Language Operations Squad Lead for Japanese
JapanFull-TimeLeadOperations
Internal Linguists and Language Lead services:
- Leading a team of translators, reviewers, linguistic testers, language leads, interns etc. for a language or for a grouping of languages
- Execute delivery of language lead service offering for the assigned language(s)
- Designates the right linguists to partner with Talent (Assessment) to create appropriate testing instruments for partners per language and content types.
- Supports directing and through team members the developing talent initiatives (internships, emerging markets programs) for the assigned language(s).
- Supervise overall OTD, quality and cost per word of their squad.
- Supports team members with improvement actions.
- Manages capacity and utilization of squad members
- Manages own translation/review projects, as assigned
Capacity management, resource utilization and worker performance management for the assigned languages:
- Leading Partner Engagement Managers towards achieving success in their role (resource recommendation, skilling, customer capacity planning, quality trend analysis etc)
- Using business intelligence to manage worker capacity, utilization and performance and for making recommendation for changes, including for adjusting the strategy for the assigned languages
Language project management
- Managing the Language Project Management team
- Management of language projects: management of multiple translation projects for key accounts and allocated languages.
- Planning the allocation of work with adequate resources, being a liaison between project managers and linguists
- Obtaining all relevant project specifications from internal customers and transmitting project requirements to production teams.
- Ensuring the highest level of delivery quality through risk assessment and active management of the translation workflow.
- Monitoring the performance of production resources on specific projects, as well as customer satisfaction and managing relevant feedback.
Key competencies:
- Ability to think strategically and articulate ideas and plans with the professional maturity to participate at senior management level.
- Knowledge and awareness of business trends
- Can lead supplier meetings and capture requirements and set success factors.
- Takes ownership for driving progress (weekly) and can make informed decisions
- Can drive change across processes, roles and expectations in the area of responsibility.
- Drives Squad collaboration – facilitates decision making and actions in the context of delivery to the customer.
- Actively drives their team and has an positive Impact.
- Shows good negotiation skills and situational awareness.
- Can establish & develop language operations processes and procedures as part of a client program in alignment with Welocalize tools and systems.
- Provides mentoring & coaching to all squad team members across all roles.
- Requires customer centric approach and attitude to managing all aspects of the business.
Experience
- Proven vendor management or linguistic experience in a fast-paced, client-centric environment, ideally in the translation or localization industry.
- Proven ability to lead diverse teams, both local and remote.
- Knowledge of the language services industry and a keen interest in its technology, process, competitive landscape, and emerging trends.
- Curiosity and creativity to question existing processes and approaches and innovate new ones.
- Proven experience in development of processes and ideas.
- Experience in translation and/or operational management.
- Partner relationship management.
- Must be available to travel for work related commitments
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws
- Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems
Other relevant skills
- Passion for serving customers required
- Strong working knowledge of localization/translation software
- Strong competency in data analytics and developing data driven operating procedures
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence
- Excellent literacy skills both written and verbal
- Strong sense of ownership of the designated client accounts(s)/languages
- Ability to adapt in a changing work environment
- Ability to consider multiple perspectives to devise the most suitable customer and language strategies
- Ability to think creatively
- Analytical skills with strong attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, time-sensitive, and deadline-driven work environment
- Positive attitude towards automation and new technologies
KEY COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THIS ROLE
- Is a strong Listener. Encourages Empowerment of the team. Effectively Manages Escalation from their team in times when standard operating procedures are not able to address customer dissatisfaction.
- Actively Drives Performance of assigned squad and Delivers Results.
- Understands the importance of OKRs and is Results Orientated
- Can establish & Develop Processes and procedures to improve Operational Efficiency
- Regularly exhibits Empathetic Leadership Skills and has a passion for Mentoring & Coaching of team members
- Develops excellent Followership across the company through Sphere of Influence
