Communications Senior Associate (Translator/Interpreter)

UNOPS is seeking a highly professional Translator/Interpreter to provide precise, consistent support for the EOD Capacity Development Programme. This role involves translating complex technical materials and acting as a technical interpreter to facilitate effective communication between international staff and Ukrainian partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide consecutive and simultaneous interpretation between English and Ukrainian throughout all HMA training sessions.
• Accurately convey HMA and EOD terminology; maintain consistency in terminology across all sessions and materials.
• Brief the international instructor on any cultural, linguistic, or contextual nuances relevant to course delivery.
• Support participant questions and discussions, ensuring accurate two-way communication at all times.
• Translate training materials, lesson plans, participant workbooks, assessment tools, and reference documents from English into Ukrainian.
• Review Ukrainian-language materials for accuracy, consistency, and appropriate use of technical terminology before each course.
• Maintain a bilingual glossary of key IHMA and EOD terms for use across all programme materials.
• Support the UNOPS Technical Lead with translation and interpretation during quality assurance visits, partner liaison meetings, and reporting activities.
• Translate programme reports, after-action reports, and correspondence between UNOPS and the partner or MoIA as required.
• Assist with interpretation during coordination meetings with other partners as required.
• Accompany the international instructor and UNOPS team to all relevant meetings, site visits, and training venues.
• Comply with all UNOPS security protocols; follow UNDSS guidance for travel to high-risk locations.
• Maintain confidentiality in all matters relating to programme content and participant information.

Requirements

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience OR; Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in translation, linguistics with 3 years of relevant experience OR; Master's degree (or equivalent) in translation, linguistics, or a related field with a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience is required.
• Formal interpreter certification or membership of a professional translation body is desired.
• Relevant experience in interpretation (consecutive/simultaneous) and translation between English and Ukrainian.
• Demonstrated experience in technical, security, or humanitarian sector environments, where the translation of complex terminology (legal, military, or engineering) was essential.
• Prior experience translating for police, emergency services, or mine action programmes is desired.
• Experience working with UN agencies or international organisations is desired.
• Possession of specialized vocabulary related to EO, IEDD, or the broader security field is desired.
• Familiarity with the Government of Ukraine agencies UNOPS interacts with and supports under the Mine Action Programme is desired.
• Fluent proficiency in English is required.
• Native proficiency in Ukrainian is required.

Skills

• Consecutive Interpretation
• Simultaneous Interpretation Systems
• Translation English-Ukrainian
• Technical Translation
• Humanitarian Sector Translation
• Legal Translation
• Military Translation
• Engineering Translation
• Interpreter Certification
• Terminology Management
• Mine Action Programme Knowledge
• Emergency Services Translation
• UN Agency Experience
• Security Sector Vocabulary
• Linguistics
• Translation for Police
• Technical Interpretation

Languages

English, Ukrainian