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 protect.

The Mongolia Country Office Country Programme is committed to protecting children's rights in line with international obligations. The programme priorities were selected based on consultations with national counterparts, United Nations agencies, and development partners to focus on areas that need action to achieve child-related national priorities and reduce equity gaps. The programme priorities, which include Health, Education, WASH and Climate Change, Child Protection, and Social Policy, aims to promote funding, policies, and address geographic disparities across the country.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Assignment
To establish a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) with individual consultants to provide simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation, written translation, and editing services between Mongolian and English (and vice versa) to UNICEF Mongolia Country Office on an as-needed, call-down basis over a two-year period. This LTA will streamline sourcing of qualified language professionals, ensure quality and consistency of language services, and reduce the need for repeated ad hoc competitive processes for individual assignments.
Scope of Work:
Applicants may apply for one, several, or all of the following four service categories. Each category will be evaluated and rostered separately, and consultants will only be called upon for the category/categories in which they qualify.
Category 1. Simultaneous Interpretation (Mongolian↔English)
Booth/simultaneous interpretation for high-level meetings, conferences, workshops, ministerial and donor events, and training sessions, field visits.
Category 2. Consecutive Interpretation (Mongolian↔English)
Interpretation for meetings, field visits, interviews, focus group discussions, bilateral consultations, and community engagements.
Category 3. Written Translation (Mongolian↔English)
Translation of reports, official correspondence, policy and programme documents, publications, communication and advocacy materials, and other UNICEF documents. Translation should preserve the meaning, formatting, tables, figures, images, captions and overall layout of the original document, where applicable.
Category 4. Editing Services (English and Mongolian)
Editing and proofreading of translated or originally drafted documents in English and/or Mongolian to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency, grammar, terminology and adherence to UNICEF/UN style.
As this is a Long-Term Agreement (LTA), specific deliverables, timelines and travel (if any) will be defined under each individual call-down assignment/purchase order/work order. Each assignment will specify:
• Scope and nature of the assignment
• Deadline/delivery date
• Volume (e.g., words, pages, hours or days)
• Applicable fee based on the consultant's LTA-agreed rate

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR_LTA interpretation services.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• University degree in translation, linguistics, English, Mongolian, communications, or a related field
Years of Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
Category 1. Simultaneous Interpretation (Mongolian ↔ English)
Language Requirements:
o Excellent written and spoken English and Mongolian, with the ability to interpret accurately in both directions.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
o Minimum 5 years of professional experience in simultaneous interpretation.
o Demonstrated experience providing simultaneous interpretation for conferences, high-level meetings, ministerial/donor events, workshops, training sessions, and/or field visits.
o Strong ability to accurately convey complex, technical and professional content in real time.
o Strong listening, communication, concentration and terminology-management skills.
Desirables:
o Experience working with UN agencies, international organizations, or diplomatic missions.
o Experience interpreting for high-level officials, ministers, senior management or international conferences.
o Familiarity with UN terminology and development/humanitarian terminology.
Category 2. Consecutive Interpretation (Mongolian ↔ English)
Language Requirements:
o Excellent written and spoken English and Mongolian, with the ability to interpret accurately in both directions.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
o Minimum 3 years of professional experience in consecutive interpretation.
o Demonstrated experience in meetings, field visits, interviews, focus group discussions, bilateral consultations, community engagements and/or similar settings.
o Ability to accurately interpret technical and professional discussions while maintaining the intended meaning and context.
o Strong listening, communication, note-taking and interpersonal skills.
Desirables:
o Experience working with UN agencies, international organizations, or diplomatic missions.
o Experience in development, humanitarian, social, education, health or other programme-related settings.
o Familiarity with UN terminology and development/humanitarian terminology.
Category 3. Written Translation (Mongolian ↔ English)
Language Requirements:
o Excellent written proficiency in English and Mongolian, with the ability to translate accurately in both directions.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
o Minimum 5 years of professional experience in written translation between English and Mongolian.
o Demonstrated experience translating reports, official correspondence, policy and programme documents, publications, communication and advocacy materials, and/or similar documents.
o Strong command of grammar, terminology, style, consistency and accuracy in both languages.
o Ability to translate complex and technical content while maintaining the meaning, tone and context of the original document.
Desirables:
o Experience providing translation services to UN agencies, international organizations or diplomatic missions.
o Experience translating development, humanitarian, social, education, health or other programme-related materials.
o Familiarity with UN terminology, style and editorial standards.
Category 4. Editing Services (English and Mongolian)
Language Requirements:
o Excellent written proficiency in English and/or Mongolian, with demonstrated ability to edit and proofread documents in the relevant language(s).
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
o Minimum 5 years of professional experience in editing and/or proofreading in English and/or Mongolian.
o Demonstrated experience editing professional, technical, policy, programme, communication and/or publication materials.
o Strong command of grammar, spelling, syntax, terminology, consistency and clarity.
o Ability to improve the quality and readability of documents while preserving the intended meaning and tone.
Desirables:
o Experience providing editing services to UN agencies, international organizations or diplomatic missions.
o Experience editing translated materials and/or bilingual documents.
o Familiarity with UN editorial standards, terminology and style.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial proposal LTA translation.docx
• Technical proposal requirement:
  Applicants should submit the following information and supporting documents for each service category for which they apply:
  Category 1 – Simultaneous Interpretation
  • A list of relevant simultaneous interpretation assignments undertaken during the last three years, including the type of event, subject matter, client or organization, and the applicant’s role. Applicants should include experience in both high-level events and regular professional meetings, where applicable.
  Category 2 – Consecutive Interpretation
  • A list of relevant consecutive interpretation assignments undertaken during the last three years, including the type of meeting or activity, subject matter, client or organization, and the applicant’s role. Applicants should include experience in both high-level events and regular professional meetings, where applicable.
  Category 3 – Written Translation
  • Two samples of previous written translation work between Mongolian and English, preferably demonstrating experience translating technical, policy, programme or other substantive documents. Applicants should indicate the language direction and their role in each sample.
  Category 4 – Editing Services
  • Two samples of previous editing or proofreading work in English and/or Mongolian, preferably demonstrating experience with technical, policy, programme or other substantive documents. Applicants should indicate the language of each sample and their role in the work.

Submitted information and samples will be used to assess applicants against the relevant technical evaluation criteria. Applicants may redact confidential or sensitive information from work samples, provided the relevant work and language skills can still be assessed.

Applicants may apply for one or more service categories and should submit the relevant supporting information for each category for which they apply.

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

The 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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct.
UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.
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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

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. 

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.

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.