Translation Project Manager

Job Posting Organization:
NATO’s Council Secretariat (CONSEC) is responsible for the overall enablement of Alliance consultation and decision-making processes. Established to provide organizational support, advice, and linguistic services, it plays a crucial role in assisting the NATO Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council (NAC), as well as individual Allies and Partners. The organization is dedicated to ensuring effective and efficient implementation of its processes, and it operates in multiple countries, serving a diverse range of stakeholders.

Job Overview:
The Translation Project Manager is a pivotal role within NATO, tasked with overseeing the execution of translation assignments. This position is essential for ensuring that translation projects are conducted smoothly and efficiently, meeting the expectations of clients. The role requires flexibility, as the incumbent may need to work outside of normal hours depending on workload demands. The Translation Project Manager will be responsible for managing the entire life-cycle of translation projects, coordinating the work of freelancers, and ensuring consistent communication among all stakeholders involved. This includes maintaining awareness of the different levels of priorities for documents based on committee, topic, and document type, as well as continuously improving client relationship management skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Translation Project Manager include overseeing the entire life-cycle of translation projects under the guidance of the Deputy Head of Linguistic Services and Digital Transformation Lead. The incumbent will support the coordination of freelancers’ work and translation request planning, ensuring effective communication between all stakeholders. They will identify potential efficiency gains throughout the project life-cycle and recommend improvements. Additionally, the Translation Project Manager will manage client expectations, maintain contact with customers to effectively process demand, and perform any other related duties as assigned. The role also involves developing and maintaining professional relations with external translation providers and cooperating closely with colleagues in the Translation Project Management Unit and Translation Support Assistants.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have successfully completed university-level training in translation or hold a degree in a relevant discipline. A minimum of three years of relevant experience in translation project management or translation demand processing is required. Experience with Computer Aided Translation (CAT) tools and collaborative tools such as Office365 and SharePoint is essential. Professional certification in project management, such as PRINCE2®, is also required. Additionally, candidates must possess proficiency in NATO’s official languages, achieving at least level VI in one language and level V in the other.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university-level degree in translation or a related field. This foundational education is critical for understanding the complexities of translation and project management within an international context, particularly in relation to NATO's operations and the languages involved.

Experience:
The position requires at least three years of relevant experience in translation project management or translation demand processing. This experience should include familiarity with managing translation projects, coordinating with freelancers, and utilizing CAT tools and collaborative platforms. Prior experience in an international environment, particularly in tasking and assigning work to cross-functional teams, is highly advantageous.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and French, with a requirement of achieving level VI (Proficiency) in one language and level V (Advanced) in the other. Knowledge of additional NATO languages and partner countries would be considered an advantage, enhancing the candidate's ability to navigate the multilingual environment of NATO.

Additional Notes:
The successful applicant will be offered a definite duration contract of three years, with the possibility of an indefinite duration contract thereafter. If the candidate is seconded from a national administration of a NATO member state, a similar contract will be offered, subject to the agreement of the national authority. The position may require occasional travel and the ability to work outside normal office hours. NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all member nations and particularly welcoming women to apply. The organization offers various work-life policies, including teleworking and flexible working arrangements, subject to business requirements. NATO operates in a non-smoking environment at its headquarters in Brussels.