Trainee English Translator/Editor

Communications

11617

General Information
Type of contract: Traineeship

Who can apply? EU nationals eligible for our traineeship programme

Grant: The trainee grant is €1,170 per month plus an accommodation allowance (see further information section)

Working time: Full time

Place of work: Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date: 22.04.2025

Your team: You will be part of the Language Services Division in the Directorate General Communications. We provide translation, editing, proofreading and terminology services in all EU languages to support the ECB’s communication activities and to help the ECB comply with its reporting obligations. We also offer advice on linguistic matters.

In your role as trainee English Translator/Editor, you will be part of a team editing, translating and proofreading a wide range of texts for both expert audiences and the general public. Our work includes speeches, interviews, press releases, social media posts and regular publications, as well as content for the ECB’s multilingual websites aimed at making its work accessible to non-expert readers. You will also work closely with others in our Directorate General as part of cross-divisional teams handling strategic communication projects or urgent tasks.

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Your role: As a trainee Translator/Editor you will:

• edit and proofread ECB materials in the fields of central banking and banking supervision which have been drafted in English by native and non-native speakers, correcting errors of grammar, consistency and style, and ensuring a high-quality product tailored to the target audience;
• contribute to the editing and/or drafting of website content and social media posts for the general public;
• produce translations from one or more official EU languages into English of materials in the fields of banking supervision and central banking;
• contribute to clear writing initiatives, the ECB’s English Style Guide and the provision of linguistic and drafting advice.

The position offers you excellent opportunities to gain insight into the work of a language services division in an EU institution and to use state-of-the-art language technology tools. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills

Essential:

• a master’s degree (or master’s degree studies in their final stages of completion) in modern languages or translation, or a bachelor’s degree in any other field combined with postgraduate studies in translation;
• a C2 (native speaker-standard) command of English and a C1 (advanced) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;
• experience in copy-editing and proofreading English texts, for example as part of a degree course or in a professional context;
• the ability to translate from at least one official EU language into English;
• a good knowledge of the MS Office package including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desired:

• a C1 (advanced) command of other official EU languages;
• an interest or experience in drafting content for websites and social media;
• familiarity with translation using computer-assisted translation tools such as Trados Studio and an interest in machine translation and language technology;
• a broad knowledge of European current affairs, with a particular interest in financial and economic matters.

You are curious and eager to learn, and want to further develop your ability to analyse complex information. You are keen to collaborate with others, pursue team goals and learn from other people’s diverse perspectives. You strive to know and anticipate stakeholder needs, and will signal any need for change and propose alternative solutions.

You are motivated to contribute to the ECB’s mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe. You are keen to be part of our team and to use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position.

Further information: Initial traineeship of six months, with a possible extension to up to 12 months in total.

Other details on the conditions applicable to traineeships at the ECB can be found on our website.

Application and selection process: The recruitment process for this position will include a remote written exercise in the pre-selection phase and – if you are invited to participate in the subsequent selection phase – an online interview.

Further information on how to apply is available on our website.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list for 12 months from the closing date for applications, from which you might be considered for other traineeship positions within the ECB.