Org. Setting and Reporting

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It is composed of 15 judges, elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. The Court is the only principal organ of the United Nations not serviced by the Secretariat. The Court has its own administration, the Registry, which provides judicial support to the Court and acts as a permanent administrative organ. The Registry is headed by a Registrar, elected by the Court. The incumbent is appointed by the Court upon the recommendation of the Registrar (Rules of Court, Art. 25). This position is in the Department of Linguistic Matters and the incumbent reports to its Head.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of the Department of Linguistic Matters, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

• Undertake a thorough analysis of the Departments translation technology environment and user needs, and make any adjustments to the existing systems and tools that may be necessary to maximize their efficiency and usefulness.
• Analyse best uses for AI and implement AI tools in the Department; assist with AI prompt engineering; support integration of translation tools into the translators workflow where appropriate; provide training to in-house and external users.
• Provide technical support, assisting in-house and external or temporary staff in using the Departments translation technology systems and serving as a focal point for users experiencing technical problems; liaise between linguists and the Registrys ICT Division and suppliers technical support teams; draft how to guides for users and update them as needed.
• Co-ordinate alignment tasks and input of data; oversee the alignment of original and translated texts, creating bitexts for the Departments translation memory tool; develop workflows to streamline or automate alignment processes; regularly collect user feedback and make any adjustments needed to improve the Departments translation technology systems; monitor developments in language technologies, including emerging opportunities and potential risks. Competencies Professionalism: Excellent knowledge of translation memory, neural machine translation and AI tools, as well as document conversion software. Ability to understand the needs and working methods of translators in an international organization. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients and seeks to see things from clients point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Technological awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Education A university degree in translation technology, computational linguistics, translation or related fields is required. Job – Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience A minimum of five years experience in the field of language technology is required. Practical experience in the implementation of translation tools within a professional translation environment is required. Experience in the implementation of translation tools in an international organization is desirable. Languages English and French are the official languages of the Court. UN Level III (Advanced) in one of these languages is required. UN Level II (Intermediate) in the other language is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details). Required Languages Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking English UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II French UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II Assessment The assessment of qualified candidates will include written tests and a competency and/or knowledge-based interview. Special Notice The position to be filled is an established temporary post, which will be funded until December 2027. The successful candidate will be offered a fixed-term appointment until 31 December 2027. The Court is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a staff member. The selected candidate may be subject to security clearance, including verification of the information provided and a criminal record check. All candidates should be prepared to submit an electronic copy of their passport and all diplomas listed on their profile when requested. The Registrar reserves the right not to appoint any candidate to the post, or to appoint one at a lower level or on the basis of a modified job description. Applications that are found by the Court to meet the vacancy announcement criteria may be added to a reserve list in case a similar vacancy arises in the future. Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The Court’s salaries are calculated in US dollars but paid in euros. They consist of a basic salary and a post adjustment which reflects the cost of living in the Netherlands and the euro/dollar exchange rate. In addition, the Court offers an attractive benefits package including 30 days of annual leave, home travel every two years, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan and subsidized medical insurance. If the selected candidate is a staff member from an organization applying the United Nations Common System of Salaries and Allowances, the provisions of the Inter-Organization Agreement…