Senior Policy Officer

Job Summary

The Office of Strategy and Policy develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and the Secretariat’s management, particularly relating to cross-cutting issues such as incidents of chemical weapons use, non-routine missions, chemical security, engagement with international organisations and chemical industry, education and outreach, counter-terrorism, and science and technology.

Main Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Strategy and Policy, the Senior Policy Officer will perform the following objectives and main responsibilities:

• Support programme management and coordination of the Organisation’s activities;
• Support the implementation of results-based management (RBM) principles throughout the Technical Secretariat;
• Provide advice and recommendations on activities across the Secretariat from a long-term planning perspective, including in areas of capacity building, training and internal capabilities development;
• Assess and provide advice on strategic topics that relate to the implementation of the CWC;
• Coordinate organisational reports as required;
• Coordinate internal and external meetings and keep records of those;
• Contribute, as appropriate, to the preparations of conferences and meetings, coordinate the Secretariat’s follow-up, and provide advice on related issues to the Director-General;
• Facilitate enhanced engagement with relevant external stakeholders;
• Develop strategic advice in support of the implementation of relevant decisions of the Policy-Making Organs;
• Provide support as Secretary to Boards and Working Groups as required;
• May be asked to supervise interns and/or junior level staff;
• Perform other duties as required.

Note:

• Any one staff member might be asked to lead on or contribute to any of the topics listed above, but no staff member will be expected to work on all the topics listed above;
• Depending on the experience and skills of each individual in the Office, lead responsibilities may be re-allocated in-year.
• All work requires close cooperation with all other divisions and most branches of the Technical Secretariat.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field, e.g.: natural science or engineering, international relations/studies, security studies, disarmament/military, law, public policy or management, business administration. Other subjects may be accepted provided the majority of work experience is highly relevant to the post.
• A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree; or other certified relevant training together with an        extensive relevant technical background may be accepted in lieu of the relevant university degree.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:   

• At least 7 years of professional experience in a relevant field, or at least 9 years with only a first level degree. The lack of a degree may be off-set with relevant specialised training and extensive relevant technical background in combination with a minimum of 13 years of qualifying experience
• Experience in developing policy guidelines and effectively communicating them to those who will implement;
• Experience in programme and project management and the use of project management methodologies;
• Experience in overseeing policies being implemented by others (sometimes more senior staff members) and effectively coaching/supporting such ‘implementers’;
• Some direct involvement in negotiations – either multilateral or bilateral, or both.

Source: https://opcw-career.talent-soft.com/job/job-senior-policy-officer-p-4-_442.aspx