Senior Officer, Translation & French Services

Are you eager to craft powerful French communications that inspire action and drive change for children?

Consider joining UNICEF Canada – one of Canada’s most respected and historic charities – and be part of a high-impact, mission-driven team working across Canada and globally to create a better world for children.

We are seeking a talented individual for the bilingual role of Senior Officer, Translation & French Services.

Position Details

Why UNICEF & UNICEF Canada?

UNICEF is the world’s farthest-reaching humanitarian organization for children. Across 190 countries and territories, and in the world’s toughest places, we provide and advocate for education, health and nutrition services. Protect children from violence and abuse. Bring clean water and sanitation to those in need. Keep them safe from climate change and disease. Serve as the world’s largest provider of vaccines. Before, during and after emergencies, we’re on the ground with life-saving help and hope. The needs of children around the world continue to increase and the role of UNICEF is more important than ever.

UNICEF Canada is one of 32 National Committees located in high-income countries around the world. Our team exists to fundraise for UNICEF’s highest priorities, and to work neutrally with governments and the private sector in Canada and internationally to advance the rights and well-being of children and youth. 

As UNICEF Canada prepares to launch a bold new Strategic Plan in 2026, a key priority will be amplifying our voice through our policy and advocacy efforts to further advance the children’s rights in Canadian laws, policies and budgets. 

Be part of this next phase of impact!

The Opportunity

Stories aren’t told in just one way – they’re told in the right way. UNICEF Canada is looking for an in-house French language translation expert to help ensure our message reaches French-speaking audiences in ways that are clear, culturally relevant, and legally compliant. This is a key support role within the French Services team, providing translation (from English to Canadian French), transcreation, and linguistic expertise across the organization.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, French Services, you’ll help bring UNICEF Canada’s voice to life in French, ensuring our materials are accurate, inclusive, and aligned with our brand. From social media posts to fundraising appeals, you’ll support the day-to-day execution of French-language communications, while helping maintain our translation tools and vendor relationships.

You’re conscientious, highly organized, and ready to deliver on behalf of an organization that sees its role growing among Francophone communities in Canada—fast. You thrive in fast-paced environments, balancing multiple priorities and deadlines with confidence and care.

In this role, you are a:

• Language Connector, supporting the vision for French Services at UNICEF Canada, ensuring our message reaches Francophone audiences in ways that are culturally attuned, legally compliant, and emotionally resonant.
• Brand Champion, helping ensure UNICEF Canada shows up consistently and accurately in French, coordinating translation and transcreation of various print and digital materials for all teams in the organization.
• Quebec Market Consultant, supporting collaboration with Marketing and Fundraising teams to adapt messaging and campaigns for Quebec audiences, helping drive engagement, relevance, and revenue growth in Francophone markets.
• Quality Guardian, flagging any risks related to language law, accessibility, and reputation, ensuring UNICEF Canada’s French-language communications meet the highest standards of compliance, inclusion, and impact.

Key Accountabilities

French Language Expertise & Content Delivery

• Assist the Senior Manager, French Services, with planning and coordination of translation, transcreation and proofreading requests, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and operational excellence.
• Offer guidance on French language use, brand voice, and cultural nuance, ensuring messaging is clear, consistent, and compelling across all channels.
• Coordinate and execute translation, transcreation and proofreading of key day-to-day materials, including donor emails, social media copy, fundraising materials, and advocacy content.
• Maintain and update branded French lexicons, style guides, and reference materials to ensure consistency across all communications.
• Support UNICEF Canada’s Emergency Response Team, contributing to timely and effective French-language communications during humanitarian crises.
• Liaise with the Marketing team to support Quebec market activities, integrating French-language communications into broader marketing and fundraising strategies

Compliance, Risk Management & Operational Support

• Build relationships, coordinate billing, and manage requests with UNICEF Canada’s list of translation vendors and project managers.
• Ensure compliance with Quebec language legislation and provincial digital accessibility standards, such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), to mitigate reputational and legal risks.
• Support internal teams by identifying potential language-related risks and escalating as needed.
• Ensure alignment of French-language content with UNICEF Canada’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in translation, or equivalent professional experience; certification in translation, an asset.
• Minimum four (4) years of experience in professional translation (from English to Canadian French) in a structured and supervised environment, with a strong portfolio of high-impact work.
• Experience proofreading a variety of content, and ability to adapt and edit to fit space, as needed.
• Experience coordinating translation workflows, establishing priorities, negotiating and setting deadlines, delivering requests, and working with vendors and internal teams.
• Fluency in French and English, both written and spoken, with superior French written communication skills and deep Canadian French cultural fluency.
• Strong knowledge of translation theory and practice, including terminology management, quality control, and proofreading.
• Ability to provide strategic language guidance, including transcreation and brand alignment for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently and independently, exercising sound judgment and discretion in high-pressure environments.
• Experience coordinating day-to-day communication and operations with vendor contracts including performance evaluation.
• Familiarity with digital production workflows, including print processes, SharePoint, and translation memory tools.
• Excellent attention to detail, with a commitment to linguistic accuracy, brand consistency, and inclusive language practices.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.

An Employer of Choice: What We Offer

UNICEF Canada is where diverse talent & passion come together to create extraordinary impact for every child. We are committed to being an employer of choice and building a culture that is inclusive, ambitious, compassionate, and high impact.

Members of the UNICEF Canada team have access to the following employee benefits:

Our Commitment to Inclusive Workplaces & Recruitment

UNICEF Canada is an inclusive workplace and is committed to championing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process.

At UNICEF Canada, we believe strongly in personal connections and our hiring process is entirely human- driven. We do not use AI or automated systems to review applications or conduct interviews. Each candidate is evaluated by our experienced team to ensure a fair and thoughtful hiring experience.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document to careers@unicef.ca by by 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2026. Please reference Senior Officer, Translation & French Services in the subject heading.

UNICEF Canada thanks all applicants for their interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Consistent with our Child Safeguarding Policy, all successful candidates must receive clearance by a police background check (including a vulnerable sector screen).