15 August: FYI -- computational linguistics (UN)
Index of August 2018 | Index of year: 2018 | Full index
On Mon, Aug 13, 2018 at 09:30:02AM +0100, June Murphy wrote:
> Hi Carl,
>
> There's a vacancy for a computational linguist in the UN; details at:
> https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=101975
>
> Perhaps you know some people who might be interested?
>
> Best regards,
>
> *June*
> ____________________________
> Ms June Murphy
> BA (Mod), MPhil, CIMA Adv Dip MA
Posting Title: 2018 Competitive Examination for Computational Linguists, P2, P3
Job Code Title: Computational Linguist
Department/Office: Office of Human Resources Management
Duty Station: NEW YORK; VIENNA;
Posting Period: 10 August 2018 - 09 September 2018
Job Opening Number: 18-Language-DM OHRM-101975-L- (L)
Staffing Exercise N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Org. Setting and Reporting
• These positions are located at United Nations Headquarters in New
York in the Department for General Assembly and Conference
Management (DGACM) and in the United Nations Office at Vienna.
• These positions are under the general supervision of the Senior
Computational Linguist in the Documentation Division of DGACM.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Computational Linguist will be
responsible for the following duties:
•Facilitate delivery of gText and related language support services in
order to ensure efficient processing of multilingual documentation;
•Provide support for users of gDoc and gText and related services and
help to expand and improve the effectiveness of these services;
•Assist the Senior Computational Linguist in implementing the
Division's workplan and overall Departmental policy relating to dDoc
and gText services;
•Manage the performance and assist in supervising temporary
contractors; and
•Perform other duties as required. Competencies
• Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements;
demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing
deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather
than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult
problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes
responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring
the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve
organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others'
ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team
agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with
final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely
reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and
accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology;
understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of
the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks;
shows willingness to learn new technology. Education
Applicants must hold at least a three-year first-level degree or an
equivalent qualification from a university or institution of
equivalent status. Work Experience
No experience is required; two or more years of practical experience
as a computational linguist or in planning, design, development,
implementation and maintenance of conference language technologies,
products and systems or a related area is desirable, preferably within
the United Nations system or similar international
organization. Experience with PRINCE2 and ITIL methodology is
desirable. Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations
Secretariat. For the posts advertised, fluency in oral and written
English is required. Knowledge of one or more additional UN official
languages is an advantage. Assessment
• Applications will be assessed and screened on the basis of how well
applicants meet the education, work experience and language
requirements listed above, and only those applicants deemed
qualified will be convoked to part one of the examination, which
will consist of a written test.
• The written test will be administered online through a dedicated
platform and is likely to comprise:
(i) questions covering fundamental concepts and/or algorithms in
computational linguistics and natural language processing, and
(ii) computational problems involving programming and/or computational
data analysis, both on subjects such as computer-assisted translation
and terminology, machine translation, workflow operations and
management of multilingual document or meeting services, and/or
multilingual information exchange and retrieval.
• Details regarding the exact timing and arrangements will be sent to
the candidates convoked for this first part of the
examination. Details of any changes to the format of the test will
be posted on the “Competitive examinations for language
professionals” section of the United Nations Careers Portal
(https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=LE). Please check it
regularly.
• On the basis of the results of part one of the examination, the
Board of Examiners will invite selected examinees to take part two
of the examination, which will include a competency-based
interview. The interview is to assess whether the candidate
possesses the competencies required for the position and is an
integral part of the examination. Examinees who are invited to take
part two of the examination should not assume that they will be
automatically placed on a roster or offered an assignment.
• All examinees will be informed by email of the Board's final
recommendation in respect of their candidature. The Board's
recommendations are final and not subject to appeal. The Board does
not release individual scores or results. Special Notice
• The purpose of the present job opening is to invite applications to
sit the competitive examination for Computational Linguists, which
will be held in two parts (see “Assessment Method” below). Each part
of the examination is eliminatory: only those successful in part one
will be convoked to part two, and only those successful in part two
will be placed on the roster for recruitment. Part one of the
examination is tentatively scheduled to take place on 9 November
2018 and will be carried out entirely online.
• Candidates wishing to sit this competitive examination must submit
an application through Inspira, the United Nations Secretariat’s
online recruitment platform. They can start this process by clicking
on the “Apply” or “Apply Now” button in the electronic version of
this Job Opening. Applications must be submitted in English,
referring to the English version of the Job Opening, accessible
under the English version of the UN Careers Portal. The process is
described in the "Competitive examinations for language
professionals" section of the United Nations Careers Portal
(https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=LCRWHA).
• When filling out their applications in Inspira, applicants should
write in the cover letter section (step 7) approximately 150 to 200
words in English explaining how their experience, qualifications and
competencies match the position for which they are applying.
