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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Chance

Part of UNICEF’s Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (GCA), the translation unit assures the quality and consistency of communication content as a strategic asset across platforms in English, Arabic, French and Spanish, and contributes to key initiatives and priority campaigns by overseeing translation and developing publications and graphic assets in these languages.
Working within the GCA Valencia Office for Global Support and Digital Platforms and under the supervision of the Head of Publishing and Editorial Goverance, NYHQ, the unit coordinates translation of UNICEF content from English into Arabic, French and Spanish and editing in each language. The unit also contributes to the production of GCA publications and flagship UNICEF publications in these languages, as well as associated assets and communications content, and advises on language and terminology issues and related UNICEF editorial policies.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Head of Publishing and Editorial Governance, the Spanish Editor is responsible for ensuring the translation of UNICEF content into Spanish for all platforms, as well as maintaining and coordinating the roster of Spanish translation services and revising outsourced translations when applicable. The Editor oversees the planning of Spanish translation work for the Division, maintains terminological databases, contributes to the planning of Spanish translation activities of other UNICEF divisions and offices, maintains Spanish language press releases on UNICEF.org and is responsible for ensuring that all Spanish content produced is of the requisite high standard and conforms to UNICEF’s editorial guidelines for Spanish content.

Main activities and key deliverables:

1. Spanish translation and revision
2. Translation coordination
3. Guidance and development of translators
4. Computer-assisted translation and technology tools
5. Advise UNICEF staff members on matters relating to Spanish language and usage
6. Create web pages for Spanish language press releases on the UNICEF.org corporate website

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Job Description

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field, or related field with a professional qualification in translation. 
  A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of professional and progressively responsible experience in English-to-Spanish translation and revision is required, including at least three (3) years within the United Nations system or for international development organizations or national governments.
  Experience in the translation of long-form documents and reports in at least two of UNICEF’s main areas of competence is required: health, education, nutrition, human rights, early childhood development, migration and refugees, child protection, humanitarian assistance, gender equality, water and sanitation, climate change.
• Skills:
  • Good knowledge of international development issues and of UNICEF priority areas.
  • Excellent computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Acrobat Professional.
  • Experience with CAT – SDL Trados or similar.
  • Training ability is required to facilitate orientation of contractual writers and translators.
  • Good interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to negotiate with, organize and motivate external translators and editors under their supervision and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and professional backgrounds.
  • Self-motivated and proactive: capacity to work independently, to manage multiple concurrent projects, and to proactively communicate with team regarding deadlines and potential obstacles.
  • Familiarity with Drupal or other content management systems.
• Language Requirements: Native/ fluent level of Spanish is required, with English at a fluent/proficient level. 

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese or Russian) is desirable; knowledge of Arabic or French is an asset.
• Completed certification of United Nations Competitive Examination for Spanish Translators or Editors is an asset.
• Language-related management experience at the international level is desirable such as experience in editing and translation coordination, computer assisted translations and web page creation for Spanish translations.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.