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 foster peace, security, and stability in Europe, the OSCE operates on a consensus basis, ensuring that all member states have equal status in decision-making processes. The organization focuses on a wide range of security issues, including arms control, human rights, and conflict prevention. The OSCE's Secretariat plays a crucial role in supporting the organization's operations and initiatives, providing administrative and logistical support to its various missions and field operations. The OSCE is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within its workforce, encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to apply for positions within the organization.

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 deliver high-quality linguistic services between English and Romanian languages, and vice versa. This roster will serve as a pool of pre-vetted language professionals who may be engaged on Special Service Agreements as needed. 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 under the three OSCE dimensions: politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions. The role requires a commitment to ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and linguistic quality of the Organization’s written and oral communications, thereby supporting the OSCE Secretariat, institutions, and field operations in their work.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The successful candidates will be responsible for providing simultaneous and/or consecutive interpretation services during OSCE meetings, conferences, and events. They will ensure accurate delivery that reflects the speaker’s intent and tone, prepare in advance by reviewing background materials, and use interpretation equipment effectively. Additionally, they will translate official OSCE documents, reports, and training materials, ensuring linguistic accuracy and adherence to OSCE style standards. The role also includes post-editing and proofreading services, where candidates will review translated texts for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style accuracy, ensuring consistency in terminology and tone. All deliverables must meet established deadlines and quality benchmarks, and candidates must maintain professionalism, confidentiality, 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 mandates with a mandatory professional certification in translation or interpretation. They should have an excellent command of English and Romanian, with one 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. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools and have the ability to deliver high-quality translations under tight deadlines. Strong attention to detail, computer literacy, and excellent interpersonal skills are also essential.

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 degree in areas relevant to the OSCE's three mandates, provided they also possess a mandatory professional certification in translation or interpretation. This educational foundation is crucial for ensuring that candidates have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform the complex tasks associated with the role effectively.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of professional experience in translation, interpretation, and post-editing/proofreading. This experience should preferably be within international organizations, governmental institutions, or similar multicultural environments. For interpreters, a minimum of 30 working days of professional interpretation services over the past three years is required, with at least 10 active working days per year. This level of experience is essential to ensure that candidates can handle the demands of the role and deliver high-quality services.

Languages:
Candidates must have an excellent command of both English and Romanian, with one language being their mother tongue and the other an active language. This bilingual proficiency is mandatory for the role, as the position requires accurate translation and interpretation between these two languages. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, but the primary focus is on English and Romanian proficiency.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy-based assignments will be issued on an as-needed basis, with the duration of each assignment varying depending on project requirements. Engagement under this roster does not constitute a continuous or full-time contractual arrangement, and there is no guarantee of assignments. Candidates are required to indicate their proposed rates for the services in the pre-screening section of the application. The OSCE reserves the right to determine the final remuneration based on qualifications, expertise, and the complexity of tasks. It is important for candidates to confirm in their application whether they can provide services in their individual capacity or as part of a business entity, as this will affect procurement and contractual arrangements. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards and maintaining confidentiality throughout the recruitment process.