Vacancy announcement
Geneva, Switzerland
IC/2026/006

Individual Contractor - Korean-English Interpreter

Vacancy type Consultant/Individual Contractor
Duration of the contract
10 July 2026 – 27 July 2026
Indicative contract starting date
10 July 2026
Deadline for submission of applications
15 June 2026
Organizational Unit
Technology, Finance and Trade Programme
Number of job positions
1
AREA OF SPECIALIZATION/THEMATIC AREAS

Korean–English / English-Korean Interpretation and Translation, Business Meetings, Cross-Cultural Communication, Administrative Support

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The UNITAR Division for Prosperity encompasses the Technology, Finance, and Trade Programme unit (TFTP) and the Hiroshima Project Office (HPO) and covers the following six thematic areas: 1) Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development; 2) Leadership and Empowerment; 3) Trade and Finance; 4) Anti-corruption and Financial Crime; 5) Frontier Technologies; and 6) Hiroshima and Peace. These activities contribute to a number of Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Growth), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, Industry), Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). UNITAR Division for Prosperity offers evidence-based learning services using latest methodologies/technologies.

The Division focuses on offering innovative capacity-building and knowledge-management solutions for personnel from a variety of sectors including national and local governments, parliaments, the private sector, civil society, academia and media. The Division will make continuous efforts to target at those who have been left behind including women, LGBTQ, youth, refugees/IDPs, people with disabilities, and indigenous peoples.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE CONTRACT

To provide professional Korean–English and English–Korean interpretation services during the 2026 Summer Residential Programme for the MSc in AI Engineering and Business Administration in Geneva, Switzerland, ensuring effective communication, cross-cultural understanding, and smooth interaction among participants, facilitators, and stakeholders throughout the programme activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DESCRIPTION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
  • Provide accurate and high-quality consecutive and/or simultaneous Korean–English and English–Korean interpretation during lectures, panel discussions, workshops, meetings, and programme activities. 
  • Support interpretation needs during external visits, institutional engagements, study tours, and official dialogues with partner organizations and stakeholders.
  • Facilitate effective communication and coordination among participants, resource persons, and relevant stakeholders.
  • Assist in bridging cultural and language barriers to ensure smooth interaction and understanding. 
  • Translate short programme-related documents, presentations, briefing materials, schedules, or communications from Korean to English and/or English to Korean, as needed prior to and during the in-person programme.
  • Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and impartiality while performing interpretation duties. 
  • Support participants with language-related assistance during the 2026 Summer Residential Programme in Geneva, Switzerland. 
  • Ensure timely and clear interpretation of spoken communication in both formal and informal settings. 
  • Coordinate with programme organizers regarding interpretation schedules and communication needs.
MEASURABLE OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES/SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES
  • Delivery of accurate and effective Korean–English and English–Korean interpretation services during programme sessions, meetings, workshops, and related activities, in accordance of the programme timeline.
  • Facilitate effective communication and coordination among participants, subject matter experts, and relevant stakeholders. 
  • Provision of timely linguistic and cross-cultural support to programme participants and organizers as required. 
  • Translation of programme-related documents and communication materials, as required prior to and during the residential programme period.
  • Maintain confidentiality, impartiality, and professionalism in the delivery of interpretation services throughout the contract period. 
  • Deliver interpretation services in accordance with the schedule and requirements of the 2026 Summer Residential Programme in July 2026.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR EVALUATION OF RESULTS
  • Accuracy, clarity, and consistency of Korean–English and English–Korean interpretation and translation provided during programme activities and external engagements. 
  • Timeliness and reliability in the delivery of interpretation and translation services in accordance with the programme schedule and requirements. 
  • Quality and professionalism demonstrated in both verbal interpretation and written translation outputs.
  • Effectiveness in facilitating clear communication among participants, experts, and stakeholders. 
  • Professionalism, confidentiality, and impartiality demonstrated throughout the assignment. 
  • Responsiveness and ability to provide appropriate linguistic and cross-cultural support when required. 
  • Positive feedback and satisfaction from programme organizers and participants regarding interpretation services rendered.
COMPETENCIES
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
  • Strong interpretation and cross-cultural communication abilities. 
  • Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and international environment. 
  • Professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality in handling sensitive information. 
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 
  • Strong organizational and coordination skills. 
  • Teamwork and ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders. 
  • Flexibility and adaptability in supporting programme activities and operational needs.
Minimum requirements
EXPERIENCE:
  • Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in Korean–English and English–Korean interpretation and/or translation services.
  • Experience working in international, academic, diplomatic, or multicultural environments is desirable. 
  • Prior experience providing interpretation services for conferences, workshops, or training programmes is desirable. 
  • Familiarity with AI, business administration, or higher education terminology is desirable.
EDUCATION:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Interpretation, Translation, Linguistics, International Relations, Business Administration, or a related field from a recognized institution. 
LANGUAGE SKILL:
  • Fluency in Korean and English is required, with excellent oral and written communication skills in both languages. 
  • Proven ability to provide accurate and professional Korean–English and English–Korean interpretation is required. 
  • Knowledge of additional UN languages is desirable.
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