Careers working for World Peace

OPCW operates out of The Hague, in the Netherlands and with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons.

Over the years, OPCW's results have been quite effective, for instance, so far OPCW has destroyed around 98.7% of the world’s declared chemical weapons. In 2013, in recognition of its extensive efforts, the OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Brief Outlining of this article:

• What makes OPCW interesting as an employer?
• What are OPCW's salary, compensation, and benefits package?
• Who is eligible to work at OPCW?
• Access to an HR Webinar with OPCW

On 29 April 1997, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) entered into force and OPCW was formed. The CWC is the world’s first multilateral disarmament agreement to provide for the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction within a fixed time frame.

A prejudice about OPCW is that they only offer careers for chemists. While a large number of OPCW staff possess chemistry-related academic backgrounds, they also need and seek people with skills in project management, data analysis, policymakers, Information Technology, human resources, finance, etc. They seek candidates from both the public and private sectors. 

Below is a list of the different focus areas at the OPCW. 

• Eliminating Chemical Weapons
• Preventing Re-emergence
• Supporting National Implementation
• Promoting Chemistry for Peace
• Ensuring Preparedness
• Responding to the Use of Chemical Weapons
• Supporting Victims
• Achieving Universality 

Generally, it is difficult to navigate, overlook and extract valuable information about careers in top international organizations. But in this area, OPCW is offering easily accessible and great content to help you as a job seeker. 

There are nearly 500 reasons to work at OPCW. You could be one of them.

OPCW's salary, compensation and benefits packages are similar to many UN Organizations, with a focus on ensuring your personal and professional growth.
Benefits include: 

• Tax-Free Salary
• Onboarding Package
• Childcare and Education Grants
• Global Insurance Coverage
• 6 Weeks of Paid Holidays
• Provident Fund

For more details on the benefits of working at OPCW, please read more here

OPCW offers opportunities to a broader audience than most multilateral organizations, for example, they apply no quota which opens up for all member-states and for the younger talents, they offer paid internships. 

To get the quickest overview of OPCW's recruitment process, we recommend that you spend some time watching this HR webinar on how to prepare a successful job application and how to navigate OPCW’s selection process. You’ll learn:

• What the OPCW generally looks for when hiring?
• The OPCW application form?
• Assessment tools OPCW uses, including written tests and pre-recorded video interviews?
• The job interview
• The importance of diversity and inclusion in OPCW's mission and while hiring

Furthermore, you will learn about the OPCW’s recruitment and selection practices:

• Components of a strong application
• Some of the steps and stages that candidates experience
• What to expect in an interview and what a hiring manager might be looking for
• Practical tips to improve your application 

The ultimate aim of the OPCW is to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons and to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament, and global economic development.  

Working together for a world free of chemical weapons - Meet Silvina Coria at OPCW

Meet Beatrix Lahoupe, Head, Implementation Support Branch at The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)