The evolving role of institutional translation service managers in quality assurance: Profiles and challenges

The diversification of translation services, tools and quality expectations in an increasingly globalized translation industry has accentuated the significance of translation quality assurance (TQA) processes and their management. This paper focuses on the profile of institutional translation service managers from a holistic TQA perspective. After a short account of their most common duties as described in sample vacancy notices from various international organizations, including senior service managers and mid-level language unit heads, the role of the latter as competence and process managers responsible for translation quality in specific languages is analyzed in more detail. The data compiled in 24 interviews with midlevel managers serve to outline an inventory of their main TQA-related functions and challenges, and lead to conclusions on their growing relevance and expected expertise in this