USAID ERA looks for Translator/Іnterprеtеr

Since 2018, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has focused its activities on eastern Ukraine. In 2022, it expanded its geography of cooperation to other regions due to Russia’s full-scale invasion and occupation of part of Ukraine. In 2023, given the military and political circumstances and challenges, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) changed ERA’s priorities.

ERA is one of the implementers of the U.S. Government’s Interagency Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI – Ukraine), which aims to support Ukrainian agricultural production and exports and help address the global food crisis exacerbated by Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. USAID supports the Government of Ukraine, including working with the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI) and the State Customs Service, through ERA, to modernize border crossing points to improve grain trade and exports, passenger traffic, and perceptions of Ukraine. ERA is also implementing the Economic Stability and Recovery Initiative (ESRI), which focuses on job retention and creation and assists small and medium-sized enterprises.

USAID ERA prioritizes work on AGRI and rehabilitating EU-facing border crossing points (BCPs). The AGRI component is extending its technical assistance to Ukrainian Agri-traders and logistics companies supporting them in increasing capacity and potential of grain export logistics. The BCP component includes complex construction management and procurement of equipment and service for BCPs to become more efficient in processing big cargos of grain and other commodities through the border.

About the job

The Interpreter/Translator provides support to the ERA Chief of Party (COP) and other members of the Senior Management team (SMT) by performing consecutive and simultaneous translations during various international events and meetings with the participation of US and Ukrainian government officials. Travel, both domestic and international, will be an essential aspect of this role, as the Interpreter/Translator will accompany the Chief of Party to conferences, international events, and other significant gatherings. The Interpreter/Translator needs to have an exceptionally high level of translation skills to work with government agencies’ documents. The Interpreter/Translator is based in Kyiv and reports to the Senior Administration Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Senior Management Support:

• Translate documents upon request from supervisor and/or SMT;
• Be ready to travel along with COP within Ukraine and abroad;
• Serve as an interpreter at seminars, speeches, meetings, teleconferences, and symposia, providing consecutive or occasionally simultaneous translation between languages;
• Collaborate with colleagues to compile helpful information, including terms and definitions, into an organized glossary for regular reference during the translation process;
• Translate documents provided by or to be prepared for government agencies and business partners (e.g., Memoranda of Understanding, treaties, agreements, project proposals, progress reports, etc.);
• Honor outlined ethical codes to ensure sensitive and confidential information remains secure and protected.

• Draft documents and correspondence in English and (or) Ukrainian languages upon senior management’s request;
• Proofread and finalize documents integrating changes made to the original document;
• Capture notes, action items, and meeting minutes and enter them into TAMIS as needed;
• Take on special tasks as assigned.

Reporting:

• Prepare accurate and timely reports and other project documentation as required; maintain project files;
• Keep respective activity records in the DAI corporate system (TAMIS);
• Perform other related tasks as requested by the Supervisor and/or SMT.

About you

• BA or BS degree or equivalent;
• 5+ years of proven experience as a professional interpreter/translator, preferably in governmental or international development settings;
• Expertise in simultaneous interpreting, capable of maintaining accuracy and composure in high-pressure and fast-paced environments;
• Professionalism and confidentiality in handling sensitive information;
• Fluent in English and Ukrainian, with exceptional spoken and written language skills;
• Experience with Microsoft platforms (Word, Excel, Outlook).

WE OFFER

Contract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.

Benefits Package:

• 28 calendar days of annual leave
• 10 days of internal well-being paid leave per annum
• Medical Insurance for ERA staff and their families
• Life Insurance for ERA staff
• Coverage of all expenses for the business trips
• Military reservation is possible and granted if you are on a relevant military register

Start date: February 2024

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to [email protected]

Closing date for applications: January 18, 2024.

For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website era-ukraine.org.ua.