As a leading game localization company, we offer integrated text, audio localization and localization QA for all regions, languages and platforms, ensuring a fully authentic offering for players worldwide.Our global footprint across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas enables us to run 24-hour follow-the-sun workflows, our professional translators and game developers continue to work on your project around the clock, delivering on even the most challenging timelines.The team at Keywords Studios handle media localization and translation services for any project size, from indie to AAA games. We help you speak to global audiences by translating your games for your target language and dialect, and ensure expert quality control throughout the game development and translation process through both technology solutions and human oversight.The Linguist Lead is responsible for leading and developing a team of in-house linguists and a content expert, ensuring high-quality output and reliable delivery. This role combines team leadership, quality, and client communication, with a focus on coaching team members, managing workload distribution, and maintaining strong collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.The Linguist Lead is expected to take strong ownership of their team, communicate clearly and proactively, and keep stakeholders consistently informed. Operating effectively in a fast-paced environment, they make sound operational decisions and adapt to evolving tools and workflows, including AI-assisted processes, to drive team performance and quality outcomes.ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership & ManagementLead a team of in-house linguists and a content expert, fostering a collaborative and accountable team environment Conduct regular 1:1 meetings to provide performance feedback, mentorship, and ongoing development supportOnboard new linguists, ensuring smooth integration into the team, tools, and workflowsAddress team conflicts and challenges in a timely manner, escalating major issues to the Production Manager as neededSupport recruitment by participating in candidate evaluation and assessing linguistic expertise Quality, Delivery & OperationsBe accountable for the linguists' quality and performance, ensuring outputs and timelines meet or exceed expectationsMonitor and drive quality performance using established frameworks and metricsIdentify and manage quality issues within the teamCoordinate workload distribution across the team to balance capacity and protect qualityExecute day-to-day operations of established tools and workflows, and support rollout and adoption of new onesSurface workflow and process issues and improvement opportunitiesCross-Functional & Client CollaborationAct as the primary point of contact for clients on linguistic quality and related operational topics, coordinating with the Production Manager on broader account mattersWork closely with cross-functional stakeholders on volumes, capacity, linguistic quality, and localization operationCollaborate with the Tokyo Linguist Lead as a peer to align cross-site linguist team management and ensure consistent standards and practicesKeep the Production Manager informed on team performance, risks, and key updatesRequirements4+ years of experience in the localization industry.Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.Proven team-leading skills.Comprehensive understanding of the localization process.Hands-on experience as a translator.A degree in Language/Translation or related fields is an advantage.Proficiency with CAT tools (e.g. Phrase or similar) is an advantage.Knowledge of the mobile gaming market is an advantage.BenefitsKeywords Studios is dedicated to following a well-established Equal Opportunities Policy. We endeavour to create a workplace which provides for equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.At KWS, we value and encourage diversity in all its forms. We foster an inclusive environment and give special priority to the inclusion of people with disabilities, convinced that diversity enriches and strengthens us as a team. This is why a valid disability certificate will be highly valued.Keywords Studios is committed to fair and ethical hiring practices. We expect candidates to conduct themselves with honesty and to participate in all applications and interviews independently, presenting their own knowledge and experience. Candidates should refrain from using AI assistance or third-party tools or services that could influence, capture, or otherwise interfere with the authenticity of the assessment process.By providing your information in this application, you understand that we will collect and process your information in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. For more information, please see our Applicant Privacy Notice at https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice/ .---Role Information: ENStudio: Keywords StudiosLocation: Europe, Ireland, DublinArea of Work: LocalizationService: GlobalizeEmployment Type: PermanentWorking Pattern: Full Time, Hybrid
As a leading game localization company, we offer integrated text, audio localization and localization QA for all regions, languages and platforms, ensuring a fully authentic offering for players worldwide.
Our global footprint across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas enables us to run 24-hour follow-the-sun workflows, our professional translators and game developers continue to work on your project around the clock, delivering on even the most challenging timelines.
The team at Keywords Studios handle media localization and translation services for any project size, from indie to AAA games. We help you speak to global audiences by translating your games for your target language and dialect, and ensure expert quality control throughout the game development and translation process through both technology solutions and human oversight.
The Linguist Lead is responsible for leading and developing a team of in-house linguists and a content expert, ensuring high-quality output and reliable delivery. This role combines team leadership, quality, and client communication, with a focus on coaching team members, managing workload distribution, and maintaining strong collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.
The Linguist Lead is expected to take strong ownership of their team, communicate clearly and proactively, and keep stakeholders consistently informed. Operating effectively in a fast-paced environment, they make sound operational decisions and adapt to evolving tools and workflows, including AI-assisted processes, to drive team performance and quality outcomes.
Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead a team of in-house linguists and a content expert, fostering a collaborative and accountable team environment
- Conduct regular 1:1 meetings to provide performance feedback, mentorship, and ongoing development support
- Onboard new linguists, ensuring smooth integration into the team, tools, and workflows
- Address team conflicts and challenges in a timely manner, escalating major issues to the Production Manager as needed
- Support recruitment by participating in candidate evaluation and assessing linguistic expertise
Quality, Delivery & Operations
- Be accountable for the linguists' quality and performance, ensuring outputs and timelines meet or exceed expectations
- Monitor and drive quality performance using established frameworks and metrics
- Identify and manage quality issues within the team
- Coordinate workload distribution across the team to balance capacity and protect quality
- Execute day-to-day operations of established tools and workflows, and support rollout and adoption of new ones
- Surface workflow and process issues and improvement opportunities
Cross-Functional & Client Collaboration
- Act as the primary point of contact for clients on linguistic quality and related operational topics, coordinating with the Production Manager on broader account matters
- Work closely with cross-functional stakeholders on volumes, capacity, linguistic quality, and localization operation
- Collaborate with the Tokyo Linguist Lead as a peer to align cross-site linguist team management and ensure consistent standards and practices
- Keep the Production Manager informed on team performance, risks, and key updates
Requirements
- 4+ years of experience in the localization industry.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Proven team-leading skills.
- Comprehensive understanding of the localization process.
- Hands-on experience as a translator.
- A degree in Language/Translation or related fields is an advantage.
- Proficiency with CAT tools (e.g. Phrase or similar) is an advantage.
- Knowledge of the mobile gaming market is an advantage.
Benefits
Keywords Studios is dedicated to following a well-established Equal Opportunities Policy. We endeavour to create a workplace which provides for equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.
At KWS, we value and encourage diversity in all its forms. We foster an inclusive environment and give special priority to the inclusion of people with disabilities, convinced that diversity enriches and strengthens us as a team. This is why a valid disability certificate will be highly valued.
Keywords Studios is committed to fair and ethical hiring practices. We expect candidates to conduct themselves with honesty and to participate in all applications and interviews independently, presenting their own knowledge and experience. Candidates should refrain from using AI assistance or third-party tools or services that could influence, capture, or otherwise interfere with the authenticity of the assessment process.
By providing your information in this application, you understand that we will collect and process your information in accordance with our Applicant Privacy Notice. For more information, please see our Applicant Privacy Notice at https://www.keywordsstudios.com/en/applicant-privacy-notice/ .
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Role Information: EN
Studio: Keywords Studios
Location: Europe, Ireland, Dublin
Area of Work: Localization
Service: Globalize
Employment Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time, Hybrid
COMPANY PROFILEEstablished in 1998 and floated on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM in 2013, Keywords(KWS) is the world’s leading provider of technical and creative services to the global video games market. Our 12,000 employees in 70+ Studios in 26 countries provide graphic art asset production, game development, audio, testing, localization and customer support services to most of the leading video game developers and publishers. We have a proven track record of organic and acquisition-led growth and have successfully acquired and integrated 50+ acquisitions since 2014.WHY WORK AT KEYWORDS STUDIOS?People who work at Keywords are passionate, talented, committed and resourceful. As a business we thrive on diversity, celebrate uniqueness and work as teams whether we are physically together in one of our 70 global studios or working together virtually.We empower people to perform to the best of their ability with our “can do” attitude. We appreciate and embrace flexibility. We learn at every opportunity to grow ourselves through experience, training and tackling new challenges.This is what makes us Keywordians.https://www.keywordsstudios.com/
COMPANY PROFILE
Established in 1998 and floated on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM in 2013, Keywords(KWS) is the world’s leading provider of technical and creative services to the global video games market. Our 12,000 employees in 70+ Studios in 26 countries provide graphic art asset production, game development, audio, testing, localization and customer support services to most of the leading video game developers and publishers. We have a proven track record of organic and acquisition-led growth and have successfully acquired and integrated 50+ acquisitions since 2014.
WHY WORK AT KEYWORDS STUDIOS?
People who work at Keywords are passionate, talented, committed and resourceful. As a business we thrive on diversity, celebrate uniqueness and work as teams whether we are physically together in one of our 70 global studios or working together virtually.
We empower people to perform to the best of their ability with our “can do” attitude. We appreciate and embrace flexibility. We learn at every opportunity to grow ourselves through experience, training and tackling new challenges.
This is what makes us Keywordians.
https://www.keywordsstudios.com/
