translation or modern languages, or in a related field. A first-level university degree in one of the aforementioned subjects plus an additional two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the experience mentioned below may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential)

At least ten years of relevant experience in scientific or technical translation, revision and terminology work, including experience in managing such work.