Head, French Translation Section

PCT Translation Division, Patents and Technology Sector

Grade - P5

Contract Duration - 2 years *

Duty Station : CH-Geneva

Publication Date : 29-Aug-2025 Application Deadline : 25-Sep-2025, 4:59:00 PM

**1.**Organizational Context**

a. **Organizational Setting**

The French Translation Section is responsible for handling translation between the official languages of the PCT into French within the PCT Translation Division.

b. **Purpose Statement**

The Head of the French Translation Section is responsible for the day-to-day management of the activities taking place within the section. This involves line management, administrative and supervisory responsibilities for the French Translation Section providing all translation and quality assurance services from the official languages of the PCT into French, within the PCT Translation Division.

c. **Reporting Lines**

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the PCT Translation Division.

**2.**Duties and Responsibilities**

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:
**a.**Manage staff of the Section and evaluate their work. Lead, plan, control and supervise the translation, revision, and quality control work, determining priorities and allocating resources for the completion and timely delivery of work products in accordance with results-based management principles. Make informed linguistic decisions concerning translation between English into French and take authoritative decisions regarding translation and quality control outcomes and style;

**b.**Plan and organize the distribution of translation work to a global network of translation suppliers including agencies, individual contract suppliers, and internal translators taking into account cost and capacity, administer requisitions, and ensure that the translation suppliers deliver the translation services in a timely and satisfactory manner;

**c.**Plan and oversee the translation quality assurance process for the Section, including planning the quality control work for internal staff, closely monitoring the performance of the translation suppliers and taking all necessary measures to ensure that quality standards are being met and maintained;

**d.**Design and prepare the documentation required for and lead the process of public tenders for translation in the Section; promote, administer and execute the tender process, review the bids, select and administer the tests and select the successful bidders in accordance with established procurement rules and under the guidance of the Procurement and Travel Division;

**e.**Organize, coordinate and participate in the preparation and updating of guidelines and learning materials of the PCT Translation Division, counsel and assist translators on the procedures and practices of the Division, and formulate draft instructions and guidelines governing the work of translation staff;

**f.**Guide, counsel and train or supervise the training of translators, trainee revisers, revisers and fellows, evaluate their performance and promote the best utilisation of their skills and experience. Take action on personnel, budgetary, procedural and other matters relating to the efficient operations of the Section managed;

**g.**Work with the Translation and Terminology Technology Section (TTTS) to ensure that workflows for all of the types of translation being performed within the Section are optimal; Oversee the testing of and implementation of new technologies within the Section to ensure that the most effective use is made by the Section of all the translation technology made available by the TTTS;

**i.**Represent the PCT Translation Division in WIPO working groups and meetings and at international or inter-agency meetings and conferences;

**j.**Perform other related duties as required.

**3.**Requirements**

**Education (Essential)**

**Experience (Essential)**

At least ten years of relevant experience in scientific or technical translation, revision and terminology work, including experience in managing such work.

**Experience (Desirable)**

Experience in the field of intellectual property.

Experience in managing a team.

**Language (Essential)**

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and excellent knowledge of written French.

**Language (Desirable)**

Excellent knowledge of other PCT publication languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish).

**Job Related Competencies (Essential)**

Strong aptitude regarding translation technology and software tools that aid the translation process and ability to rapidly assimilate information regarding new technology.

Strong client orientation.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

**Job Related Competencies (Desirable)**

**4.**Organizational Competencies**

1. Communicating