IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

a.    Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Translation and Terminology Technology Section (TTTS), PCT Translation Division in the Patents and Technology Sector. The role of the Translation and Terminology Technology Section is to enable and support translation and terminology activities on a technical level throughout the Organization; supply and maintain translation and terminology management systems and applications to the three main translation areas; enable coordinated translation and localization activities in other parts of the Organization across the six languages of the UN and ten languages of the PCT; and enable extensive exploitation of neural machine translation by the translation areas.

b.    Purpose Statement

As part of the Translation and Terminology Technology Section, the Senior Translation Technologist is responsible for executing tasks relating to translation technology for the Section and for the other translation areas within the Organization.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the Head of the Translation and Terminology Technology Section.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Assess translation business requirements by analyzing business workflows and computer systems, and help identify where translation software could improve efficiency;

b.  Liaise and coordinate with central IT services on the planning, deployment and maintenance of existing translation software and related systems or that may be adopted by the Organization;

c.  Install, upgrade, and maintain translation, terminology, quality control, and machine translation systems and applications such as WorldServer, Trados Studio, MultiTerm, ContentQuo, on behalf of the three translation areas;

d.  Manage an external team of developers engaged in the customization or development of translation software used by one or more of the three translation areas;

e.  Provide technical support and problem resolution related to translation software to end-users;

f.   Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in translation technology in the fields of translation, terminology, and machine translation, and report periodically on these topics;

g.  Establish links and maintain contact with other organizations and institutions to promote an active exchange of information on the use of translation technology and machine translation systems;

h.  Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in translation technology or in an equivalent technical field such as computational linguistics or information technology, or advanced university degree in translation including a substantial translation technology component with demonstrated experience and knowledge of the application of information technology to translation.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of relevant professional work experience. Demonstrated experience in leading projects involving the implementation of computer-assisted translation tools and the research and use of computer-assisted translation tools and machine translation systems.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken).

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other PCT publication languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish).

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

A full and up-to-date understanding of translation-related technology including translation management systems, terminology management systems, localization platforms, computer-assisted translation tools, and neural machine translation technologies including machine learning.

Good project management skills to ensure efficient delivery.

Ability to work accurately and to respect strict deadlines.

Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

A certain degree of coding ability in order to understand and troubleshoot issues and customizations to translation systems.

1.    Communicating effectively.

2.    Showing team spirit.

3.    Demonstrating integrity.

4.    Valuing diversity.

5.    Producing results.

6.    Showing service orientation.

7.    Seeing the big picture.

8.    Seeking change and innovation.

9.    Developing yourself and others.

Mobility:  WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization.  Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment.  Please note that this estimate is for information only.  The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice.  The figures quoted below are based on the October 2024 rate of 95.3%

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial period of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance.  No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.  Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.