Background:
The Syria Education Programme II (SEP II), funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and running until 2027, provides primary school children access to quality, inclusive and sustainable education in conflict-affected areas of Northwest Syria. The project provides comprehensive support to schools and teachers, including pedagogical supervision, learning assessments, psychosocial support, and safeguarding measures. The goal is to foster hope for future generations by investing in capacity-building and models that facilitate learning.
Position Overview:
Chemonics UK is currently leading the Syria Education Programme II (Manahel), a UK government-supported programme that provides access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning opportunities for children in conflict-affected areas of Syria and delivers the support that educational actors need to manage education effectively Manahel focuses on pedagogy, curriculum and planning, inclusion and child protection. It promotes the importance of education for girls and delivers interventions in psycho-social care, child safeguarding and protection, fixed and mobile library support, teacher training and coaching, monthly teacher learning circles, accommodation for children with mild or moderate disability, and improved literacy and numeracy instruction. Chemonics UK is also pursuing additional programming opportunities in Syria.
Chemonics UK is seeking a skilled Arabic-English Translator to support translation and interpretation needs for the Syria Education Programme II. The ideal candidate will have strong experience translating technical and programmatic documents in both Arabic and English, with a deep understanding of cultural and linguistic nuances essential for accurate and context-sensitive communication.
The Arabic-English Translator is responsible for accurately translating and localising a variety of technical and programmatic documents, reports, and communications to support the Syria Education Programme II. They ensure that translations maintain the original meaning, tone, and cultural relevance for Arabic-speaking audiences and English-speaking stakeholders. The role includes providing interpretation services during meetings and workshops, collaborating with programme departments to ensure consistency in terminology, and managing multiple translation tasks under tight deadlines – all while maintaining confidentiality and quality standards in line with FCDO rules and regulations.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):
- Translate a wide range of written materials (project proposals, reports, training manuals, communications content, and donor deliverables) between Arabic and English, maintaining accuracy, tone, and meaning.
- Localise Syria Education Programme II materials to ensure they are contextually and culturally appropriate for Arabic-speaking audiences.
- Provide high-quality simultaneous or consecutive interpretation during meetings, workshops, interviews, and trainings when required.
- Collaborate with different teams within the Syria Education Programme II to ensure consistency in terminology and understanding of content.
- Maintain and update an internal glossary of key development terms in both English and Arabic, especially in sectors education, safeguarding, gender and social inclusion.
- Review and edit translations completed by other translators for accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
- Meet tight deadlines and manage multiple translation tasks across projects.
- Ensure compliance with confidentiality and data protection policies when handling sensitive materials, in line with FCDO rules and regulations.
Qualifications & Experience:
A: Professional Competencies:
- Bachelor’s degree in Translation, Arabic Language, English Language, Linguistics, International Relations, or a related field.
- Minimum 3 years of professional translation and/or interpretation experience, ideally in international development, humanitarian assistance, public sector, or donor-funded programming.
- Native or near-native proficiency in both Arabic and English, with excellent written communication skills in both languages.
- Proven experience translating technical and programme documents, including donor reports, MEL reports, requests for proposals, technical briefs, training materials, and programme communications.
- Strong understanding of Modern Standard Arabic and relevant regional dialects, with the ability to adapt tone and terminology for different audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to localise content for Arabic-speaking audiences while maintaining the meaning, tone, and intent of the original text.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and, preferably, computer-assisted translation tools such as Trados, Wordfast, or MemoQ.
- Strong attention to detail, grammar, formatting, terminology, consistency, and quality assurance.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple translation tasks at the same time.
- Experience working with or translating for FCDO, UN agencies, USAID, GIZ, or other international development actors is desirable.
- Experience translating education, safeguarding, gender equality and social inclusion, monitoring and evaluation, or child protection materials is desirable.
- Has the right to work in Syria and is based, or willing to be based, in Damascus.
B: Behavioural Competencies:
- Works professionally and collaboratively with colleagues, partners, technical teams, and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrates strong judgement, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive programme, personnel, safeguarding, or donor materials.
- Communicates clearly and constructively, including when clarifying terminology, meaning, or context with technical colleagues.
- Maintains high standards of accuracy and quality under pressure.
- Is organised, responsive, and able to prioritise competing tasks in a fast-paced programme environment.
- Shows cultural sensitivity and awareness of linguistic nuance when translating or interpreting between Arabic and English.
- Takes initiative to improve consistency and quality, including through maintaining glossaries, checking terminology, and reviewing translated materials.
- Demonstrates commitment to Chemonics’ values, safeguarding standards, and ethical ways of working.
Safeguarding and Child Protection:
At Chemonics Tanmia, the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable individuals are paramount. To uphold this fundamental value, the organisation implements stringent safeguarding protocols during its recruitment process and onboarding. This includes detailed background and reference checks for selected candidates/s, ensuring the highest standards of safety and protection against any form of harm or exploitation. These thorough procedures underscore Chemonics’s unwavering commitment to creating and maintaining secure environments for the most vulnerable.
How to apply
To apply, please fill out this form: SEP II Job Application Form by September 14, 2026. If you are unable to access the link directly due to local internet restrictions, please consider using a VPN connection to access and complete the application form.
We will review the applications on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organisation, or other non-merit factors.
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