Vacancy Announcement Number: 2023/905
Date of publication: 13 January 2023
Deadline for applications: Applications will be rewied upon receipt
Post title (grade): Proofreader/Production Editor (English Language) (P-3/T-3) Temporary/short-term appointment (for rostering purposes)
Duty Station: The Hague, Netherlands
Organizational Unit: Publishing Division

The Registry of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is seeking to establish a roster of suitable candidates to temporarily serve as Proofreader/Production Editor (English Language) in the Publishing Division during peak periods. Please note that, in light of the punctual nature of the editorial assignments to be expected, incumbents may be required to work remotely.

Functions

Under the supervision of the Head of Division, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

- Copy-edit or edit manuscripts of publications, ensuring accuracy of content, correct use of terminology, grammar, syntax, punctuation and spelling, and conformity with ICJ and United Nations editorial rules and style.
- Perform extensive research on any substantive issues using electronic glossaries, terminology databases and internal and external internet resources.
- Use electronic templates, technical specifications and style sheets for the internal production of publications.
- Assure continuity of style in serially produced publications and conformity with ICJ and United Nations publishing standards.
- Read galley or page proofs against original manuscripts to ensure that printed versions are true transcriptions of the text supplied for publishing, and correct errors of substance, spelling, grammar, style and typography.
- Complete pagination and cross-references within text and footnotes of publications, and ensure consistency between tables of contents and heading items.
- Check sales numbers, roll numbers, ISBN and ISSN numbers, and bar codes.
- Check concordance of English text with French text to ensure substantive and typographical consistency between the two official language versions.
- Read corrected proofs against marked-up sets, incorporate additional editorial changes in successive sets of proofs and give final approval for publishing.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree. A first-level university degree in combination with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in editing for the United Nations or another international body. Experience working with legal publications would be highly desirable.

Languages

A perfect command of English, which must be the incumbent’s main language, and an excellent knowledge of French.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates knowledge of policies, processes and procedures related to the production of publications, knowledge of publishing and graphic industry standards, and knowledge of editorial practices, including typographic standards; has an excellent command of the Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat; has the critical ability to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment and to work under pressure, with attention to detail and complete discretion; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence by being conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, taking due account of the schedule of the Court’s work, and achieving the desired results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Remuneration

Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

Assessment

The assessment of qualified candidates will be made remotely and will include a written test and, possibly, an interview.

Notice

The Court is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a staff member.
This post is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

How to apply

Candidates should apply through the Court’s e-recruitment system. Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

The selected candidates may be subject to security clearance, including verification of the information provided and a criminal record check. All candidates should be in a position to submit an electronic copy of their passport and all diplomas listed on their profile when requested.
The Registrar reserves the right not to appoint any candidate to the post, or to appoint one at a lower level or on the basis of a modified job description. Applications that are found by the Court to meet the above criteria may be added to a reserve list in case a similar vacancy arises in the future.