Hardship LevelE (most hardship)
Family TypeNon Family with Residential Location
Family TypeNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
Budapest, Hungary
GradeGS4
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2024-12-01
Deadline for ApplicationsNovember 3, 2024
Standard Job Description
Interpreter Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Interpreter Assistant normally report to a higher level local or international staff. The incumbent supports the operation with translation and interpretation related activities.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
- Interprets and/or translates from newspapers, written reports, magazines etc.
- Interprets oral conversations, discussions and interviews especially when attending meetings with high ranking officials, diplomats and others.
- Travels with international staff on their missions to the field for interpretation and other assistance, as needed.
- Arranges meetings, both internal and external, some involving high-ranking officials and takes minutes/notes.
- Meets official personnel at the airport and facilitates immigration and customs formalities.
- Responds to queries relating to the area of responsibility.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Administration Secretarial
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Frequent contacts involving the exchange of a wide range of information, some of which may be complex.
Desirable
Not specified.
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile Operational Context:
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been active in Ukraine since 1994, with an expanded presence following the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Its operational footprint spans key locations including Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Odesa and others, aimed at delivering emergency response amidst intense miliatary escalation. This conflict has inflicted significant casualties, displaced civilians internally and into neighboring countries, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and housing. Essential services such as water, electricity, and healthcare are strained, exacerbating humanitarian needs.
The ongoing conflict has led to widespread disruption of basic services and governance structures across Ukraine. Public infrastructure and local administration have been severely impacted, hindering access to critical services and livelihoods for millions affected by the conflict. The situation is compounded by supply chain disruptions and heightened insecurity, further challenging efforts to meet urgent humanitarian needs and support communities in rebuilding their lives.
UNHCR collaborates closely with the Ukrainian government and local institutions to provide protection, shelter, cash assistance, and essential services to affected populations. Despite these efforts, the humanitarian situation remains challenging, with millions of Ukrainians facing prolonged displacement, deteriorating living conditions, and escalating humanitarian needs in frontline areas. As the conflict persists, UNHCR continues to play a pivotal role in addressing immediate humanitarian crises while advocating for durable solutions and long-term recovery for those impacted by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR operates as part of the inter-agency humanitarian response, working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading three of the humanitarian clusters - Protection, Shelter and NFIs, and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster) in Ukraine. The CCCM Cluster coordinates UN and NGO humanitarian response for the most vulnerable IDPs located in more than 2,200 collective sites across Ukraine.
Based in Dnipro, the Interpreter Assistant will report to the CCCM Cluster Coordination Officer and support activities of the CCCM Cluster Coordination team in the East Hub covering 8 oblasts, most of which encompass frontline areas most acutely impacted by the war. The Interpreter Assistant will have two main areas of responsibility. First, supporting the work of the East Hub in day-to-day engagements requiring interpretation, especially involving international staff who do not speak the local language, in support of advocacy and effective coordination of multisectoral response in the collective sites. This may include engagements with regional and local authorities, national NGOs and civil society organizations, as well as displaced people living in collective sites and managers of collective sites covered by the CCCM Cluster and its partners.
Second, while remaining based in Dnipro, the Interpreter Assistant will also support the work of the national CCCM Cluster in Kyiv, providing interpretation services for online meetings, and translating communications and other documents (strategy, guidance, reports, etc.) as well as CCCM-hosted events. Other responsibilities may be assigned as required.
Desired Candidate Profile:
The Interpreter Assistant must possess experience and skills in both written translation and oral interpretation (simultaneous and consecutive), with demonstrated proficiency interpretating and translating in both English and Ukrainian. Given the linguistic profiles of the stakeholders with whom the CCCM Cluster interacts, proficiency in Russian is considered an important asset.
In addition to linguistic skills, this role also requires an understanding of humanitarian contexts and operations. This includes familiarity with the work of UNHCR and the CCCM Cluster. Experience in humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and experience in the CCCM sector are considered assets. Experience in protection-related activities within a humanitarian setting is also highly desirable.
The Interpreter Assistant must demonstrate a willingness to learn and will be expected to become proficient in and consistently apply sector-specific terminology. Strong attention to detail and high-quality standards of work are critical for success in this role, and the Interpreter Assistant will be expected to take proactive steps to familiarize and remain up to date with CCCM priorities and strategies, to ensure precise and contextualized translation and interpretation.
The nature of this role demands a high level of adaptability and resilience. The candidate must be prepared to work under pressure, often in high-stakes and rapidly changing environments. S/he will be called upon to interpret a wide range of interactions, including meetings, official documents, group discussions, and other related activities. These tasks will occur both within the office and in the field, including in frontline areas, where CCCM activities are actively being implemented.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): English
,Ukrainian
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Additional Qualifications
SkillsIT-Computer Literacy
Education
CertificationsBusiness Administration - Other, Secretarial - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
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Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance