We are seeking an experienced Malagasy Language Lead to support high-quality localization, linguistic review, and language quality governance for Malagasy content.
This is a senior linguistic role suited to a professional translator, localization specialist, or language quality expert with strong command of Malagasy and English, excellent communication skills, and the ability to support both hands-on linguistic work and broader quality management activities.
The initial workload is expected to be modest, but there is strong potential for growth based on project performance and client requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Linguistic Leadership & Quality Assurance
- Define, maintain, and continuously improve Malagasy language standards, including style guides, glossaries, terminology databases, and localization memories.
- Act as the linguistic quality authority for Malagasy content, resolving language, terminology, tone, and style-related queries.
- Conduct linguistic quality assurance checks, proofreading, editing, and LQA reviews on critical user-facing content.
- Review translations and provide clear, constructive feedback to translators, reviewers, and freelance linguists.
- Support quality governance for the assigned language, including issue identification, quality improvement recommendations, and escalation handling where required.
- Translation, Review & Localization
- Translate, review, post-edit, and adapt high-priority content from English into Malagasy.
- Ensure localized content is accurate, culturally appropriate, natural, and aligned with the intended audience in Madagascar.
- Support localization across different content types, including product, technology, marketing, training, operational, and legal-related materials.
- Maintain brand consistency, linguistic accuracy, and cultural relevance across all assigned content.
- Stakeholder, Vendor & Workflow Support
- Respond to linguistic queries from project teams, external translators, and client quality teams.
- Participate in client quality meetings, internal project discussions, and language-specific quality reviews as required.
- Provide onboarding, guidance, and training support to translators and reviewers working on Malagasy content.
- Collaborate with Project Managers, Quality Teams, Product Teams, and Marketing stakeholders to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.
- Support reporting and feedback loops related to language quality, recurring issues, and improvement actions.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The Successful Candidate Should Have
- Native-level proficiency in written and spoken Malagasy.
- Full professional proficiency in English.
- A minimum of 4 years’ professional experience in translation, localization, linguistic quality assurance, or language leadership.
- Strong knowledge of Malagasy grammar, tone, terminology, idioms, contemporary usage, and cultural nuances.
- Experience using modern CAT tools and translation platforms such as Trados, MemoQ, Phrase, Lokalise, or similar tools.
- Experience managing terminology, translation memories, glossaries, style guides, and quality feedback.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to make sound linguistic quality decisions.
- Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and respond professionally in email and meetings.
- Flexibility to support project requirements, including client meetings and quality discussions across agreed working hours.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, Translation, Communications, Languages, or a related field; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
- Prior experience as a Language Lead, Senior Translator, Editor, Reviewer, Linguistic QA Specialist, or Localization Quality Manager.
- Experience localizing content for technology, marketing, legal, digital platforms, training, or product environments.
- Based in Madagascar or with recent extensive experience living or working with Malagasy-speaking audiences.
- Familiarity with client-facing quality discussions, translator mentoring, and localization process improvement.
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