Basic Requirements for "L" Grade Staff

Category L is divided into five grades designated L.5 to L.1; it covers the posts held by linguistic personnel (heads of sections, revisers, interpreters, translators and trainee interpreters and translators.)

NATO Linguistic Staff are members of two independent services, the Translation Service and the Interpretation Service, both of which are part of Headquarters Support Services.
The two working languages of NATO are English and French and staff members of the linguistic services work only in these two languages.

TRANSLATORS must satisfy the following conditions:

1. possess a degree, preferably in translation or in modern languages, or an equivalent professional qualification;
2. be of English or French mother tongue (NATO translators translate only into their mother tongue);
3. have a relevant professional experience.

As far as INTERPRETERS are concerned, the basic requirements (which apply to both free-lance and permanent staff interpreters) are as follows:

1. possession of a degree, preferably in interpretation or in modern languages, or an equivalent professional qualification;
2. English or French mother tongue;
3. relevant conference interpreting experience;
4. English AND French as "active" languages.

As mentioned in the General Information on our web site, candidates can only apply for a specific vacancy.