Job Highlight
Enable Sinhala-speaking civil society partners to access Vriddhi information and participate meaningfully in programme activities through timely, accurate and context-sensitive translation and interpretation.
Role Purpose
The Translation and Interpretation Officer will provide written translation between English and Sinhala, and consecutive or simultaneous interpretation for online and occasional in-person engagements, as requested by the Vriddhi programme.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Translation and language review
- Translate documents accurately between English and Sinhala, while preserving meaning, tone, structure and intended audience.
- Translate programme reports, course and training materials, presentations, guidance documents, calls for proposals, programme and grant-related materials, social media content and other communications assigned by Vriddhi or UNOPS teams.
- Review and proofread translated material for grammar, clarity, consistency and correct use of terminology before submission.
- Maintain consistent terminology across assignments and, when requested, develop or update a bilingual glossary of frequently used programme terms.
- Format translations to follow the source document as closely as reasonably possible and clearly flag text whose meaning requires clarification.
Interpretation
- Provide live interpretation between English and Sinhala during online meetings, consultations, webinars and training sessions.
- Provide interpretation during occasional in-person meetings, dialogues, workshops, capacity-building activities, field visits and engagements with diplomatic missions and other stakeholders in Sri Lanka.
- Review agendas and reference materials in advance and prepare relevant terminology for each assignment.
Quality, confidentiality and coordination
- Use accurate terminology relating to protection, human rights, civil society, inclusion, programme management, grants, finance, monitoring and evaluation, gender, IT and capacity building.
- Respond promptly to assignment requests, confirm availability and meet agreed deadlines, including short deadlines where reasonably required.
- Incorporate reasonable feedback and correct errors promptly where the submitted work does not meet the agreed requirements.
- Treat all documents, discussions, participant information and programme information as confidential and comply with applicable UNOPS requirements on safeguarding, data protection and professional conduct.
- Coordinate with the designated Vriddhi focal point and submit completed work in the requested editable format.
Education Requirements
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in translation, interpretation, languages, linguistics, communication, social sciences, law, human rights, development studies or another relevant field with 2 years of relevant experience is required.
Desired
- Formal training or professional certification in translation or interpretation from a National body is desired.
Required
Experience Requirements
- A minimum of two years of professional experience in translation and interpretation is required, including experience translating technical or programme-related documents and providing live interpretation in online and/or in-person settings.
- Demonstrated ability to translate technical or programme content accurately and communicate complex ideas in clear, natural language.
- Knowledge of terminology used in protection, human rights, civil society, inclusion, programme management and development programming.
- Strong proofreading, editing and quality-control skills, with the ability to meet agreed deadlines.
- Proficiency in google workplace and online meeting applications.
Desired
- Experience supporting the United Nations, international organizations, civil society organizations or donor-funded programmes.
- Experience translating or interpreting content related to grants, finance, monitoring and evaluation, training or safeguarding.
- Familiarity with the Sri Lankan civil society and development context.
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