Management Positions

The information below does not provide details about specific management positions that may be open at SimulTrans; however, SimulTrans endeavors to hire top-flight managers in all areas of its business, who are leaders in their respective field (e.g., Localization Management, Finance, Sales). If you consider yourself to be an excellent manager and leader in your area of expertise, especially in localization, we would be honored to hear from you.

Consultants

SimulTrans differentiates itself by customizing solutions to satisfy its clients' needs. An aspect of this customization is SimulTrans' ability to provide highly tailored consulting services. Our consultants are considered world leaders in the localization industry. These consultants are experts in solving problems such as implementing large-scale localization programs, instructing programmers to code with internationalization in mind, teaching emerging companies the benefits of localization, and using translation-memory tools effectively.

If you have been involved in localization for 5-10 years and wish to apply your expertise and communication skills in a consultative capacity, please contact SimulTrans.

Internships

In almost all areas of the company, SimulTrans offers internships to students, recent graduates, and others who want to receive some exposure to SimulTrans' business and linguistic activities, as well as important resume-building material.

These internships are available throughout the year; also to graduates of international university programs that take advantage of the one year of "practical training" that the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service allows. Usually more plentiful opportunities are available at SimulTrans in the summer. Internships typically range from two months to 12 months in duration, and can be either paid or unpaid, depending on SimulTrans' need and the candidate's credentials.

It is much easier for SimulTrans to offer internships to candidates who can provide for their own room and board, though in some cases, SimulTrans may be able to cover such living costs as a significant part, if not all of, the candidates compensation. On occasion, interns who excel may be asked to continue with the company in a mutually beneficial way.

On an as-needed basis, SimulTrans does offer internships, subject to the following conditions:

• the candidate must be capable, self-directed, fluent in English (reading, writing and speaking), very skilled with computer applications, and relevant to SimulTrans' needs
• the candidate must be able to work at least 20 hours (and preferably 40 hours if not more) per week for at least consecutive eight weeks, and be eligible for work according to U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations; this work can take place at any time of the year
• the candidate will preferably provide his/her own transportation and pay for all other costs of living; in other words, SimulTrans usually does not reimburse any living or travel expenses, meaning that the candidate must be self-sufficient; alternatively, in some cases, SimulTrans can pay for the intern's living costs, in lieu of compensation, up to $1,500 per month
• the compensation for most internships is $1,500 per month (based on a 40-hour week), depending on the candidate's experience and SimulTrans' needs; some internships are unpaid; preference is given to interns who need not be paid for their tenure at SimulTrans
• the candidate must be willing to contribute meaningfully to SimulTrans with minimal supervisory guidance; therefore, it is essential that candidates be very self-motivated and self-directed
• much of the intern's work will be of an entry-level if not administrative nature
• when appropriate, internship candidates will be asked to take competency tests
• rarely, but occasionally, SimulTrans will offer full-time positions to people who completed successful internships at SimulTrans

Candidates who are interested in applying for an internship at SimulTrans must satisfy the above requirements, and would apply for an internship at SimulTrans by undertaking the following:

• outline in writing, in 200 to 400 words, the accomplishments and skills that would indicate the candidate's potential to be an excellent intern
• address the questions that are implied by the above conditions (minimum compensation expectation, INS compliance, targeted work period, etc.)
• provide an outline of the software applications that the candidate knows well, and of the courses (with grades) that the candidate has completed towards his/her degree requirements or that are otherwise relevant

Candidates who are interested in SimulTrans' internship opportunities should apply a few months in advance of their availability.

Project Management

SimulTrans employs project managers to oversee and direct all production aspects of the translation and localization process. At SimulTrans, project managers arguably have the most central and crucial role within the company. Given this importance, SimulTrans rarely hires "junior" project managers, strongly preferring instead to hire "senior localization project managers."

The "PM team" consists of highly experienced localization and internationalization project managers. Many project managers focus on an important industry segment such as software or health care, or on a major client. Project management positions are fundamental business positions, yet allow employees to combine a love of languages with technology and business management.

At SimulTrans, project managers must demonstrate an abiding and absolute devotion to providing world-class customer service. After all, customers pay SimulTrans' salaries and all other costs, so building customer loyalty is of paramount importance to SimulTrans, for which project managers have full responsibility.

Because of their central role in interacting with both clients and production personnel, project managers must have excellent communication skills and the ability to complete projects, start to finish, with high quality results, always under pressing deadlines. Project managers must be able to direct and motivate linguistic leads, production artists, localization engineers, and other participants in the production process. This leadership ability pre-supposes a deep knowledge of translation and localization, whose facets must be explained to clients daily. In other words, important aspects of project management are learning and teaching in a team-building context.

To qualify for SimulTrans' project-management positions, candidates must possess solid experience in localization/translation project management, including deep familiarity with quality-assurance processes, project scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and resource management. Project managers show durable stamina and poise under pressure, and excel in the areas of written and spoken communication, Windows-based computer systems, multitasking, and financial analysis. Candidates who lack some experience in these areas but who are nevertheless interested in SimulTrans may be considered for entry-level, team assistant positions. Occasional travel is required of project managers.

Engineering (Localization and Internationalization)

SimulTrans employs internationalization and localization engineers to adapt software for other countries.

Internationalization is the process of modifying software code to within international environments, using multi-byte and extended character sets, international time and date formats, currency modifiers, and other global characteristics.

Localization is the process of translating the user interface of a software program into a target language. Localization engineering involves compiling software with translated resources, resizing dialog boxes, and testing the localized interface. Most of SimulTrans' work involves Windows applications but we also receive assignments requiring UNIX and Macintosh engineers.

If you are highly skilled in localization or internationalization engineering, SimulTrans may be the right place for you. We seek highly motivated individuals who can help us improve our world-class international engineering organization, and who possess a fundamental knowledge of computer software, preferably with a background in software engineering.

Due to the need to communicate frequently with our engineering clients, excellent oral and written skills, together with management skills, are highly valued in our engineers.

Desktop Publishing

SimulTrans employs in-house and freelance production artists in its desktop publishing department, also known as Multilingual Publishing. These production artists format translated documents in various languages, advise clients, and coordinate larger projects with external vendors. We currently employ production artists from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Production artists work with all commonly available desktop publishing programs, including FrameMaker, PageMaker, QuarkXPress, and Interleaf, together with graphics programs such as Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop. Production artists are always challenged at SimulTrans because they must work with many applications and many document types. Moreover, given SimulTrans' special niche in producing multilingual documents simultaneously, the tight deadlines add another element of excitement!

Increasingly, production artists at SimulTrans adopt a "project lead" role in dealing with formatting assignments. In this capacity, they serve as publishing leads, interacting with internal project managers, external contractors, and clients to ensure that publishing-related duties are executed masterfully. These leads must demonstrate the ability to manage and motivate others, analyze complex formatting situations, and create and implement work designs that will lead to stellar publishing results.

Most formatting work is accomplished on Windows and Macintosh platforms, though some documents are formatted on Sun hardware. Production artists must format documents in many target languages, including Japanese and Chinese, which require native speakers who understand specialized applications and their home country's operating system.

We seek qualified production artists of all levels to help with our interesting projects. Even entry-level candidates must have experience with common DTP applications, attentiveness to detail, and the desire to learn. Good verbal skills are also required, as interaction with co-workers and clients is frequent.

We currently have a need for production artists who have a broad knowledge of DTP applications and can format documents in a variety of Asian and European languages.

Vendor/Translation Management

As their primary duties, vendor managers and translation managers support project managers and ensure that high-quality linguistic results are delivered on time. These employees represent the main interface between SimulTrans and outside production resources.

As its name suggests, "vendor management" involves the management of SimulTrans vendors, and includes the following duties:

• evaluating project requirements
• locating translators and other contractors such as engineers and publishers, usually through the Web
• selecting, testing, and evaluating negotiating rates with contractors building appropriate linguistic teams
• managing SimulTrans' Notes-based worldwide vendor database including Trados and other memory tools in the workflow process

A capable vendor manager offers a refined combination of financial, business negotiation, and technical skills, together with the appreciation of a large variety of languages. He or she interacts heavily between SimulTrans' project managers and numerous linguists, focusing on translation issues so that the project managers can focus on client and project needs.

