Director – CLSD – African Development Bank Group (AFDB)

Position title: Director – CLSD
Grade: EL-5
Position N°: NA
Reference: ADB/10/040
Publication date: 20/04/2010
Closing date: 21/05/2010
Objectives
AfDB is a premier financial development institution whose mission is to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty by providing financial and technical assistance to its fifty-three (53) Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in the African continent. The Bank has so far 25 operational field offices in African countries and has a total staff complement of over 1,600 members.
The AfDB has embarked upon the implementation of reforms of the Corporate Services, particularly in support of the implementation of the Bank Medium Term Strategy (MTS). The position will be based in the AfDB’s temporary relocation agency in Tunis, Tunisia and offers a very competitive salary and benefits package.
Duties and responsibilities
The objective of CLSD is to ensure the availability of all Bank documents in English and French through quality translation; to provide high standard interpretation; and to promote bilingualism so as to enhance communication among staff and with the Bank’s clients and partners. Under the general supervision of the Vice-President, Corporate Services (CSVP), the Director, Language Services Department (CLSD) will perform the following:

• Manage a department that provides translation and interpretation services to the Bank;
• Set objectives, formulate policies, establish priorities, define and monitor the key performance indicators of the department;
• Plan, organize and coordinate all operational language activities in CLSD;
• Ensure that the department produces a high-quality output within available resources, by making the best use of its human, financial and technological assets, and by monitoring and enforcing efficiency targets;
• Ensure effective communication between the Management and staff of the Bank, the authorities of member countries, officials from other organizations;
• Promote and encourage, through training and sensitization, staff efforts to use the other language of the Bank, so as to strike a reasonable balance in the production of documents in French and English;
• Supervise budget preparation and follow its execution, and advise senior management on the budgetary and financial impacts of the department’s operations;
• Monitor best practice in the industry and, as appropriate, liaise with counterparts in other organizations;
• Promote the sharing of best practice across the translation, editorial and interpretation areas;
• Represent CLSD as needed in bank-wide working groups;
• Determine the appropriate organizational structure of the department, assigning staff and material resources based on priorities and workload, coordinating and evaluating the work of staff and providing guidance on work problems;
• Assess the training needs of staff in the Department, monitor and evaluate their performance, and recommend personnel actions to the Vice President;
• Perform language services when appropriate and necessary.

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• A minimum of a Master’s degree or its equivalent in translation or interpretation or related disciplines;
• Preferably a minimum of ten (10) years of extensive and progressive experience in a similar organization, 5 years of which must be at a managerial level;
• Demonstrated ability to take prudent business risks and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions;
• Proven ability to build and lead motivated and committed teams across functional boundaries, and utilize talent and expertise of team members in a productive way;
• Strong managerial, interpersonal and communication skills; strong negotiating skills; ability to think strategically;
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize work programs, and handle multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Ability to gain the confidence of senior management in delivering an efficient and effective service within agreed time and cost constraints;
• Ability to work effectively with other technical and management professionals of diverse occupational and cultural backgrounds in a cooperative team environment;
• Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas; a good listener; high level of integrity, discretion and confidentiality;
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint);
• Excellent written and verbal communications in English and French.

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank’s requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit (preferably electronically, to: recruit@afdb.org) a fully completed Personal History Form (PHF), available from the Bank’s web site, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) indicating date of birth and nationality. The President, ADB, reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level.
The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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