Communication Officer (Translator/Interpreter)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a vital part of the United Nations Secretariat, established to bring together various humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent and effective response to emergencies. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors, aiming to alleviate human suffering during disasters and emergencies. The organization advocates for the rights of people in need, promotes preparedness and prevention, and facilitates sustainable solutions. OCHA provides essential support to the Humanitarian Coordinator and the Humanitarian Country Team in Sudan, working collaboratively with the entire humanitarian community to foster an environment conducive to the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance. The organization emphasizes compliance with humanitarian principles, which is crucial for maintaining access to affected populations, especially in conflict-affected areas of Sudan.

Job Overview:
The Communication Officer (Translator/Interpreter) plays a critical role in developing and implementing communication strategies that shape the humanitarian agenda, enhance public and media outreach, and mobilize support for humanitarian operations in Sudan. The incumbent is responsible for the timely, accurate, and consistent translation of materials between English and Arabic, ensuring that all communications are linguistically precise and contextually relevant. This position also involves quality control and proofreading of translated documents, as well as effective prioritization of translation tasks. The Communication Officer will provide simultaneous interpretation during meetings, training sessions, and workshops as required, ensuring clear communication among stakeholders. This role is essential for facilitating the flow of information and supporting the overall mission of OCHA in Sudan.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Communication Officer will be responsible for a variety of key duties, including: 1) Written Translation: Providing written translations from English to Arabic and vice versa for official materials such as laws, regulations, memoranda of understanding, agreements, public information materials, official correspondence, website content, and social media posts. This includes ensuring linguistic accuracy and contextual relevance, as well as collaborating with the global communications team on transcripts and proofreading subtitles for advocacy videos. 2) Quality Control: Conducting quality control of translated documents to ensure accuracy, clarity, and appropriateness, while maintaining consistent use of United Nations terminology. 3) Interpretation and Meeting Support: Providing simultaneous interpretation during high-level meetings and workshops, taking meeting minutes in both languages, and producing corresponding documents for organizational use. 4) Support for Arabic Language Materials: Assisting in the formatting and graphic design of Arabic-language materials. 5) Additional Duties: Contributing to the development of content for various communication and advocacy products, including social media assets, and undertaking any other duties as required to support the office's work.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must possess an advanced (Master’s) university degree in Communication, Public Relations, English language, literature, or translation/interpretation from a recognized institution. Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in the same fields, combined with an additional two years of relevant translation experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The candidate should have a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience (with a Bachelor's degree) or two years (with a Master's degree) in relevant work at the national or international level in translation, interpretation, public relations, advocacy, or communications. Demonstrated experience translating UN or international organization documents is desirable, as is experience working with an international organization, preferably within a UN agency. Proficiency in using computers and Microsoft Office software is required, and familiarity with computer-assisted translation tools is an advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have an advanced (Master’s) university degree in Communication, Public Relations, English language, literature, or translation/interpretation from a recognized institution. A bachelor’s degree in the same fields, combined with relevant experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in relevant work at the national or international level for candidates with a Bachelor's degree, or two years for those with a Master's degree. Experience should include translation, interpretation, public relations, advocacy, or communications, with a preference for candidates who have worked with UN or international organizations.

Languages:
Native-level proficiency in Arabic and fluency in English are mandatory for this position. These language skills are essential for effective communication and translation tasks.

Additional Notes:
This position is open to Sudan Nationals only. The role may involve frequent interaction with various humanitarian sectors, UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and government entities. The organization emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, ensuring that all selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Additionally, UNOCHA is committed to being an equal opportunity and inclusive employer, not discriminating based on race, gender identity, religion, nationality, or other statuses. The job may involve full-time commitments and is subject to the organization's policies regarding recruitment and employment.