A translation manager concentrates on linguistic issues on a much more detailed, textual level, and executes the following duties:

• analyzing client materials and writing style guidelines for the benefit of translators
• setting up projects from a linguistic, work-flow perspective
• ensuring that rigorous objectives relating to translation quality, deadlines, and costs are achieved
• providing leadership within a project work group of in-house and external translators
• reporting linguistic issues to the project team and to outside clients, including the monitoring of quality
• managing terminology databases for multiple languages
• using translation-memory tools such as Trados and Catalyst effectively
• providing clients with advice that will improve the quality of source-language materials

To be considered for these positions, candidates are sought who satisfy the following criteria:

• two years of full-time translation experience, with expertise in a technical field such as software, hardware, telecommunications, automotive, or medicine
• a bachelor's degree in translation or other applied linguistic field
• significant exposure to a non-US cultural environment
• familiarity with the localization industry
• excellent organizational skills
• excellent English communication skills
• sharp financial skills
• persuasive negotiating ability
• the ability to work under pressure
• the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• a self-starting, proactive, and assertive yet team-oriented attitude

In short, these positions require strong interests in language, business, and technology.

Linguistic Services

SimulTrans employs in-house translators, and engages freelancers and in-country agencies, for many languages. Our needs call for both in-house and freelance translators as well as localizers, terminologists, technical editors and proofreaders. Because this section of our website relates to employment positions, freelance candidates are encouraged to go to following link for more information: Information for Linguistic Vendors.

For all translation positions we seek professional, full-time translators with three years of experience. Qualified candidates will typically have subject expertise in a technical field such as software or medicine as well as various publishing applications such as Microsoft Word and FrameMaker. These candidates must be able to write their native language with publication-grade excellence and meet our clients' tight deadlines, translating many pages of documentation accurately and fluently.

Most of our translation assignments involve manuals, brochures, and online help for high technology companies. We also receive a great deal of work "localizing" and testing software interfaces and Web pages. This work is quite technical.

SimulTrans works only with linguists who translate into their native language, know correct terminology, and use appropriate reference materials. Because over 90% of SimulTrans' work involves translation INTO foreign languages from English, we work largely with foreign-trained nationals who are experts in a specific field.

Since we look for the best translators wherever they can be found throughout the world, you should apply for our internal translation positions only if two or more of the following four criteria apply to you:

• you have at least three years of full-time translation experience, or
• you have a B.A. or M.A. degree from a reputable translation program, or
• you are interested in technical editing and are a foreign-trained physician, scientist, editor or other professional, or
• you live within 30 minutes of one of our production centers and have excellent, bilingual language skills.

Account Management (Sales) and Marketing

SimulTrans engages account management and marketing staff in order to help the company grow by finding and bringing in profitable, new business. We believe that very few industries offer the same opportunity as the rapidly growing localization field, whose annual volume is reportedly worth billions of dollars and of which no competitor has captured more than 1%. This is an exciting niche in which talented sales and marketing staff have no limits.

In a sales capacity, SimulTrans employs account managers at production centers and major metropolitan areas. The large majority of SimulTrans sales staff are full-time employees; however, we do encourage independent contractors to contact us as well. Account managers travel 20% to 40% of their time.

In hiring account managers, we give preference to articulate, technical, hands-on people with extensive prior sales experience and sound integrity; naturally, a deep knowledge of localization is an appreciated rarity. Our most effective account managers learn quickly and resourcefully develop strategies to help clients satisfy their translation and localization needs. Frequent training sessions and a team environment facilitate rapid learning of our business.

The marketing staff at SimulTrans design, write, and distribute information about translation and localization to SimulTrans' clients via marketing communications such as direct mail and Web pages. In addition, this group coordinates our referral and partner programs, leads training seminars, writes articles for industry publications, manages our telemarketing and advertising programs, and speaks at conferences. Preference for these positions is given to candidates who enjoy travel and can speak at conferences knowledgeably about SimulTrans.