• Applications that are incomplete (including those submitted without
the required evidence of language skills or without the cover letter
requested in steps 6 and 7, respectively, of the Inspira application
form) and applications that are submitted or received after the
deadline specified in Inspira will not be considered.
• All applications will be reviewed by the Board of Examiners. In
instances where a large number of applications are received, the
Board of Examiners reserves the right to admit to the examination
only the most qualified applicants based on a review of
qualifications over and above the minimum criteria (see education,
work experience and language requirements below). All applicants
will be notified by email of the Board’s decision in respect of
their application. The Board’s decisions are final.
• On the basis of the overall results of the examination, the Board
will recommend to the Assistant Secretary-General for Human
Resources Management the names of candidates who qualify for
inclusion in a roster of successful examinees.
• Present and future vacancies for Computational Linguists will be
filled from the roster of successful examinees, subject to the
requirements of each section or service in terms of expertise and
language combinations. There are Computational Linguist posts in the
language services of the United Nations Secretariat in New York and
Vienna.
• Successful examinees selected from the roster to fill vacancies are
normally offered an initial fixed-term appointment at the P-2 level
for a trial period of two years. Upon satisfactory completion of
this trial period, they may be promoted to the P-3 level. Fully
qualified Computational Linguists with several years of
internationally recognized professional language experience and
demonstrated ability to perform high-quality work may be recruited
at the P-3 level. After two years of satisfactory service on a
fixed-term appointment, the candidate will be considered for a
continuing appointment. Fixed-term appointments of those whose
performance proves unsatisfactory will not be extended after the
trial period of two years.
• It should be noted that successful candidates are expected to serve
a minimum of five years in a language post and may, after the
two-year trial period, be called upon to serve at a different duty
stations according to the needs of the Organization. They should
also note that, in accordance with the needs of the service/section,
they may be called upon to work outside normal working hours,
including weekends and holidays.
• Successful candidates who receive an offer of appointment are
strongly encouraged to accept it, as declining may affect their
prospects of receiving a subsequent offer.
SPECIAL NOTICE FOR INTERNAL CANDIDATES
• The competitive examination for Computational Linguists in 2018 is
open to internal applicants at the P3 level and below who meet the
eligibility requirements, as well as qualified external candidates,
in accordance with the provisions of ST/AI/1998/7 and ST/AI/2000/1,
as amended by ST/AI/1998/7/Amend.1 and ST/AI/2003/1, respectively.
• It should be noted that the requirement for a university degree or
its equivalent from a university or institution of equivalent status
(set forth in “Education” below) may be waived for staff members
who, in the judgment of the Board of Examiners, have adequate
post-secondary educational qualifications from a university or
institution of equivalent status and adequate secondary educational
qualifications, in addition to five years of continuous service with
the United Nations Secretariat by 31 December 1989.
• The assignment of staff members of the United Nations who are
successful in the examination and are selected to fill vacancies
will be subject to the following conditions:
• Staff members selected to fill vacancies will be assigned as
Computational Linguist for a trial period of two years according to
the staff rules in force. Staff members below the P-2 level or in
the General Service category will receive a special post allowance
to the P-2 level. Staff members at the P-2 and P-3 levels will be
assigned at their respective levels.
• Staff members with a special post allowance to the P-2 level and
those already at the P-2 level who successfully complete the trial
period and are recommended by the Department for General Assembly
and Conference Management and the Office of Human Resources
Management may be promoted to the P-3 level. Staff members already
at the P-3 level who successfully complete the trial period will be
confirmed in their functions at the P-3 level. After two years of
satisfactory service on a fixed-term appointment, the candidate will
be considered for a continuing appointment. This means that the
candidate must demonstrate within that time that he or she possesses
the requisite qualifications to serve as a career staff member of
the United Nations in order to receive such an appointment. Staff
members who do not successfully complete the trial period will be
reassigned to posts at their previous levels, and any special post
allowance will be discontinued.
• Staff members from subsidiary organs of the United Nations and staff
members whose service is limited to a particular organ, fund or
programme of the United Nations or a special mission are considered
external candidates for the purpose of this examination. Such
candidates, if successful in the examination, will be offered a new
appointment with the United Nations, subject to normal United
Nations recruitment procedures and standards.
• Staff members selected to fill vacancies will be recruited as
Computational Linguist according to the staff rules in force.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United
Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is
the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency,
competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for
employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations
of international human rights law, violations of international
humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other
than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to
believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these
acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted
abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust,
for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting
monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of
another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened
physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under
unequal or coercive conditions.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on
as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no
restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any
capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and
subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking
environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in
the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance,
applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be
accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side
of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the
information submitted in the application according to the evaluation
criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations
of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations,
resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules,
administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide
complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile
and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira
to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition,
deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that
have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for
selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the
information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59
p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE
RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR
TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION
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