Legal Translation and Training Services Manager

Position Summary:

The American University of Iraq – Baghdad (AUIB) is seeking an experienced professional to serve as Manager of the Center for Legal Translation Services & Training within the College of Law.
This position will be reporting to the Dean of the College of Law, The Manager will be responsible for the overall administration, and development of the Center, including its legal translation, certified translation, interpretation, training, and professional development services. The position will oversee the delivery of high-quality translation and interpretation services to AUIB students, faculty, staff, public institutions, private-sector organizations, and other external partners.
The Manager will supervise Center staff, adjunct translators, interpreters, and instructors; coordinate translation and interpretation assignments; develop professional training programs; establish and maintain institutional partnerships; and ensure that the Center operates in accordance with AUIB policies, professional standards, and applicable legal and ethical requirements.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong expertise in legal translation and/or interpretation, knowledge of the Iraqi legal and institutional environment, strong organizational and leadership skills, and the ability to develop the Center as a professional and academically connected service unit within the College of Law.

Key Responsibilities:
• Manage the Center's daily operations, including staffing, scheduling, service delivery, quality control, client coordination, and administrative processes.
• Oversee legal translation projects, including the translation of Iraqi laws, regulations, legal instruments, and other official materials into English and other relevant languages, including their preparation for publication where appropriate.
• Manage certified translation services for individuals, public institutions, private organizations, and other clients, including personal documents, academic records, court documents, and legal instruments.
• Oversee specialized legal and commercial translation services, including company bylaws and articles of association, technical and tender documents, construction and development agreements, investment contracts, and other commercial materials.
• Coordinate sector-specific translation services for industries operating in Iraq, including oil and gas, healthcare, pharmaceutical, construction, investment, and other relevant sectors.
• Coordinate interpretation services, including court, governmental, diplomatic, institutional, academic, international organization, and corporate assignments, and oversee the required interpretation equipment and technology.
• Develop and manage training programs in legal translation, professional translation, and interpretation, including consecutive, simultaneous, whisper, and telephone interpretation training.
• Develop institutional partnerships with universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, international institutions, professional associations, and private-sector entities in Iraq, the MENA region, and internationally.
• Organize professional and academic events, including forums, symposia, workshops, conferences, and public recognition events related to translation, interpretation, languages, and legal communication.
• Ensure quality, compliance, and professional standards across all Center activities, including compliance with AUIB policies, applicable Iraqi requirements, and recognized professional and ethical standards in translation and interpretation.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Strong professional expertise in legal translation and/or interpretation.
• In-depth understanding of Iraqi legal terminology, legislation, institutions, and legal documents.
• Proven experience managing translation, interpretation, training, or related professional services.
• Strong leadership, organizational, coordination, and client-management skills.
• Excellent Arabic and English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to develop professional partnerships with governmental, academic, international, and private-sector organizations.
• Ability to design, implement, and evaluate professional training programs.
• Commitment to quality, confidentiality, professional ethics, and academic excellence.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, translators, interpreters, and external stakeholders.

Education and Experience:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Translation, Applied Linguistics, Law, Interpretation, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 15 years of professional experience in legal translation, translation, interpretation, or a closely related field.
• At least7 years of experience in a supervisory or managerial role.

Preferred Experience
• Previous experience managing a translation center, language center, legal services unit, academic center, or comparable professional service operation.
• Demonstrated professional experience providing translation or interpretation services to courts, government institutions, international organizations, universities, NGOs, diplomatic institutions, or private-sector organizations.
• Experience developing and delivering professional translation and interpretation training programs.
• Experience establishing institutional partnerships and managing external clients or service agreements.
• Experience working within the Iraqi legal, governmental, academic, or institutional environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Strong knowledge of legal terminology and translation conventions in Arabic and English.
• Demonstrated competence in consecutive and/or simultaneous interpretation.
• Strong understanding of Iraqi legal documents, legislation, institutional terminology, and administrative procedures.
• Proven ability to supervise staff and manage professional service operations.
• Ability to develop training curricula and evaluate training outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
• Strong client-relations and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with academic and administrative units and external organizations.
• Commitment to confidentiality, professional ethics, service quality, and academic excellence.

Languages
• Arabic: Native or Professional Proficiency – Required.
• English: Professional Working Proficiency – Required.
• Additional languages: French, Spanish, German, Russian, Turkish, Chinese, or other major international languages – considered an asset.

Certifications / Technical Skills
• Recognized translator/interpreter certification or professional credential is preferred.
• Familiarity with Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools and translation-management systems.
• Familiarity with interpretation equipment and related technology.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other standard administrative software.
• Ability to use educational and digital technologies for training and professional development.
• Familiarity with learning management systems is an advantage.