English Interpreter at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: English Interpreter

Location: West Africa
Institution: West African Health Organisation
Grade: P4
Directorate: Administration And Finance
Division: Conferences, Protocol and Language Services
Line Supervisor: Head Of Conferences, Protocol and Language Services Division

Job Overview

• Under the supervision of the Head of Division Conferences, Protocol, and Language Services, the incumbent is responsible for interpretation from French into English for the Organization.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Provide interpretation services for internal and external meetings, conferences and workshops.
• Interpret (simultaneous, consecutive, whispered, etc.) speeches or statements in the appropriate language combinations.
• Provide interpretation on a routine basis for sensitive meetings.
• Maintain a database of all interpreters and translators residing in member countries.
• Monitor the equitable distribution of translation and interpreting tasks among the region’s translators-interpreters registered in the Institution’s database.
• Coordinate the creation of a terminology database, glossaries, etc.
• Manage the terminology and reference database to ensure accuracy and consistency in the use of language and terms.
• Establish and maintain an equipment maintenance log to ensure the proper management of WAHO’s interpretation and translation equipment.
• Participate in the selection, evaluation and training of potential Translators and Interpreters.
• Translate documents as required in a timely manner.
• Carry out any other official duties that may be assigned by line supervisor.

Required Qualifications, Work Experience And Competencies

• Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Conference Interpreting from a recognized university.
  • A Master’s Degree or other higher qualifications in conference interpreting is desirable.
• Work experience:
  • Seven (7) years of professional experience in the field of interpretation.
  • Ability to provide simultaneous and consecutive interpretation services, and to work in both small and large teams;
  • Perfect command of translation and interpretation software, as well as electronic tools and databases;
  • Excellent writing and analytical skills; ability to meet the highest standards of accuracy, consistency and faithfulness to the style and nuances of the original text for optimal understanding and rendition;
  • Proficiency in computer-assisted translation or interpreting, automatic translation or interpreting and on-screen editing tools.
• General Conditions:
  • Citizenship:
    • Applicants must be citizens of an ECOWAS Member State.
  • Age Limit:
    • They must not be more than 45 years of age at the time of recruitment.
  • Duty Station:
    • WAHO is in process of relocation from its current location in Burkina Faso. the post will be located in an ECOWAS country to which WAHO relocate.
• ECOWAS Key Competencies:
  • P4-02-01  Leadership:
    • Ability to get groups to work together cooperatively, by enlisting active involvement, creating a climate for respect and openness, and applying effective techniques for group facilitation, explore their potentials, motivate  and guide them;
    • Organize and lead cross-divisional work group in developing creative solutions to address problems and or lead a small group of entry level professionals and administrative support staff;
    • Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner;
    • Develop on—the-job training techniques paired with excellent coaching and mentoring skills; knowledge of new staff orientation approaches to facilitate understanding of the position and organization;
    • Ability to assign work to direct reports and provide timely and consistent feedback regarding technical proficiency and effectiveness;
    • Ability to represent the organization effectively before external parties.
  • P4-03-01 Client Service Orientation:
    • Ability to consider the impact of a shift in programmatic direction to the needs of internal and external stakeholders;
    • Ability to promote and consider staff feedback to streamline processes in order to meet deadlines of relevance to client expectations;
    • Ability to consistently maintain composure and direction in high- pressure situations;
    • Develop problem solving, mediation and conflict resolution skills to address discrepancies, complaints, bottle necks, time constraints affecting quality and quantity of client services;
    • Ability to anticipate growing client needs and expectations to continuously improve quality, timelines, service delivery and addressing client questions in a timely manner;
    • Ability to communicate openly with clients, keeping them informed of progress and issues requiring attention/resolutions.
  • P4-04-01 Multicultural Sensitivity and Advocacy:
    • Ability to implement programmatic changes in a manner that ensures a biased-free work environment, fair and equitable application to new rules/regulations;
    • Experience and ability to adhere to policies, goals, objectives, and principles of valuing diversity in performing everyday duties and responsibilities; promoting/modeling behaviors that demonstrate tolerance and understanding of various cultures;
    • Ability to remain objective in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences /positions, gender differences, and encourage other staff to overcome cultural and gender bias and  differences;
    • Ability to build value from leveraging diverse capabilities and inputs from various cultures, staff and clients;
    • Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
    • Ability to create a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths bringing together innovative practices;
    • Ability to seek out best practices to make organizational decisions of relevance to diversity management, ensuring that project and program activities identify vulnerable areas and contain systemic checks.
  • P4-05-01  Knowledge of ECOWAS:
    • Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions and how the different organs relate to each other, particularly as it relates to own work sector/programs;
    • Knowledge of approaches to policy and program development of  an international organization as well as project management ;
    • Knowledge of the rules, processes and procedures of an international organization, of pertinence to tasks related to own position;
    • Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges and opportunities as it relates to project/programme assigned to own position.
  • P4-06-01  Analytical and Critical Thinking:
    • Creativity and flexibility to depart from traditional methods when developing new procedures, creativity and flexibility to deviate from traditional methods in developing new procedures, processes and tools, using technology to simplify methods and approaches whenever possible;
    • Ability to reevaluate current procedures and suggest improvements to ensure an effective, streamlined process;
    • Ability to gather and summarize information to predict stakeholder views on a new policy/programmes; and excellent analytical skills to assess external policies and trends when reviewing policy/programme options, pros, cons and recommendations;
    • Ability to synthesize complex information gathered from a variety of external and internal sources and disseminate it to others in a logical manner;
    • Ability to apply appropriate methodology to discover or identify policy issues and resource concerns.
  • P4-07-01  Communication:
    • Ability to evaluate, incorporate, and communicate the latest developments in specialty area using institution/agency guidelines and criteria;
    • Develop interpersonal, negotiation, networking and presentation skills with proven abilities to influence, explain complex information and demonstrate empathy and open-mindedness;
    • Ability to demonstrate operational proficiency in the use of computer in communicating using technology tools;
    • Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both written and verbal expressions;
    • Exhibit active listening skills to encourage stronger communication amongst  team members, to show care and make them feel valued and to  drive employee engagement in all institutions and agencies;
    • Proficiency in  information communication technologies (ICT);
    • Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.
  • P4-08-01  Planning and Implementation:
    • Knowledge of internal planning cycles and ability to contribute to the development and to implement Community-wide or institution policy by determining target audience, building coalitions with the appropriate population, and monitor progress;
    • Ability to consider external circumstances, factors and trends when organizing project activities to ensure the best outcomes;
    • Ability to review process outcomes, correspondence, reports, and policy documents to develop achievable plans;
    • Ability to conduct meetings with staff, stakeholders, colleagues and others to ascertain  organizational  program and/or project needs, making adjustments to plans and activities accordingly;
    • Ability to adjust project plans based on input from staff and stakeholders and/or ability to design and implement guidelines, tools and templates to accommodate new or revised programmes and services.

Salary
$44,965.64 – $52,379.70 Annually.

Application Closing Date
8th December, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications to the corresponding mails below, using the job title as the subject of the email.

External candidates: vn112ipen@wahooas.org

Internal candidates: intvn112ipen@wahooas.org

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