General Description of Role

The Interpreter/Cultural Liaison, based in Gambella with daily travel to Nguenyyiel camp will report to the expert Psychotherapist/Trainer programmatically and the Zonal Manager in Gambella administratively. The Interpreter/Cultural Liaison will provide translation and interpretation support for program and administrative activities in Gambella as well as for CVT Ethiopia as a whole.

Main Responsibilities

• In order to facilitate the communication between expatriate staff of CVT and others, provide interpretation for group, individual, and family counseling activities including assessments, interviews and hiring of staff, supervision of staff, internal and external meetings, logistical coordination and daily and regular communication among staff, partners, and service providers.
• Provide written translation of materials including, but not limited to, training materials, meeting handouts and minutes, organizational and program forms, internal and external communications, organizational policies, reports, etc.
• Coordinate with other Interpreter/Cultural Liaisons and maintain organized filing system for all translated materials for ready use by all staff. 
• Provide oral and written explanations of cultural norms, expectations, and other nuances that may not be immediately apparent to expatriate staff, as necessary and appropriate to facilitate appropriate communication between expatriate staff and host/refugee communities.
• Solicit additional explanation from the expatriate staff, as necessary and appropriate, in order to ensure their communications are clear and well understood by the recipients.
• Participate and learn through training provided by Expert Psychotherapist/Trainers, exercise sensible and accurate interpretation services in a clinical setting, maintain confidentiality of all information and materials handled, and practice sound self-care so as to avoid/manage vicarious traumatization.
• Willingness to learn about the impacts of torture and trauma on communication and to implement this knowledge when engaging with clients and members of the community.
• Interpret: To translate orally, either consecutively or simultaneously from source language to target language. In consecutive interpreting the interpreter speaks after the source language speaker has finished speaking. When the speaker pauses or finishes speaking the interpreter renders the entire message in the target language. In simultaneous interpreting the interpreter renders the message in the target language as quickly as he/she/they can formulate it in the source language, while the source language speaker continuously speaks.
• Transcribe: to render the spoken word of a language into the written form of the same language
• Translate: to render the spoken or written word of one language into the written form of another language

Number of Individuals Required: One (1).

Terms of employment: Initial contract from February, 2021 (or sooner) through August 31, 2021 starting with a 60-day probationary period, and with a possibility of extension. The position is dependent upon project approval.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in English or related fields and/or relevant professional experiences.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of English, Amharic, and Nuer, and excellent written and oral interpretation skills in these languages. Other languages spoken by South Sudanese such as Arabic highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, including empathetic listening skills.
• Ability to remain objective, and communicate professionally with clients, community members, and organizations’ partners.
• Excellent team player.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, flexible, and adaptable.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office and applications, including ability to type Nuer.
• Ability to interpret mental health concepts and terminology.
• Capable of working under pressure while maintaining the appropriate tone, speed and projection of the speaker.

How to Apply

Please write an English letter of application stating clearly, what motivates you to apply for the above position and how your qualifications and experience are relevant to the post. Include a copy of your CV, copies of any other relevant documents, and the names and contact information of three references. Do not send original documents as these will not be returned to you. Submitting false information will result in your application being disqualified. 

Please send e-mail applications to RGach@cvt.org before February 5, 2021 5:00pm with the subject title “Interpreter/Cultural Liaison [Your Name]”. E-mails with attachments should not exceed 1MB. 

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written exam and interview, scheduled to take place on February, in Gambella. Please make sure that you will be available.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.