Freelance Translator

Career Opportunities: Freelance Translator (3861)

Requisition ID: 3861
Posted: 15/01/2026
Professional - Language Services - Various Duty Stations

A roster of suitable candidates may be established for this post as a result of this selection process for both fixed-term established and general temporary assistance posts.

Organisational Context

Provision of high quality language services for efficient conduct of Court business:

The Language Services Section (LSS) provides language services to the organs of the Court, i.e. translation, revision and editing of Court documents; consecutive and simultaneous interpretation for meetings, trial hearings, press conferences, specialised seminars, diplomatic briefings and other events, held in-house or away from the seat of the Court; assistance and guidance in terminology and references, management of language tools to make sure that consistent terminology is used in all the organs of the Court; recruitment, training, and accreditation of interpreters needed for work with Registry officials in the field and/or at the seat of the Court; provision of relevant information to service users to make them familiar with all the types of language services provided and with the procedures and requirements of the professions in question.

Language combinations required according to working language

Duties and Responsibilities

Freelance translators working into these target languages are normally required to:

• Translate documents covering a wide range of topics including but not limited to: legal, political, military, medical, forensic, technical, administrative and financial matters, and human rights;
• Ensure accuracy, clarity, cohesion and conformity with ICC standards, practice and policy;
• Consult with LSS revisers and translators to clarify ambiguities;
• Observe established terminology and in-house usage, identify new terminology and actively contribute to terminology and reference databases;
• Use MS Office Suite and CAT Tools.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

A university degree in translation, languages, law or any relevant subject.

Experience:

• Two years of relevant work experience as a translator;
• For recent graduates with relevant advanced university degree who perform particularly well in the translation test, the experience requirement could be waived; Experience in translation with international organisations would be an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to translate documents covering a wide range of topics including but not limited to: legal, political, military, medical, forensic, technical, administrative and financial matters, and human rights;
• Solid academic knowledge of the required languages;
• Knowledge of legal concepts in general, and of international legal instruments and ICC basic texts in particular; knowledge of terminology relevant to the context of international organisations; basic knowledge of ICC situations and cases;
• Knowledge of relevant IT and a high level of proficiency in the use of word processing programs and CAT Tools;
• Ability to work effectively to deadlines and, as necessary, as part of a translation team;
• Knowledge of the style and usage of source and target languages; acute sensitivity to nuance and attention to detail; good analytical skills;
• Good organisational and time management skills;
• Openness to skill development.

Knowledge of Languages:

Mother-tongue proficiency in one of the languages in the listed language combination and a high level of proficiency in the other.

Assessment Method

Candidates will be required to sit an ICC translation test.

Successful Candidates will be required to undergo a security vetting procedure.

ICC Core Competencies

Dedication to the mission and values

• Acts consistently in accordance with the mission and values of the Organisation;
• Maintains confidentiality, acts with integrity and shows respect for diversity;
• Shows commitment to the organisation;
• Presents a positive image of the organisation during external discussions.

Professionalism

• Applies professional and technical expertise;
• Keeps abreast of organisational issues;
• Produces workable solutions to a range of problems.

Teamwork

• Listens, consults and communicates proactively;
• Handles disagreements with tact and diplomacy;
• Recognises and rewards the contribution of others.

Learning and developing

• Identifies development strategies needed to achieve work and career goals and makes use of developmental or training opportunities;
• Learns from successes and failures;
• Seeks feedback and gives feedback to others to increase organisational effectiveness;
• Seeks opportunities for improvement of work;
• Has an open mind and contributes to innovation.

Handling uncertain situations

• Adapts to changing circumstances;
• Deals with ambiguity, making positive use of the opportunities it presents;
• Plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances;
• Manages time effectively.

Interaction

• Expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly;
• Handles contacts with diplomacy and tact;
• Communicates in a transparent and open way with internal and external contacts while complying with confidentiality requirements.

Realising objectives

• Accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm;
• Keeps to agreements with others;
• Focuses on client needs;
• Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people;
• Monitors and maintains quality and productivity.

General Information

• The selected candidate will be subject to a Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) process in accordance with ICC policy. The PSC process will include but will not be limited to, verification of the information provided in the personal history form and a criminal record check.
• Applicants may check the status of vacancies on ICC E-Recruitment web-site.
• Post to be filled preferably by a national of a State Party to the ICC Statute, or of a State which has signed and is engaged in the ratification process or which is engaged in the accession process, but nationals from non-state parties may also be considered.
• In accordance with the Rome Statute, the ICC aims to achieve fair representation of women and men for all positions, representation of the principal legal systems of the world for legal positions, and equitable geographical representation for positions in the professional category.
• Applications from female candidates are particularly encouraged.
• The Court reserves the right not to make any appointment to the vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.
• The International Criminal Court is a member organization of the Inter-Organization Mobility Accord and is interested in secondment of staff from organizations of the United Nations Common System.