Head, French Translation Section

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant's location.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Translation Division is responsible for delivering high-quality translation in relation to patent applications filed under the PCT. Activities of the Division include: the translation of scientific, technical and legal documents, mainly the abstracts of international patent applications and scientific, technical and legal reports relating to the patentability of inventions; ensuring the quality of the resulting translations while creating, leveraging and publishing technical terminology and creating other translation resources; and performing other PCT-related translation as required.

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;

h. Establish and maintain contacts with translation institutions and universities and actively prospect for and identify prospective translators. Lead the preparation of examinations and testing of candidates for employment, including prospective contractual translators and in making recommendations concerning the selection of staff and coordinate the work of the Section with the other sections and units of the PCT Translation Division and the Operations Division when necessary;

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)

Advanced university degree in a technical or scientific field, translation or modern languages, or in a related field. A first-level university degree in one of the aforementioned subjects plus an additional two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the experience mentioned below may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

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)

Knowledge of the subject matter dealt with by WIPO.

4. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Showing team spirit.

3. Demonstrating integrity.

4. Valuing diversity.

5. Producing results.

6. Showing service orientation.

7. Seeing the big picture.

8. Seeking change and innovation.

9. Developing yourself and others.

5. Inform ation

Mobility: WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization. Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary :

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment. Please note that this estimate is for information only. The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice. The figures quoted below are based on the August 2025 rate of 88.7%.

P5

Annual salary

$92,731

Post adjustment

$82,252

Total Salary

$174,983

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

Please refer to WIPO's Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial period of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance. No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here: http://www.whed.net/ . Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.