Translation and Interpretation Officer (Sinhala- English)

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

The South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) supports UNOPS operations across six countries: Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAMCO delivers a broad range of services and technical expertise in climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infrastructure, procurement, human resource management, and fund management. Each country office is staffed with local technical experts and maintains strong partnerships with national governments, ensuring context-specific solutions and effective project implementation.

Vriddhi produces programme documents, reports, learning materials and public information primarily in English. Many civil society partners and participants communicate more effectively in Sinhala. The programme therefore requires a qualified local language - English Translation and Interpretation Officer to provide accurate written translation and live interpretation when required. The assignment will support inclusive participation while preserving the meaning, tone, confidentiality and technical accuracy of programme content. This TOR refers to services in Sinhala Language. 

The Translation and Interpretation Officer will provide written translation between English and Sinhala, and consecutive or simultaneous interpretation for online and occasional in-person engagements, as requested by the Vriddhi programme. 

Translation and language review

• Translate documents accurately between English and Sinhala, while preserving meaning, tone, structure and intended audience.

• Translate programme reports, course and training materials, presentations, guidance documents, calls for proposals, programme and grant-related materials, social media content and other communications assigned by Vriddhi or UNOPS teams.

• Review and proofread translated material for grammar, clarity, consistency and correct use of terminology before submission.

• Maintain consistent terminology across assignments and, when requested, develop or update a bilingual glossary of frequently used programme terms.

• Format translations to follow the source document as closely as reasonably possible and clearly flag text whose meaning requires clarification.

Interpretation

• Provide live interpretation between English and Sinhala during online meetings, consultations, webinars and training sessions.

• Provide interpretation during occasional in-person meetings, dialogues, workshops, capacity-building activities, field visits and engagements with diplomatic missions and other stakeholders in Sri Lanka.

• Review agendas and reference materials in advance and prepare relevant terminology for each assignment.

Quality, confidentiality and coordination

• Use accurate terminology relating to protection, human rights, civil society, inclusion, programme management, grants, finance, monitoring and evaluation, gender, IT and capacity building.

• Respond promptly to assignment requests, confirm availability and meet agreed deadlines, including short deadlines where reasonably required.

• Incorporate reasonable feedback and correct errors promptly where the submitted work does not meet the agreed requirements.

• Treat all documents, discussions, participant information and programme information as confidential and comply with applicable UNOPS requirements on safeguarding, data protection and professional conduct.

• Coordinate with the designated Vriddhi focal point and submit completed work in the requested editable format.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in translation, interpretation, languages, linguistics, communication, social sciences, law, human rights, development studies or another relevant field  with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Formal training or professional certification in translation or interpretation from a National body is desired.

Required

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in translation and interpretation is required, including experience translating technical or programme-related documents and providing live interpretation in online and/or in-person settings.

• Demonstrated ability to translate technical or programme content accurately and communicate complex ideas in clear, natural language.

• Knowledge of terminology used in protection, human rights, civil society, inclusion, programme management and development programming.

• Strong proofreading, editing and quality-control skills, with the ability to meet agreed deadlines.

• Proficiency in google workplace and online meeting applications.

Desired

• Experience supporting the United Nations, international organizations, civil society organizations or donor-funded programmes.

• Experience translating or interpreting content related to grants, finance, monitoring and evaluation, training or safeguarding.

• Familiarity with the Sri Lankan civil society and development context.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.