In addition, SimulTrans employs and contracts with telemarketers, whose primary duty is identifying and contact decision makers within target companies. Experienced, articulate and intelligent telemarketers are encouraged to send us their resume.

To fill our marketing positions, that range from coordination to management, we seek high-energy, goal-oriented people who have strong communication skills, both verbal and written. The ability to learn our business quickly and express this knowledge enthusiastically is a basic requirement.

Finance

SimulTrans' Finance department is responsible for virtually all of the company's financial functions. The department uses MAS90 (from State of the Art) as its integrated accounting software. This group is responsible for the following types of activities: monthly financial statements, budgeting, job costing, revenue forecasting, treasury, bank relations, outside audits, bank reconciliation, accounts receivable, collections, invoicing, accounts payable, payroll, benefits administration, fixed assets, purchasing, accounting system implementation and training.

SimulTrans' Finance department has been admirably stable over the past years. Openings that do arise relate typically to clerk and CFO-type consultant positions.

Human Resources

SimulTrans' Human Resources department is responsible for a wide range of personnel-related activities, including recruiting, hiring, coordinating performance reviews, setting compensation policies, creating a supportive work environment, ensuring company compliance to State and Federal employment laws, updating personnel policies, staff training, and team building.

Information Systems

SimulTrans' Information Systems department ensures that internal staff can effectively use their computers and interact with outside parties such as clients and vendors. The company uses Microsoft Windows NT as its information backbone, and runs Windows, UNIX, and Macintosh machines (often in various local languages). Typical needs involve security, firewalls, Lotus Notes, Asian operating systems, testing configurations, communicating with international subsidiaries, as well as supporting common applications (e.g., Microsoft Office) and specific applications (e.g., for Finance).

Administrative and Clerical

SimulTrans employs administrative coordinators throughout the company, dedicated to a functional area of the company such as project management, accounting, human resources, marketing, or reception.

Administrative staff, who may work either as part-time or full-time employees or as temporary staff, are typically responsible for general office activities such as sending files, coordinating schedules, preparing for meetings, assembling deliverables, interacting with couriers, answering phones, making photocopies, entering data, making courier deliveries, communicating with freelance translators, and providing other forms of support. In this role, the administrative employee always interacts heavily with other people (inside and outside the company), using the computer as a vital aid.

In addition to these "typical" responsibilities, administrative staff are tasked with an area of significant responsibility such as recruiting employees, managing the building, or supporting a vice president responsible for operations or finance. For example, at this time of this writing, a person who applied for an entry-level internship is now working in administrative capacity, helping the company build an effective recruiting program. In other words, initiative, leadership and reliability are important virtues for this role, which is usually highly diverse in its duties, as one would expect in a small company.

To fill our administrative openings, we seek people with high promise, promoting them if this promise is realized and when an appropriate need arises. In a number of areas, the candidate is expected to work in an administrative capacity for a year or so (such as an administrative coordinator in the Operations department) and then progress to a more demanding and better-paying role (such as a project coordinator in the Operations department). SimulTrans has hired a number of people at relatively low hourly wages who now earn over $100,000 per year (at SimulTrans or other companies), indicating that the company rewards results accomplished at SimulTrans and endeavors to treat all people fairly once they earn a position at the company. In other words, administrative positions at SimulTrans can serve as a gateway to many other opportunities and allow people to learn our business before growing into other positions.

Unless the position requires subject knowledge such as accounting, you need not have prior administrative experience in order to be considered for our clerical openings. We are looking for people who are alert, articulate, hard working, computer literate (using Microsoft Word and Excel), customer oriented, stable professionally and personally, and who desire to improve their skills and the company. We also encourage diligent students (with excellent computer and communication skills) at leading local colleges to contact us about part-time or temporary opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in SimulTrans. We look forward to receiving your resume and cover letter, via email at careers@simultrans.com.