Interpreter (French) at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice (2 Openings)

The Community Court of Justice was created pursuant to the provisions of Articles 6 and 15 of the 1993 ECOWAS Revised Treaty as the principal legal organ of the Community. The Court’s main Mission is to “discharge and promote its judicial function of interpreting and applying Community texts as well as to ensure the protection of human rights in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner with the support of well-trained and motivated staff.” The Court imbibes Independence, Impartiality, Integrity and Accessibility as its core values.

To effectively carry out its mission, the Court seeks applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the underlisted position below:

Job Title: Interpreter (French)

Job Code: ECW/CCJ/IF/004
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: P5
Status: Permanent
Department: Registry
Division: Language Services
slot: 2 Openings
Institution: Community Court of Justice
Line Supervisor HOD: Judicial Certified Translations & Interpretation

Role Overview

• Under the supervision of the Head of Department (HOD) for Judicial Certified Translations & Interpretation, the incumbent shall perform interpretation work for the Court from languages B/C into French.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide interpretation during internal and external court sessions and meetings and during conferences or workshops.
• Provide interpretation in relevant language combinations (simultaneous, consecutive, whispering, liaison) of speeches or statements.
• Interpret sensitive meetings routinely.
• Assist in the establishment of a terminology database, glossaries, etc.
• Manage the terminology and reference database to ensure accuracy and consistency in language and terminology usage.
• Assist in the screening, examining, and training of prospective interpreters.
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Interpretation Team Leader/ Head of Language Services.

Academic Qualification and Experience
Educational Qualification:

• Master’s Degree in Conference Interpretation from a recognized university/institute.

Experience:

• 10 years of experience in interpretation, at least 4 of which should have been interpreter experience in an international organization, and use of relevant computer software, electronic tools and databases.
• Demonstrated understanding of the A -B -C language combinations system.
• Membership of AIIC would be an asset
• Demonstrated experience in the use of relevant computer-assisted translation software/tools.
• Demonstrated understanding of interpretation teams.
• Demonstrated professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the profession's tenets, such as confidentiality, collegiality, and the highest standards of professionalism.
• Ability to carry out terminology research and prepare glossaries on a wide range of themes. Excellent writing and analytical skills, highest standards of accuracy, consistency, and faithfulness to the style and nuances of the original text.
• Proven expertise in using relevant computer-assisted translation (CAT) software and tools, machine translation systems, and on-screen editing software.

ECOWAS Key Competencies
Leadership:

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a particular point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices.
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• The ability to respect the chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to resolve challenges with minimal direction and/or recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval.
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information, and resources.
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining the organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.

Client Service Orientation:

• Interpersonal skills with the ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to timeline, quality, and quantity.
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong, trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their needs, mitigates issues, and carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs.
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult, and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards
• Excellent management capacity, including networking and alliance building.
• Ability to work within a multinational environment and with a diverse range of people and organisations at national, regional, and global levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team setting, group facilitation and good interpersonal skills.
• Proven knowledge of new developments in own occupation/profession.
• Effective organizational skills with the ability to prioritize

Multicultural Sensitivity and Advocacy:

• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness, and the ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds, nationalities, genders, ethnicities, races, and religions.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views, especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences; ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy.
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns, and apply judgement, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all work areas.
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people unbiasedly and transparently.

Knowledge of ECOWAS:

• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes, and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services, and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS culture, structures, performance issues, and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of member states' development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as they relate to the project/programme assigned to their own position.

Analytical and Critical Thinking:

• Ability to study data/information from various sources, identify anomalies, trends, and issues, present findings, and make recommendations.
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals.
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions, and/or internal committees.

Communication:

• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to use graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means.
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions, and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner.
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in two (French and English) of the ECOWAS official languages (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one (Portuguese) will be an added advantage.

Planning and Implementation:

• Ability to develop and implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals;
• Identify, organize, and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution.
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to coordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators, and risks.
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.

Eligibility:

• Must be a citizen of an ECOWAS Member State.
• Must not be more than 50 years of age at the time of recruitment. This does not apply to internal candidates.

Annual Basic Salary
USD 53,025.02 / USD 59,949.97

Application Closing Dates
25th April, 2025. (Internal Candidates)

6th June, 2025. (External Candidates)

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their complete Application Documents to: intfr_25int@courtecowas.org (Internal Candidates), intfr_25ext@courtecowas.org (External Candidates) using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Click Here To Download Application Form (MS Word)

Application Documents
Applicants who meet the requirements must submit:

• An ECOWAS job application form
• An updated Curriculum Vitae,
• A signed motivation letter.

Note

• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
• Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.
• Offers of employment will be subject to a satisfactory background check.
• Candidates must be ECOWAS citizens
• Candidates must be under 50 years. (This condition does not apply to internal candidates)
• The documents submitted shall not be returned. Only short-listed candidates shall be contacted.
• Offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory background check and official documentation attesting nationality.