Language Services Assistant - Arabic

About the role

The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is the UN headquarters in Africa and provides administrative, security, conference and information services. This post is in the Arabic Translation and Text Processing Unit, Translation and Editorial Section, of the Division of Conference Services. The Language Service Assistant works under the direct supervision of the Team Leader, Text Processing Unit, and performs administrative and language-related tasks supporting language managers and staff.

Key responsibilities

• Perform administrative and language-related tasks and respond to queries about language services, procedures and protocols
• Keep records of activities and processes, including attendance records of internal and external staff as needed
• Undertake cross-assignments to perform other language support functions when required
• Perform desktop publishing tasks: proofreading, formatting documents, creating tables, graphics and organization charts, checking successive document versions against previous ones
• Align bitexts to support the production of high-quality translation memories
• Distribute work, assign and monitor progress, register incoming and outgoing documents and support electronic transmission and processing of documentation
• Support data collection and analysis, prepare data presentations and reports, and help update materials such as web pages or brochures
• Work on a variety of assignments and shifts, assist managers in organizing the team's work, and train and guide junior staff on language service tools and processes

Required profile

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in desktop publishing (draft typing, copy editing, proof-reading, design and typographical layout or related area); reduced to 3 years for candidates with a first-level university degree
• Knowledge of UN editorial rules is desirable; 1 year or more of data analytics or related experience is desirable
• English at UN Level III (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and Arabic at UN Level IV (reading, writing, listening, speaking)

Required skills

• Editorial practices and desktop publishing, including typographic standards
• Proficiency in the language of the unit and UN terminology
• Knowledge of UN structure and rules of procedure, including the documents production system
• Ability to analyze, model and interpret data

Appointments are for an initial period of one year, subject to availability of funds and the post. Local recruitment applies, and external candidates are considered only when no suitable internal candidate is found. Evaluation may include a substantive assessment followed by a competency-based interview.