Freelance Interpreters, Translators and Post-Editors/Proofreaders

Job Posting Organization:
The Organization for security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organization, comprising 57 participating States. Established to promote peace, stability, and democracy, the OSCE operates on a consensus basis, meaning all participating States have equal status in decision-making. The organization focuses on a range of security issues, including politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions. The OSCE Secretariat plays a crucial role in supporting the organization’s work, ensuring effective communication and coordination among its various institutions and field operations. For more detailed information about the OSCE and its structure, please visit their official website at http://www.osce.org/secretariat.

Job Overview:
The primary objective of this assignment is to establish and maintain a roster of qualified freelance interpreters, translators, and post-editors/proofreaders who can provide high-quality linguistic services between English and Bosnian/Montenegrin/Serbian languages. This role is essential in supporting the work of the OSCE Secretariat, its institutions, and field operations. The roster will consist of pre-vetted language professionals who may be engaged on Special Service Agreements of varying durations. The successful candidates will contribute to the effective implementation of the OSCE’s mandates by providing ad hoc, need-based services in various areas of expertise, including interpretation during meetings and conferences, translation of official documents, and post-editing/proofreading services. The role requires a commitment to accuracy, consistency, and linguistic quality in all communications, ensuring that the OSCE's standards are upheld.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The successful candidates will be responsible for providing simultaneous and/or consecutive interpretation services during OSCE meetings, conferences, and events. This includes ensuring accurate delivery that reflects the speaker’s intent and tone, preparing in advance by reviewing relevant materials, and using interpretation equipment effectively. Additionally, candidates will translate official documents, reports, and training materials, ensuring linguistic accuracy and adherence to OSCE style standards. They will also conduct terminology research and maintain confidentiality throughout all assignments. For post-editing and proofreading, candidates will review translated texts for grammatical and stylistic accuracy, ensuring consistency in terminology and formatting. All deliverables must meet established deadlines and quality benchmarks, and candidates must maintain professionalism and impartiality at all times.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree in interpretation/translation studies, linguistics, or a related field, or a degree in areas relevant to the OSCE’s mandates, along with a mandatory professional certification in translation or interpretation. They should have an excellent command of English and Bosnian/Montenegrin/Serbian, with one language as a mother tongue and the other as an active language. A minimum of five years of professional experience in translation, interpretation, and post-editing/proofreading is required, preferably within international organizations or similar environments. For interpreters, at least 30 working days of professional interpretation services over the past three years is necessary, with a minimum of 10 active working days per year. Proficiency in Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools is also essential, along with strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a first-level university degree in interpretation/translation studies, linguistics, or a related field. Alternatively, candidates may hold a first-level university degree in areas relevant to the OSCE’s mandates, provided they also have a professional certification in translation or interpretation. This educational foundation is critical for ensuring that candidates possess the necessary skills and knowledge to perform the complex tasks associated with this role effectively.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of professional experience in translation, interpretation, and post-editing/proofreading. This experience should ideally be gained within international organizations, governmental institutions, or similar multicultural environments. For interpreters, specific experience requirements include a minimum of 30 working days of professional interpretation services over the past three years, ensuring that candidates are well-versed in the demands of simultaneous and consecutive interpretation in a professional setting.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and Bosnian/Montenegrin/Serbian, with one of these languages required to be the candidate's mother tongue and the other an active language. Proficiency in both languages is essential for accurately translating complex texts and providing high-quality interpretation services. While not mandatory, additional language skills may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's versatility and ability to engage with a broader range of stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is based on a consultancy arrangement, with assignments issued on an as-needed basis. The duration of each assignment may vary, ranging from a few days to several weeks or months, depending on project requirements. Engagement under this roster does not guarantee continuous or full-time work, and candidates must indicate their proposed rates for services in the application. The OSCE reserves the right to determine final remuneration based on qualifications, expertise, and the complexity of tasks. Candidates must confirm their ability to provide services in their individual capacity, not as part of a business entity, unless specified otherwise. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.