NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Employment at NATO International Staff

The NATO Interpretation Service

At NATO, our interpreters work at the forefront of current affairs, international politics and security.  From public policy to diplomacy, from global summits to delicate military negotiations, your work as an interpreter in NATO is of key importance, continually challenging, and rewarding.

The vast majority of interpretation work at NATO is simultaneous conference interpretation, but occasionally whispering, and consecutive interpretation are used to cover press points or bilateral meetings. NATO interpreters provide interpretation for over 2000 meetings each year.

The NATO Interpretation Service employs around 40 staff interpreters, and a number of freelance interpreters from various NATO member states, providing interpretation in both NATO official languages: English and French. In addition, Russian is a working language for meetings within the framework of the NATO-Russia Council and interpretation is also provided in a variety of other languages, including Ukrainian and Arabic.

How do you become a freelance interpreter at NATO?

Freelance interpreters can apply to be added to the pool of interpreters recruited on attractive daily contracts, by downloading and completing the attached application form (.DOC/314Kb or .PDF/122Kb), which should then be sent to interpretation@hq.nato.int. Freelancers are individually tested, once their application has been accepted. Working at NATO, freelance interpreters have access to an array of professional resources, providing the tools necessary to achieve consistently high quality work. In the longer term freelancers have the opportunity to apply for staff positions when they become available.

In order to work as a freelance or become a staff interpreter, candidates must obtain top security clearance from their national authorities, once they have successfully completed the application and testing process.