Japanese Language Lead (Freelance)

About Translated

Translated is where technology and humanity meet to create global understanding. Founded in 1999 by a linguist and a computer scientist, we are on a mission to allow everyone to understand and be understood in their own language.

We envision a world where people from different cultures can communicate seamlessly, with unprecedented access to knowledge, cultural exchange, and business opportunities.

To make this possible, we combine a network of over 500,000 vetted, native-speaking language professionals with a unique translation AI, Lara, capable of recognizing its limits and explaining its choices. Through an ecosystem of AI-powered translation tools (Matecat, Matesub, and Matedub), an enterprise localization platform ( TranslationOS), and an online translator (Lara Translate), we support more than 400,000 clients in 200 languages, helping people and organizations connect across cultures.

Everything we build reflects a simple principle: technology should amplify human potential, not replace it. Whether through a marketing campaign, an event, or a new process, every project at Translated contributes to a larger purpose: bringing people closer together through understanding.

At Translated, you’ll join an international, collaborative environment where curiosity, creativity, and excellence are valued as much as results.

We believe in humans.

Translated is expanding its network of talented linguists and is looking for experienced Japanese Senior Linguists as well as professionals with proven experience in Language Lead roles (Japanese).

As a Senior Linguist, you will work on high-quality translation and revision projects for our top enterprise clients. As a Language Lead, you will take on additional responsibilities overseeing the overall linguistic quality of our projects—providing guidance to a team of linguists, monitoring their performance, organizing training sessions, and continuously improving quality standards.

Both roles are freelance, independent positions with a defined number of hours per month dedicated to team and quality management activities (for the Language Lead role) in addition to translation and revision work. In all cases, you’ll act as a trusted cultural and linguistic expert, ensuring that every project resonates naturally with the Japanese audience.

Candidates will be asked to complete a short translation test (approximately 500 words) as part of the selection process. If the translation test is successful, you’ll go through a structured training and onboarding program and join our enterprise pool of linguists.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality translation and revision work that meets defined quality KPIs.
• Provide linguistic and cultural consultancy specific to Japanese.
• Conduct root cause analysis using Translated’s internal tools and/or client platforms.
• (Language Lead Role) Support continuous monitoring and improvement of linguistic quality across assigned accounts to achieve KPIs.
• (Language Lead Role) Have a clear understanding of the quality being produced for your target language for the client, both as a whole and for each individual member of your team. 
• (Language Lead Role) Actively and independently drive activities in team and quality management in order to reach the KPIs and goals set by Translated.

• Native-level fluency in Japanese and strong command of English
• Proven working knowledge of CAT tools
• Proven experience as a translator and/or proofreader for one or more large international brands
• (Language Lead) Previous experience as a Language Lead or similar role, including responsibilities for team and performance management.
• Preferred: Subject matter expertise in tourism, IT, or healthcare.

Diversity Statement 

At Translated, we proudly embrace and celebrate each individual's unique qualities to our team, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other differences. We recognize that these diverse perspectives empower us to overcome challenges, foster innovation, and drive excellence. As an inclusive and equal-opportunity employer, we are committed to cultivating an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported to achieve their full potential.

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