Arabic-English Translator/Interpreter

Position: Translator/Interpreter

Location: Hybrid

Contract Type: Short-term Consultancy Contract

Term: 8 months

 

Who are we? 

Project Expedite Justice (PEJ) is a United States-based NGO with 501(c)(3) charitable organization status founded in 2016.

PEJ’s mission is to use all available legal options to seek justice for individuals who are inadequately protected under the law, who cannot access legal resources, and who are exploited by governments, corporations, or others.

PEJ applies a novel, victim-centered approach to addressing mass atrocities. PEJ’s three-step model includes training, mentoring, and providing independent legal consulting. We partner with and train local lawyers and investigators to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence according to international legal standards. Without evidence, there can be no accountability. We further build local capabilities and advance the justice process through case-specific mentoring and strategic guidance to local legal practitioners and investigators. Finally, we partner with local NGOs, pro bono law firms, and legal clinics to represent victims of international crimes and serious human rights abuses in court or alternative judicial mechanisms.

We have projects in various countries and are an inclusive team that includes people working remotely from many different places, including several countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the USA. We are deeply committed to increasing the opportunity for lawyers from the global majority or global south to participate in international Rule of Law-based non-profits. People from countries from the global majority are encouraged to apply for this role.

About the project: 

The Amplifying Survivors’ Voices in Sudan’s Transitional Justice Process project aims to promote and support truth, justice, reconciliation, and healing in Sudan by facilitating platforms for diverse stakeholders, especially women, and youth, to be supported as they develop the skills and knowledge to participate fully and contribute towards an inclusive and holistic national transitional justice agenda in Sudan. One of the objectives of the project is to increase the capacity of the cohort of Sudanese partners to understand and apply international standards of advanced evidence collection and documentation. The necessity for documentation of human rights violations has become particularly acute since the outbreak of hostilities between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces on April 15, 2023. The conflict has led to widespread violence and human rights violations against civilians, including indiscriminate attacks, blocking humanitarian aid, using explosive weapons in densely populated areas, arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, and unlawful killings. This activity aims to document human rights violations that have been committed in the context of the current hostilities.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Position 

• Provide language-related services.
• Interpret and translate verbal communications; provide translation services during interviews and meetings; transcribe and analyze spoken communications.
• Interpret and translate written communications; review and analyze foreign language documents for key information; and prepare documents in English and or Arabic.
• Ensure communications and translations are conveyed and understood in the proper context.
• Observe and analyze culture-specific non-verbal indicators and cues as they relate to written or spoken communications.
• Render correct concepts and meanings according to the conventions of established interpretation protocol, avoiding omissions or additions.
• Provides administrative support related to specific areas of assignment, including trainings hosted on various platforms (i.e. the Beekee platform).

 

Qualifications

Applicants are expected to meet the following requirements:

Education: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in languages or social sciences.
Prior experience: Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a linguist (written and spoken communications) or similar position.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Demonstrated language proficiency and excellent command of English and Arabic.
• Ability to process information quickly and concisely; interpret concepts and meanings accurately, with no additions or omissions; uphold correct rules of grammar, clarity, and tone; and recognize sensitive cultural differences.
• Ability to use clear enunciation, pronunciation, polite forms of expression, and a pleasant, professional voice, and remain calm in potentially difficult situations involving trauma.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups from various levels and backgrounds.
• Excellent listening, retention, and note-taking skills to maintain a high level of accuracy during interpretation.
• Good interpersonal skills, multicultural communications, time management, and basic computer skills.
• Knowledge of Sudanese culture, traditions, and customs is an asset.
• iTEP accreditation with a mother tongue of Arabic is considered an asset.

Demonstrated capability of performing the following duties, as may be assigned at any time:

• Translation of documents.
• Interpreting oral conversations, concurrently/simultaneously.
• Monitoring (listening to), translating, and synopsizing content of real-time oral communications recordings.
• Transcribing from storage media, but not limited to audiocassettes, videocassettes, or digital media and typing in both Arabic and English.
• Preparing typed English translations from open source media.
• Performing quality control reviews of completed work product.
• Validating the accuracy of completed translations and transcriptions.

 

How to Apply: 

Email recruitment@projectexpeditejustice.org with “Application: Translator/Interpreter – Sudan” in the subject line, and attach:

• CV (maximum of 2 pages)
• Writing sample (demonstrating translation skills)
• 2 references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.