Interpreter/Creole - UNOPS - LICA 4

October 2, 2025

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

FamilyUNOPS LICA4

2025-10-01IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• This position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Only Mexicans or candidates holding a permanent residency or valid work permit in México will be considered eligible (attach the corresponding document in the application).

• Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

• Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might/could include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

• UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).

• This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 31/12/2025 with possibility of extension.

• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations. UNHCR also offers comprehensive medical insurance and pension plans.

1. General Background
(Brief description of the national, sector-specific or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a mandate to provide international protection and search durable solutions for refugees and stateless individuals.
Mexico is a country of destination, transit, and origin, thus UNHCR is supporting the Government and other actors to build a stronger asylum system that allows asylum seekers and refugees to fully exercise their human rights, from the moment of entry into Mexico, to when a durable solution is found.
UNHCR works by providing technical advice on asylum matters and refugee status determination. It also collaborates with relevant civil society organizations, UNHCR also supports the strengthening of mechanisms and initiatives that promote and facilitate the integration of refugees and stateless persons in Mexico, including non-Spanish-speaking population, mainly from Haiti.
To effectively support non-Spanish-speaking populations, the role of interpreters is essential for UNHCR in fulfilling the core functions of its mandate: protection and solutions. Interpreters therefore play a key role in many UNHCR offices. Their primary responsibility is to facilitate communication, support, and follow-up for individuals who do not speak the local language, serving as a reliable channel for communication and assistance. This enables the identification of needs, supports case management, and ensures the accurate dissemination of information regarding the asylum process and pathways to rights and services within the community. This role carries significant importance and must be carried out with a high level of professionalism.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)

Under the overall supervision of the Assistant Durable Solutions Officer, the interpreter will undertake Creole-Spanish translation and the following tasks:

a) Support the identification of cases for the Local Integration Program (PIL) (relocations) and in-situ local integration
• Support the identification of persons of concern in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability and/or interested in integration alternatives.
• Participate in disseminating information related to UNHCR integration programs (PIL or in-situ).
• Disseminate information about the Local Integration Program (PIL) and the in-situ integration strategy in strategic spaces.
• Attend to telephone lines and/or communication channels designated for serving persons interested in the PIL Local Integration Program and/or in-situ integration.

b) Activities related to the relocation of beneficiaries of the Local Integration Program (PIL)
• Schedule and conduct case identification interviews for the Local Integration Program in the required UNHCR spaces/offices (Center Multipurpose, or others).
• Provide individual counseling, referral, and follow-up on key integration topics in Mexico.
• Refer to key services and institutions for obtaining essential integration documentation (migration documents, identity, or others).
• Implement activities in preparation for relocation (registration, database creation and updating, case referral, case follow-up and management, information updating in proGres, bus ticket delivery, preparatory briefings).
• Organize and provide support to PIL beneficiaries at bus terminals according to the relocation schedule planned by UNHCR.

c) Activities related to the in-situ integration of persons of concern.
• Provide individual counseling, referral, and follow-up on key integration topics in Mexico from the required UNHCR spaces/offices (Center Multipurpose, or others).
• Refer to key services and institutions for obtaining essential integration documentation (migration documents, identity, or others).
• Implement activities, support, and follow-up on cases within the in-situ integration strategy framework (registration, database creation and updating, case referral, case follow-up and management, information updating in ProGres, management of sectoral integration support, informational talks, and awareness sessions).

d) General interpreter functions.
He/she will work from UNHCR Tapachula offices (Center Multipupose, or others) and will provide his/her services remotely by telephone or video call when necessary.

• Document translations.
• Registration procedures: when the personal information of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons or returnees are recorded.
• Monitoring: when UNHCR collects information relating to the protection, rights and well-being of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons through interviews.
• Participatory Assessments: when a structured dialogue is conducted with women, girls, boys and men of concern to UNHCR, in order to gather accurate information on the specific protection and integration risks they face and underlying causes, to understand their capacities, and to hear their proposed solutions.
• Counselling sessions: when informed and professional advice is made to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.

e) Additional activities
• Perform other tasks if needed.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)

UNHCR Staff working with the interpreter will evaluate his/her performance on regular basis; in particular, his/her job performance and adherence to professional standards. Staff members will fill out the evaluation report form, which will be used for consideration of contract extensions in the future.

The interpreter will be evaluated based on the fulfillment of the objectives established within the framework of their assignment and duties. They will play a key role in identifying challenges and opportunities for the implementation of the national Durable Solutions strategy in Mexico, with an emphasis on serving the non-Spanish-speaking population.

Definition of the Final Product (i.e., survey completed, data collected, workshop conducted, research documents produced, etc.):

• Oral interpretation and translation of documents as required
• Management of cases requiring interpretation
• Review of the mid-term period and final evaluation where the progress of performance and the development of the agreed objectives will be evaluated. This may include:

• Support in the relocation of non-Spanish-speaking refugees served by the Tapachula Regional Office.
• Referral of beneficiaries to programs that facilitate local integration.
• Registration of persons of interest.
• Management of cases requiring support to address their needs for access to rights and services.
• Application of standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to the implementation of the PIL Integration Program and the local integration strategy on-site.
• Oral interpretation and translation of documents as needed.

Commitment to continuous learning: Following the recruitment, interpreters shall be provided with an induction training which should include, among other things, basic information on UNHCR specialized terminology (see the UNHCR Thesaurus), content of their work, clarification of their role, content of the UNHCR Code of Conduct, PSEA standards according to ST/SGB/2003/13 and the Undertaking of Confidentiality and Impartiality, security briefing, and interpretation training. For the latter the UNHCR Training module “Interpreting in a Refugee Context” should be utilized.

4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
• Social Sciences, Politics, Economics, Human Rights, Languages, or any other related field. Education in a distinct field but coupled with an interpretation certification may be accepted. A high-school education grade coupled with an interpretation certification may be accepted.
• Certification of interpretation/translator skills in an asset.
• A perfect command of the Creole and Spanish language is necessary
• Desirable: Certificates and/or Licenses: HCR Protection Learning Prg; HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Induction Prog.
• Oral and written skills in Spanish.

b. Work Experience
(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)
• 1 year of relevant experience, ideally on interpretation functions.
• Desirable: Diverse field experience. Experience in Interviewing.

c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and deliver quality output in a most time-efficient manner.
• Professionalism: ability to demonstrate a high level of concertation; split-second accuracy; ability to deliver clear interpretation on a broad range of subjects; ability to work in a sensitive environment interpreting/translating refugee specific terminology.
• Strictly complies with the UNHCR Code of Conduct.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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,

Desired Languages

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,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No