Language Systems Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization established in 1944, with a mission to promote global economic stability and growth. The IMF has a diverse workforce of over 2,700 employees from around the world, operating in 190 countries. The organization provides financial assistance, policy advice, and technical assistance to its member countries, aiming to foster economic cooperation and stability globally.

Job Overview:
The Language Systems Officer position at the IMF is a critical role within the Language Services division, specifically under the supervision of the division chief and the language technology team lead. The officer will be responsible for maintaining and managing various technology tools utilized in language services, including terminology and translation memory resources. This role involves providing first-level troubleshooting for advanced tools such as Computer Aided Translation (CAT), Translation Management System (TMS), and Neural Machine Translation (NMT). The officer will also engage in analyzing market tools, collecting test data, and coordinating testing with users to ensure the best tools are adopted for the Fund's needs. The position requires a proactive approach to exploring new language technology tools and implementing quality assurance processes to enhance translation services.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Language Systems Officer will serve as the technical point of contact for CAT, TMS, and NMT tools, providing essential linguistic support for the Fund’s NMT tools. Responsibilities include analyzing various tools available in the market, collecting and coordinating test data with users, and proposing the most suitable tools based on the requirements. The officer will define maintenance plans and fine-tuning for NMT engines, ensuring they are trained and periodically re-trained to meet the evolving needs of the organization. Additionally, the officer will explore and test new language technology tools, including text alignment tools and CAT tool plug-ins, recommending their adoption to the language technology team lead. The role also involves defining validation levels for quality assurance, implementing automated translation quality-assurance technology, and establishing quality assessment and rating schemes for external translators. The officer will document translation workflow processes, ensuring adherence to established processes and suggesting improvements. Furthermore, the officer will support the Terminology Working Group (TWG) meetings, introduce best practices in terminology management, and develop tools for terminology bulletins during key IMF meetings.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree or equivalent in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, Translation and Interpretation, or a related field. A minimum of four years of relevant professional experience is required, or alternatively, a university degree with ten years of relevant professional experience. Prior experience in deploying and maintaining translation and terminology-related technology is essential. Candidates should have a working knowledge of CAT, TMS, and NMT systems, along with excellent knowledge of terminology management and translation memory software packages, such as the SDL suite of translation tools. Strong IT skills, including experience with developing macros and applications using .Net technologies, SQL programming skills, and proficiency in Power BI and advanced MS Office tools, particularly advanced Excel, are also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Language Systems Officer position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Information Technology, Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, Translation and Interpretation, or a related discipline. Alternatively, candidates may qualify with a university degree and extensive professional experience in the relevant areas. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the technical aspects of language technology tools and their application in translation and interpretation services.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in the field of language technology, translation, or interpretation. Candidates with a university degree must have at least ten years of relevant experience. This experience should include deploying and maintaining translation and terminology-related technology, as well as a strong understanding of CAT, TMS, and NMT systems. Familiarity with the operational aspects of interpretation workflow management and scheduling systems is also beneficial.

Languages:
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Additionally, a working knowledge of one or more UN languages is preferred, as it enhances the officer's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute effectively to the organization's multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is a two-year contractual appointment, with the possibility of renewal for up to four years of cumulative contractual service, contingent upon the incumbent's performance, budget availability, and ongoing business needs. The IMF is committed to non-discrimination in employment practices and welcomes requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process. Information on how to request accommodations will be provided during the application process.