Senior Project Associate (G7)

Background:

The Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) has been established in order to continue to support the Ukrainian Government’s reform efforts and to mitigate the increased risks to civilians caused by the war against the country. The objective of SPU – and therefore of all its projects – is to support Ukraine across all three OSCE dimensions on the government’s reform efforts and on the evolving risks to civilians caused by the war, thus ensuring that the OSCE’s work conducted over the past three decades and in the future, continues to impact positively on the institutions and people of Ukraine and that Ukraine’s comprehensive security is enhanced in line with OSCE commitments.

The incumbent works within the extra-budgetary (ExB) SPU project under the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) at the Secretariat (SEC), Rule of Law and Human Rights Component, and provides programmatic and administrative support in the implementation of the project “Safeguarding Human Rights through Courts, Phase Two”. The incumbent is expected to supervise and guide two other project team members.

The SPU is planned to run until 31 July 2025. The post extension is subject to the availability of funds, as well as an extension of the project duration.

Please note that this post is located in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Associate Co-ordination Officer, the incumbent performs the following duties:

1. Contributes to the timely accomplishment of project outputs by coordinating and administering project activities; supports day-to-day planning and follow-up with partners and stakeholders on implementation of administrative activities and processes in accordance with the OSCE rules and established business processes.
2. Administers and processes project correspondence, edits and proofreads documents, compiles materials and inputs for communications activities. Screens incoming correspondence to identify issues requiring further attention and drafts related correspondence.
3. Supports mobilization and coordination of experts, consultants, contractors, and goods and services, applying ExB schemes, including administration and monitoring of Terms of References and specifications, and follows up on processes and work deliverables; supports management of expert and procurement contracts, confirms receipt of services and initiates payments according to agreed payments schedule.
4. Coordinates and supports the preparation, submission, revision, and follow-up of the projects’ budget, and the monitoring and provision of information on implementation. Reviews reports of the implementing partners, including financial reports.
5. Represents the OSCE at specific local, national, regional conferences and events upon the request of the supervisors; attends local and international conferences – also as a speaker at meetings with NGOs, international or bilateral agencies, and experts from academia.
6. Assembles and synthesizes data to facilitate the analysis of project activities and drafts periodic or ad hoc management reports; ensures the maintenance and retrieval of reference material, documentation, data and information.
7. Supports in the dissemination of project content through various channels; consolidates and monitors various reports on project human resources planning and expenditures, the use of non-staff resources, the programme/projects’ communication and publishing plans, IT plans, and travel schedules.
8. Conducts researches and needs assessments, supports knowledge building and knowledge sharing across the programme through training of staff and briefing of budget holders on administrative/budgetary/planning/programming/financial procedures and processes.
9. Reviews current processes and makes recommendations to improve programme/projects administration procedures; supervises lower grade general service staff and performs other duties as assigned.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Completed secondary education, supplemented by formal training or studies in the relevant field.
• Minimum 8 (eight) years of relevant working experience in the field of rule of law and human rights, political affairs or democratization.
• Experience in project planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Managerial experience would be an asset.
• Knowledge of latest political and social developments as well as priority issues on the reform agenda in Ukraine.
• Ability to conduct independent research and collect information from a variety of sources.
• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Experience with an ERP software is an asset.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Ukrainian.
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, as well as 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.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions, is USD 2,363.41 as per the relevant OSCE salary scale; the salary payment is effected in EUR. Social benefits will include participation in Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. The Organization contributes an additional amount equivalent to 15% of the employee’s salary to this pension-style fund while the employee contributes 7.5%. Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

If you experience technical problems using the online application system, please contact us at SPU-recruitment@osce.org, indicating the Requisition/Vacancy Number and issue faced.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or 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 qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

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 note that for this position the OSCE does not reimburse expenses such as travel in connection with interviews, tests, visas and relocation.

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

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 63 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.