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, meaning all participating States have equal status in decision-making. The organization focuses on a wide range of issues, including arms control, human rights, and economic cooperation, and works through various institutions and field operations to implement its mandates effectively. The OSCE Secretariat plays a crucial role in supporting the organization’s activities and ensuring the smooth functioning of its operations.

Job Overview:
The primary objective of this assignment is to create and maintain a roster of qualified freelance interpreters, translators, and post-editors/proofreaders who can provide high-quality linguistic services between English and Macedonian languages. 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 OSCE's mandates by delivering accurate and contextually appropriate translations, providing interpretation services during official meetings and events, and ensuring the linguistic quality of the organization’s communications. The assignments will be consultancy-based and will vary in duration, depending on project requirements, ranging from a few days to several months. It is important to note that engagement under this roster does not guarantee continuous or full-time work, and individual assignments may be extended based on organizational needs and performance.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The successful candidates will be responsible for providing both simultaneous and consecutive interpretation services during OSCE meetings, conferences, and events. They must ensure accurate delivery that reflects the speaker’s intent and tone, prepare in advance by reviewing relevant materials, and maintain professionalism and confidentiality at all times. Additionally, they will translate official documents, reports, and training materials, ensuring linguistic accuracy and adherence to OSCE standards. The role also includes post-editing and proofreading services, where candidates will review translated texts for grammatical and stylistic accuracy, conduct quality assurance, and ensure consistency in terminology and formatting. All deliverables must meet established deadlines and quality benchmarks, and candidates must be flexible and available for short-term assignments as required.

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 professional certification in translation or interpretation. They should have an excellent command of both English and Macedonian, with one language as their 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 multicultural environments. For interpreters, a minimum of 30 working days of professional interpretation services over the past three years is necessary, while translators should be proficient in using Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools. Candidates must demonstrate strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work under tight deadlines while maintaining confidentiality and impartiality.

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 three mandates, provided they also have a mandatory professional certification in translation or interpretation. This educational foundation is essential for ensuring that candidates possess the necessary skills and knowledge to perform the linguistic services required by the OSCE 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, it is essential to have completed at least 30 working days of professional interpretation services over the past three years, with a minimum of 10 active working days per year. This level of experience is crucial for ensuring that candidates can deliver high-quality services that meet the OSCE's standards.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and Macedonian, with candidates required to have one as their mother tongue and the other as an active language. Proficiency in both languages is essential for accurately translating complex texts and providing interpretation services. While English and Macedonian are the primary languages required, additional language skills may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's profile and ability to serve in diverse contexts.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy-based assignments will be issued on an as-needed basis, and the duration of each assignment will vary depending on project requirements. Candidates are expected 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 the complexity of tasks and the expertise required. It is important for candidates to confirm in their application that they can provide services in their individual capacity, not as part of a business entity, unless they clarify otherwise. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Consultants are not OSCE officials and are bound by the OSCE Code of Conduct and confidentiality obligations.