Senior External Co-operation Officer (S)

Background:

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities.
 
Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.  

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimension aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in Office in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in his/her activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, and co-ordinating tasks across the Secretariat. It groups horizontal services such as Executive Management, Communications and Media Relations, Legal Services, External Co-operation, Security Management, Gender Issues, Conference and Language services, Records Management, and the OSCE Documentation Centre in Prague (DCiP). The OSG ensures effective co-ordination of policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship, and management decisions taken by the Secretary General.

The Section for External Co-operation is part of the Office of the Secretary General. It is the first point of contact at the headquarters level for international, regional and sub-regional organizations and initiatives. It is also responsible for liaising with the OSCE’s Partner States, both Mediterranean and Asian.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Head, External Co-operation, and the overall guidance of and the overall guidance of the Director of the Office of the Secretary General, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. In support of efforts aimed at strengthening the role of the OSCE as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, and in line with the priorities of the OSCE Secretary General formulated under the guidance of the OSCE Chairpersonship in Office, analyzing and developing the framework for institutional co-operation between the OSCE and its key international partners;
2. In support of the OSCE Chairpersonship in Office and Troika, co-ordinating and implementing activities within the OSCE’s Asian and Mediterranean Partnerships for Co-operation as well as donors;
3. Keeping abreast of developments; making substantive contributions by providing strategic advice on external relations and related policy issues; building and ensuring communication flows and co-ordination activities internally and externally;
4. Drafting statements, press releases, food-for-thought and perception papers, concept notes as well as speeches for the Secretary General and the Chairperson-in-Office; writing analytical and background papers and compiling files and relevant working documents;
5. Assisting in the preparation and organization of OSCE seminars, conferences and meetings with partner organizations and OSCE’s Partners for Co-operation and ensuring proper follow-up.
6. Representing the OSCE Secretariat by giving speeches, lectures and by participating in international conferences and seminars.
7. Performing other related duties as assigned.    

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see: https://www.osce.org/secretariat.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree in political science, international relations, business administration, international law or other related field; a first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience including policy advice and co-ordination responsibilities in government, international organizations or research institutions operating in the field of political science, international relations, business administration, international law or other related field; 
• Excellent research and analytical skills and demonstrated political acumen; 
• Experience in project management in an international environment is an asset;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills; knowledge of other official OSCE working languages is an asset;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. If your participating State does not provide the option to apply online for seconded positions, you are kindly requested to submit your offline application form available at  https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-formto the respective OSCE delegation whose address can be found at https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

 
Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

Please apply to your relevant authorities well in advance of the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. The OSCE can only process Secondment applications that have been nominated by participating States. For queries relating to your application, please refer to the respective delegation as listed here: https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.