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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Translation Officer

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

TranslationLocalizationLinguisticsCommunications

🎯 Role Definition

As a Translation Officer, you will be the cornerstone of our multilingual communication strategy. You are not just a translator; you are a cultural and linguistic consultant responsible for the full lifecycle of translation and localization projects. Your mission is to ensure that all content—from complex technical manuals to creative marketing campaigns—is flawlessly adapted for target markets. You will work closely with content creators, project managers, and subject matter experts to preserve the intent, accuracy, and impact of our messaging. This position requires a deep understanding of linguistic nuances, an obsession with quality, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Translator / Translation Intern
  • Bilingual Content Reviewer
  • Language Assistant or Specialist

Advancement To:

  • Senior Translation Officer / Senior Linguist
  • Localization Project Manager
  • Terminology Manager / Terminologist
  • Head of Language Services

Lateral Moves:

  • Multilingual Content Strategist
  • International Communications Specialist
  • Technical Writer (with a focus on localization)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Translate a wide variety of documents, including legal contracts, technical specifications, marketing collateral, website content, and internal communications from [Source Language] to [Target Language] with exceptional accuracy, clarity, and style.
  • Meticulously review, edit, and proofread translations generated by internal colleagues or external vendors to guarantee they meet our stringent quality standards, grammatical rules, and stylistic guidelines.
  • Ensure all translated content is culturally adapted and localized for the target audience, paying close attention to local customs, idioms, and sensitivities to avoid misinterpretation.
  • Manage and maintain corporate translation memories (TMs), glossaries, and terminology databases to promote linguistic consistency and improve efficiency across all projects.
  • Expertly operate Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools (such as SDL Trados, MemoQ, Memsource) to streamline translation workflows and ensure consistency.
  • Act as the primary linguistic subject matter expert for the organization, providing guidance to various departments on tone of voice, cultural context, and best practices for international communication.
  • Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of translation requests, from initial scope assessment and timeline negotiation to final delivery and stakeholder approval.
  • Conduct comprehensive Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA) on final products, including websites, software interfaces, and mobile applications, to identify and rectify any language-related bugs.
  • Collaborate proactively with project managers, content creators, and technical experts to clarify ambiguities in the source text and ensure a deep understanding of the subject matter.
  • Conduct in-depth research on specialized topics and terminology to ensure the highest degree of accuracy in highly technical, legal, or medical translations.
  • Perform transcreation of creative and marketing copy, adapting slogans and campaign messages to ensure the original intent, style, and emotional impact are effectively conveyed in the target market.
  • Handle urgent, ad-hoc translation requests for time-sensitive materials such as press releases, crisis communications, or executive announcements.
  • Prepare and format translated documents to precisely mirror the layout and presentation of the source files, demonstrating a keen eye for detail.
  • Provide clear, constructive feedback to freelance translators and language service providers (LSPs) to foster quality improvement and build strong working relationships.
  • Develop, document, and enforce the company's localization style guides and language quality frameworks for all supported languages.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the selection, onboarding, and performance evaluation of freelance translators and external language service agencies.
  • Stay abreast of the latest trends, tools, and technologies in the translation and localization industry to recommend and implement process improvements.
  • Participate in the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase for localized software and websites, providing detailed linguistic feedback to development teams.
  • Generate and present reports on translation quality metrics, project volumes, turnaround times, and costs to inform departmental strategy and budgeting.
  • Assist the global marketing team by reviewing and localizing SEO keywords, meta-descriptions, and paid search ad copy to enhance international campaign performance.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Native or near-native proficiency in the target language(s) and full professional fluency in the source language(s).
  • Expert-level proficiency in using Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, such as SDL Trados Studio, MemoQ, Wordfast, or similar platforms.
  • Strong command of terminology management principles and experience with tools like MultiTerm or Acrolinx.
  • Advanced skills in editing, proofreading, and applying formal Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA) models.
  • Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Adobe Experience Manager and their localization workflows.
  • Proficiency in the full Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), with advanced document formatting skills.
  • Basic understanding of DTP (Desktop Publishing) software (e.g., InDesign) and file formats (e.g., XML, HTML).

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail, with a commitment to delivering flawless and accurate work.
  • Superior research and analytical skills, with the ability to quickly master complex and specialized subject matter.
  • Outstanding time management and organizational abilities, capable of juggling multiple projects with competing deadlines.
  • A high degree of cultural intelligence and sensitivity to navigate the nuances of global communication.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for collaborating effectively with cross-functional, multicultural teams.
  • A proactive, self-motivated work ethic with the ability to work autonomously and take ownership of projects.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in Translation, Interpreting, or Linguistics.
  • Professional certification from a recognized body (e.g., ATA, ITI, CTTIC).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Translation Studies
  • Modern Languages & Linguistics
  • Communications or Journalism
  • International Studies

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of professional experience in translation, localization, or a closely related role.

Preferred: Demonstrable experience working in a corporate environment or for a language service provider (LSP). Prior experience translating for a specific industry (e.g., technology, legal, finance, life sciences) is highly desirable.

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