Head of Localisation

Build Gallup’s global localisation foundation. As the head of localisation at Gallup, you will lead at the intersection of technology, linguistics and content operations. Sitting within our Product team, you will define and scale the systems, standards and decision frameworks that govern how we translate and operationalize language across our products and content. Your work will shape how our clients across languages experience our Gallup Access platform, training materials, reports, surveys and research IP. This is a foundational role. You will not inherit a mature localisation engine. You will build it.

What You’ll Do

• Own and build Gallup’s language infrastructure, including term bases, translation memories and style guides for proprietary and licensed IP across all languages in which we operate.
• Establish governance frameworks that ensure consistent terminology across translation vendors and internal workflows.
• Define translation strategy by content type, determining when to use human translation, AI translation with review or AI translation without review.
• Design decision frameworks that balance quality, risk and cost across SaaS UI strings, psychometric interviews, training materials, survey instruments and research publications.
• Evaluate and select technology platforms including TMS and AI tooling to replace or augment current file‑based workflows.
• Cultivate and evolve relationships with language service providers, setting clear quality standards and SLAs.
• Design internal review workflows that ensure linguist feedback strengthens language assets rather than accumulating one‑off corrections.
• Position internal linguists where their expertise has the greatest leverage in shaping standards, validating approaches and setting quality benchmarks.
• Embed localisation thinking upstream into product and content development to improve source quality and translatability.
• Implement quality evaluation frameworks appropriate to content type and risk level.
• Establish feedback loops that systematically improve translation quality over time.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Localisation infrastructure ownership: You have built or rebuilt localisation infrastructure, including term bases, translation memories, style guides and governance models for your own organisation or a client.
• AI‑enabled translation strategy: You have applied neural MT and LLM‑based translation in production environments, including defining quality evaluation approaches appropriate to content risk and IP sensitivity.
• IP‑sensitive content precision: You have worked with regulated, proprietary or assessment‑based content where terminology accuracy and consistency were non‑negotiable.
• Enterprise vendor and client management: You have worked on complex, high‑stakes localisation programmes involving enterprise organisations, either as the client managing an LSP or as the LSP shaping how a client programme runs.
• Cross‑functional influence: You have partnered effectively with product, engineering, content and operations stakeholders, clearly communicating technical and linguistic trade‑offs to drive informed decisions.

Required What You Need

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Substantial experience leading localisation strategy and infrastructure, including at least five years of experience owning or architecting language assets, vendor management and translation governance frameworks.
• Proven professional experience building and owning language assets including term bases, translation memories and style guides.
• Demonstrable experience working with neural MT or LLM‑based translation and associated quality evaluation methodologies.
• Experience on either side of enterprise LSP relationships, as the client setting standards and SLAs or as the vendor operating within them.
• Fluency in at least one non‑English language at a sufficient level for credibly assessing translation quality.
• Experience localising regulated, IP‑sensitive or psychometric content.
• Hands‑on experience with TMS or CAT tools such as Phrase, Trados, MemoQ or equivalent at configuration or administration level.
• Experience working in or alongside a product or technology team.
• Strong ability to communicate technical and linguistic trade‑offs to non‑specialist stakeholders.
• A commitment to working on‑site at Gallup’s London office at least three days per week.
• Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom; this position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Preferred

• Experience migrating organisations away from manual, file‑based translation workflows.
• Familiarity with software localisation formats such as XLIFF, JSON or PO files and i18n principles.
• Experience designing or enforcing source content standards for translatability.
• Background in applied linguistics, translation studies or equivalent professional training.
• Exposure to quality metrics such as BLEU, COMET, MQM or MTPE productivity analysis.

About Gallup

At Gallup, we change the world, one client at a time, through extraordinary analytics and advice on everything important facing humankind. Learn more about our work and life at Gallup. Gallup offers a robust benefits package that includes competitive pay; medical, dental, vision, life and other insurance options; a pension; an employee stock ownership program; mass transit reimbursement; a cycle‑to‑work scheme; family‑building benefits; an employee assistance program; and various reimbursements and activities that enhance our associates’ wellbeing. Gallup is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications and business needs. We value diversity and are committed to an inclusive workplace.