Head of English Language Department

Vacancy Notice 1961

INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 196 Member Countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.

INTERPOL actively encourages applications from women and nationals of member countries that are currently unrepresented among our staff (please click on this link to access the list of countries). Candidates from these countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

INTERPOL’s recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

Job Title: Head of English Language Department
Reporting To: Head of Global Language Services
Location: Lyon
Type of contract: Fixed-term Contract
Duration (in months): 36.00
Grade: 3
Number of post(s): 1
Level of Security screening: Basic
Deadline for application: 9 August 2026

Conditions applying for all candidates

Only professional experience for which candidates can provide official proof of employment will be considered. Candidates could be requested to provide copies of such official documents prior to interviews/test.

* Subsequent extension to this post will be subject to the terms of the Organization’s Staff Manual, to satisfactory performance and to availability of funds.

Tests/interviews in connection to this selection procedure will take place approximately 4 weeks after the deadline for applications. Applicants are kindly requested to plan their availability during this period accordingly, in case they are short-listed.

​Selected candidates will be expected to report for duty approximately two to three months after receiving an offer of employment at the latest.

This selection exercise may be used to generate a reserve list of suitable candidates that may be used to address Organization's similar staffing needs in the future.

DEFINITION OF THE POST

Working under the authority of the Global Head of Language Services, the incumbent leads and supervises the English Language Department team. He/she is responsible for coordinating and supervising the revision, editing, and translation of documents carried out by the English Language Department. The incumbent is also tasked with managing a broad range of tasks relating to the Organization’s day-to-day operations, activities, and to the decisions to be taken by its governing bodies.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES

1: Team and departmental management

• Lead and supervise the English Language Department team, planning and organizing the Department’s revision, editing, translation, and minute‑taking work.
• Ensure adequate staffing cover, optimum productivity, and efficient management and operation of the Department, including contributing to Language Services’ annual budget planning and keeping track of the Department’s expenses according to that budget.
• Promote client-oriented services by providing direction, motivating staff, and fostering excellent performance and teamwork. Organize and manage assigned resources to provide timely and effective service delivery.
• Drive and evaluate staff performance within the Department. Provide individuals with regular coaching and training to enhance skills and, where appropriate, address skills gaps.
• In consultation with the other Heads of Language Departments, provide instructions to the staff of the Department for dealing with revision and translation challenges in order to ensure uniformity across all four language versions.
• Lead and actively participate as required in training, visits, and international meetings on specialist topics and for language professionals.
• Achieve and maintain full proficiency in the main IT, Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other tools and resources available in Language Services.

2: Outsourcing and administrative management

• Lead the assessment of needs and drive recommendations for outsourcing the Department’s work in collaboration with the Reviser. Oversee the monitoring of external language service providers ensuring high-quality deliverables, and provide regular, actionable feedback.
• Lead all administrative and management tasks for outsourcing initiatives, including overseeing the full call for tenders process on behalf of the Department.
• Liaise with the General Secretariat’s client units. Obtain feedback from clients and other stakeholders on the quality of the services provided and adapt accordingly, making recommendations on the improvement of the work of the Department.
• Lead and counsel staff of the Department and brief them on the procedures and practices of Language Services, terminology, and a broad range of subjects. Act as a mentor and coach, and provide guidance to other units on institutional matters, as required.
• Take part in every stage of the recruitment of staff, whether temporary or permanent, for the Department: Lead onboarding efforts appropriately and ensure newcomers are continually guided, coached, and monitored throughout the probation period and beyond.

3: Editing, revision, translation, quality control, and terminology management

• Lead the Department’s terminology work and provide guidance to Department staff, Language Services staff in general, and the wider Organization (as required). Create, modify and edit terminology records as required, or provide guidance to that effect.
• Perform regular on-call duties for the translation of Notices (may work outside of normal working hours when needed) and occasional on-call duties for the revision of documents for statutory events (may also work outside of normal working hours when needed).
• May be required to revise originals drafted in English, review translations into English, perform minute-taking, and/or draft summary records of proceedings.

4: Language technologies and innovation

• Define and implement the Language Department’s technology strategy according to guidance from the Global Head of Language Services, including the governance and deployment of CAT tools, machine translation, and AI-based solutions, with a view to enhancing quality, consistency, efficiency and data security.
• Maintain operational proficiency in relevant language and terminology technologies, and model their effective use through established standards, workflows and best practices.
• Train, instruct, and support staff in the appropriate use of language and terminology technologies, including by providing guidance to resolve technical and workflow-related issues.
• Keep abreast of developments in translation and terminology technologies, including AI and related tools, by participating in professional meetings and maintaining regular contact with Heads of Language Services in other organizations, notably for benchmarking purposes.
• Formulate evidence-based recommendations on tool selection, configuration and evolution, and ensure the ethical, compliant and sustainable use of technology and AI within the Department.

5: Perform any other duty as required by the hierarchy.

QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATION REQUIRED:

• A Master’s Degree in Languages, Translation, Translation Technologies, or in a relevant discipline, complemented by advanced management and translation experience.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• At least eight years of combined experience in translation, editing, revision, and minute-taking, preferably in an international organization.
• Knowledge of working methods and procedures in international organizations.
• Demonstrable experience in leadership and team management.
• Advanced experience in the use of language technologies and tools.

LANGUAGES:

• Perfect command of English as a mother tongue.
• Excellent knowledge of two of the Organization’s other languages (Arabic, French, Spanish).

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Management skills, including:
  • SPECIAL APTITUDES REQUIRED:
    • Leadership
    • Managing performance
    • Motivating staff
    • Actively supporting career development
    • Decision-making
    • Change management and organizational behaviour skills
    • Knowledge-transfer and teaching skills;
    • Ability to grasp and deal with a wide variety of subject matters (law, IT, forensics, etc.);
    • Excellent general knowledge given the wide range of areas covered;
    • Advanced proficiency in the use of CAT tools, machine translation and AI-based language solutions, as well as standard computer-based applications;
    • Openness to new ideas and innovation.
    • Personal and professional maturity;
    • Strong communication and persuasion skills;
    • Ability to maintain objectivity and apply logical, specifically inductive, reasoning;
    • Ability to work in teams as well as individually;
    • Ability to work persistently and under pressure, including outside of normal working hours;
    • Exceptional social skills, particularly in a multicultural environment;
    • Initiative, creativity (original thinking) and intellectual curiosity;
    • Ability to develop and maintain professional networks;
    • Ability to synthesize ideas.