At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creation of Gallup's global localisation foundation and enhance client experiences across languages.
- Company: Join Gallup, a leader in analytics and advice, dedicated to making a global impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, comprehensive health benefits, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of localisation and make a real difference in how clients interact with our products.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in localisation strategy, language assets, and vendor management required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
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.
What You Need
Required
- 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.
Head of Localisation in London employer: Gallup
Gallup is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic work culture where innovation and collaboration thrive. As the Head of Localisation, you will have the unique opportunity to build foundational language infrastructure while enjoying a robust benefits package, including competitive pay, comprehensive health insurance, and employee ownership programmes. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Gallup supports your professional growth and offers a vibrant environment in the heart of London, making it an ideal place for meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Localisation in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the localisation field on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio that highlights your past localisation projects, especially those where you built or improved language infrastructure. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on the latest trends in AI translation and localisation strategies. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It shows you're genuinely interested in the role and gives you a better chance of being noticed. Plus, we love seeing applicants who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Localisation in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in localisation infrastructure. We want to see how your skills align with building and owning language assets, so don’t hold back on those details!
Showcase Your Tech Savvy:Since this role involves evaluating technology platforms, let us know about your hands-on experience with TMS or CAT tools. Mention any AI-enabled translation strategies you've implemented – we love a tech-savvy candidate!
Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration:We’re looking for someone who can effectively communicate with various teams. Share examples of how you’ve partnered with product, engineering, and content stakeholders to drive informed decisions in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at Gallup
✨Know Your Localisation Infrastructure
Before the interview, brush up on your experience with localisation infrastructure. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've built or rebuilt term bases, translation memories, and style guides. This will show that you understand the foundational elements of the role and can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your AI Translation Experience
Since the role involves AI-enabled translation strategies, prepare to talk about your hands-on experience with neural MT and LLM-based translation. Highlight any quality evaluation methodologies you've implemented, as this will demonstrate your ability to navigate the complexities of modern localisation.
✨Communicate Cross-Functionally
This position requires collaboration with various teams. Think of examples where you've effectively communicated technical and linguistic trade-offs to non-specialist stakeholders. Being able to articulate these points clearly will show that you're not just a localisation expert but also a team player.
✨Prepare for Quality Standards Discussion
Expect questions about setting quality standards and SLAs with language service providers. Reflect on your past experiences managing these relationships and be ready to discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how you ensured consistent terminology across projects. This will highlight your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.