Communications Officer/Interpreter
The Public Defender Society of Nepal (PDS Nepal) is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that upholds the human right to a fair trial and life and liberty, by defending poor, marginalized and vulnerable persons accused of criminal offenses, regardless of age, gender and ethnicity. It also works with the government to build its capacity to meet its legal obligation to provide criminal defense services to poor persons who cannot afford to hire private lawyers, so that all accused have equal access to competent defense lawyers. The primary mission of the organization is to ensure fair and effective access to justice, to develop a public defender system in Nepal and to work to develop the efficiency and sustainability of a Nepal public defender system. It focuses on the need for quality and meaningful legal representation for indigent accused in judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals.
Details / requirements:
Post: Communications Officer/Interpreter (full time)
No: 1 (Duty Station: Kathmandu)
Duration: 1 Year (renewable upon availability of funds and performance)
The Public Defender Society of Nepal (PDS-Nepal), an organization spun off from ILF-Nepal, a project of The International Legal Foundation, is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that upholds the human right to a fair trial and life and liberty, by defending poor, marginalized and vulnerable persons accused of criminal offenses, regardless of age, gender and ethnicity. It also works with the government to build its capacity to meet its legal obligation to provide criminal defence services to poor persons who cannot afford to hire private lawyers, so that all accused have equal access to competent defence lawyers. The primary mission of the organization is to ensure fair and effective access to justice, to develop a public defender system in Nepal and to work to develop the efficiency and sustainability of a Nepal public defender system. It focuses on the need for quality and meaningful legal representation for indigent accused in judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals.
PDS-Nepal seeks qualified, an open-minded, dynamic, creative and compassionate Nepalese candidate to provide high-quality communication and interpretation services to PDS-Nepal.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
During the Employment Term, the Communications Officer/Interpreter will provide written and oral translation from English to Nepali or Nepali to English of all legal materials, court proceedings, correspondence, conversations between PDS-Nepal staff, and anything else deemed necessary by the Employer. The Communications Officer/Interpreter will also be responsible for assisting with the development and implementation of the PDS-Nepal’s advocacy and communications strategy, writing reports, and the documentation and dissemination of PDS-Nepal’s achievements to a variety of internal and external audiences. The Communications Officer/Interpreter will perform the translation and communications duties on behalf of the Employer in a manner with the standards of performance outlined below, and other reasonable tasks may be assigned to the Communications Officer/Interpreter from time to time.
During the Employment Term, the Communications Officer/Interpreter will devote her/his full business time, attention and skill to the performance of such duties, services and responsibilities, and will use her/his best efforts to promote the interests of the Employer. The Communications Officer/Interpreter will not engage in any other business activity outside of PDS-Nepal, without the approval of his or her direct supervisor.
The successful candidate shall:
- Faithfully and accurately interpret conversations and documents from Nepali to English and English to Nepali, without embellishment or omission, while preserving the language level of the speaker to the best of the Communication Officer/Interpreter's skill and ability.
- Keep all assignment-related information confidential. The Communications Officer/ Interpreter should not publicly discuss, report on or offer an opinion concerning a matter in which he/she has been involved, even when that information is not privileged or required by law to be kept confidential, and the Communications Officer/Interpreter should not discuss any aspect of any case he/she has been working on, has observed, or has discussed with advocates or others at PDS-Nepal.
- Inform his/her supervisor if he/she feels unable to provide adequate interpretation.
- Keep all assignments and appear on time for those assignments. If unable to keep an assignment, the Communications Officer/Interpreter shall give as much advance notice as possible, so that alternate arrangements can be made.
- Interpret only when requested by his/her direct supervisor or other member of PDS-Nepal or The ILF (PDS-Nepal's recent donor) management. If requested to interpret by advocates or others, the Communications Officer/Interpreter should first check with his/her supervisor.
- Do not provide any legal advice of any kind to anyone, whether solicited or not. In all instances, legal issues should be referred to an advocate or management.
- Help Executive Director and supervisors to prepare reports and legal materials.
- Should be available to travel to different part of Nepal as required, to participate in workshops, trainings, seminars, surveys, investigations, etc.
- Closely supervise any outsourced translation services, to ensure that they are of the accuracy and quality that PDS-Nepal requires.
- Periodically update information on Nepal for the ILF’s global website, and develop appropriate material to send to ILF staff in New York for social media and other communications.
- Assist the Executive Director, Training & Legal Director, Deputy Director, Director of Finance & Sr. AIC to develop press materials and other advocacy material for publication.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Master’s degree in relevant subject (Mass Communication and Journalism or Master in English).
- Three (3) or more years' experience in a related field.
- A strong command of English and Nepali in both spoken and written form.
- High quality typing speed both in English and Nepali.
- Presentation skill in PowerPoint.
- Knowledge of different local languages.
- Personal sensitivity and commitment to criminal legal aid issues and PDS-Nepal’s mission.
- Ability to travel throughout Nepal.
Helpful:
- Any additional communications experience or skills would be an added advantage.
- Persons with knowledge about legal aid system in Nepal will be given priority.
Salary: NPR. 30,000- 33,000/per month (as per experience) before taxes after probation period (normally 3 months' probationary period)
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to the email or address below, on or before 15th July 2017
Email address: vacancy@pds-n.org
Mailing address:
HR Department
PDS-Nepal
Surya Marg, House # 19
Babar Mahal, Kathmandu
1. No telephone inquiries please. Only candidates short-listed for an interview will be contacted.
2. Written Assessment will be conducted on July 21, 2017.
3. The successful candidate is expected to start work from Aug 01, 2017.
4. PDS-Nepal is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, caste, gender, ethnicity, etc. Women, Dalits, Janjati and other minorities are encouraged to apply.
Note: Please do not forget to mention "Communications Officer/Interpreter" in the subject line/ envelope.