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GSFS Haiti-Interpreter/Translator-NO-B4-Port au Prince, Haiti
Position Title: Interpreter/Translator
Receiving Agency: GSFS Haiti
P Level: NO-B4
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 12 months renewable
Language: Fluency in English, French, and Haitian Creole is required
Background
On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.
The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National Police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.
The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP-appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.
The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF).
Career Experience
The Interpreter/Translator shall have a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience providing interpretation and translation services in English, French and Haitian Creole. Demonstrated experience providing consecutive interpretation between all three languages and in all required directions (English to French and French to English; English to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to English; French to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to French), including during meetings, briefings, official visits or other engagements involving senior officials, is required. Demonstrated experience translating official correspondence, briefing materials, speeches, reports, presentations and other documents accurately and within short deadlines is required. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in diverse and challenging environments, preferably in a context related to international organizations and/or field missions. Experience liaising with various stakeholders and providing language support in high-level meetings and events is highly desirable. Experience working with political, diplomatic, security, military, police, humanitarian or human rights terminology is desirable. Experience working with Haitian institutions and cultural context is also desirable. Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in translation, interpretation, French, English or Haitian Creole language, linguistics, communications, or a related field; specialized certification or formal training in interpretation and/or translation is an advantage. Candidates are expected to have a solid foundation in language skills, cultural awareness, sound judgement and discretion to perform effectively in a multilingual and sensitive operational environment.
Languages
Fluency in English, French and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen), both oral and written, is required. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to provide accurate consecutive interpretation between all three languages and in all required directions: English to French and French to English; English to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to English; and French to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to French. The ability to translate accurately and professionally across all three languages is also required.
Responsibilities of the Interpreter/Translator
The Interpreter/Translator plays a crucial role in facilitating communication between the Special Representative, GSF senior leaders, Haitian counterparts, international partners and the local population. The position requires the incumbent to provide professional interpretation and translation services, ensuring that messages are conveyed accurately, completely, impartially and in the appropriate register. The Interpreter/Translator will work closely with the Office of the Special Representative and with various GSF staff and components, including military and police personnel, to support mission operations and activities. The role demands a high level of professionalism, discretion, responsiveness and the ability to navigate complex cultural dynamics and sensitive subject matter.
The Interpreter/Translator is based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and works in the Office of the Special Representative. Within the delegation of authority and under the direct supervision of the Special Representative or his/her designate, the Interpreter/Translator shall be responsible for the following duties:
Additional Notes
This position is open to local recruitment in Haiti and applications are restricted to Haitian nationals. Applicants must be legally able to work in Haiti. It is important to note that GSF staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits that are exclusively applicable to internationally recruited staff.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.
Receiving Agency: GSFS Haiti
P Level: NO-B4
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 12 months renewable
Language: Fluency in English, French, and Haitian Creole is required
Background
On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.
The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National Police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.
The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP-appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.
The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF).
Career Experience
The Interpreter/Translator shall have a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience providing interpretation and translation services in English, French and Haitian Creole. Demonstrated experience providing consecutive interpretation between all three languages and in all required directions (English to French and French to English; English to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to English; French to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to French), including during meetings, briefings, official visits or other engagements involving senior officials, is required. Demonstrated experience translating official correspondence, briefing materials, speeches, reports, presentations and other documents accurately and within short deadlines is required. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in diverse and challenging environments, preferably in a context related to international organizations and/or field missions. Experience liaising with various stakeholders and providing language support in high-level meetings and events is highly desirable. Experience working with political, diplomatic, security, military, police, humanitarian or human rights terminology is desirable. Experience working with Haitian institutions and cultural context is also desirable. Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in translation, interpretation, French, English or Haitian Creole language, linguistics, communications, or a related field; specialized certification or formal training in interpretation and/or translation is an advantage. Candidates are expected to have a solid foundation in language skills, cultural awareness, sound judgement and discretion to perform effectively in a multilingual and sensitive operational environment.
Languages
Fluency in English, French and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen), both oral and written, is required. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to provide accurate consecutive interpretation between all three languages and in all required directions: English to French and French to English; English to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to English; and French to Haitian Creole and Haitian Creole to French. The ability to translate accurately and professionally across all three languages is also required.
Responsibilities of the Interpreter/Translator
The Interpreter/Translator plays a crucial role in facilitating communication between the Special Representative, GSF senior leaders, Haitian counterparts, international partners and the local population. The position requires the incumbent to provide professional interpretation and translation services, ensuring that messages are conveyed accurately, completely, impartially and in the appropriate register. The Interpreter/Translator will work closely with the Office of the Special Representative and with various GSF staff and components, including military and police personnel, to support mission operations and activities. The role demands a high level of professionalism, discretion, responsiveness and the ability to navigate complex cultural dynamics and sensitive subject matter.
The Interpreter/Translator is based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and works in the Office of the Special Representative. Within the delegation of authority and under the direct supervision of the Special Representative or his/her designate, the Interpreter/Translator shall be responsible for the following duties:
- Provide clear, accurate and impartial consecutive interpretation between English, French and Haitian Creole in all required directions during meetings, briefings, official visits and other engagements involving the Special Representative, GSF senior leadership, Haitian counterparts, international partners and other interlocutors.
- Provide clear and concise verbal communication and interpretation between senior mission leaders, Haitian counterparts, international partners and the local population in English, French and Haitian Creole, as operationally required.
- Prepare for interpreting assignments by reviewing agendas, briefing materials, background documents and relevant political, security, legal, military, police, humanitarian and institutional terminology in advance of meetings.
- Translate official documents and communications between English, French and Haitian Creole, in all required directions, while ensuring accuracy, appropriate register and consistency of terminology.
- Translate, as required, official correspondence, letters, notes, speeches, talking points, briefing notes, reports, meeting records, presentations, public information materials and other mission documents while preserving meaning, tone, nuance and appropriate institutional terminology.
- Prioritize urgent translation requests and provide rapid or same-day turnaround when operationally required, while maintaining accuracy, completeness and professional quality.
- Proofread, edit and revise translated material, including translations prepared by others when requested, to ensure linguistic accuracy, clarity, consistency of terminology and appropriate style.
- Develop and maintain working glossaries and terminology references for recurring GSF, Haitian institutional, security-sector and diplomatic terminology to support consistency across interpretation and translation products.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgement when handling sensitive, privileged or operational information encountered during meetings or in documents entrusted for translation.
- Liaise with counterparts in other sections regarding scheduling and administrative arrangements for interpretation, translation and related front-office requirements, as needed.
- Collaborate with GSF public information and communications staff and other mission staff in the field to ensure accurate and consistent language support for mission activities and communications.
- Assist front office staff with the preparation and linguistic review of drafts, briefing notes, background information, correspondence and other materials, as required.
- Support high-level visits and engagements by ensuring that interpretation requirements, relevant background materials and language preparations are identified and addressed in advance.
- File and retrieve office documents and maintain well-organized language-support records, reference materials and translated documents in accordance with applicable information-management requirements.
Additional Notes
This position is open to local recruitment in Haiti and applications are restricted to Haitian nationals. Applicants must be legally able to work in Haiti. It is important to note that GSF staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits that are exclusively applicable to internationally recruited staff.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.