Senior Policy Support Officer (South-Eastern Europe) (P4)

Background:

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

The Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) plays a key role in supporting and co-ordinating the OSCE's activities in the field, in providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairpersonship, in leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and in supporting the various formats dealing with protracted conflicts. The CPC also serves as the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCE's role in the politico-military dimension.

The Policy Support Service (PSS) serves as the Organization's primary point of contact on all matters concerning field operations; it also analyses early-warning signals regarding the situation in the field and recommends the implementation of relevant preventive or reactive action. Support provided to the SG and the Chairpersonship includes background information, policy support and advice, input to speeches and travel files as well as drafting summary records. PSS also provides support for the Chairperson-in-Office's (CiO) representatives dealing with protracted conflicts and related formats. The PSS is composed of regional desks and the Mediation Support Team (MST). 
 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

As Head of CPC's South-Eastern Europe Desk, the incumbent, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director for Policy Support Service, acts as primary point of contact on all OSCE mission matters, overviews and ensures follow-up effort of all Secretariat's activities pertinent to the South-Eastern Europe Field Operations.

In support of the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship: the incumbent (a) leads and manages the team of Desk Officers (Policy Support Officers); (b) actively monitors the implementation of the mandates of the South-Eastern Europe OSCE field operations, analysing the impact of present and future activities on agreed tasks and objectives; (b) monitors and analyses developments in the region, including in terms of early warning signals; (c) provides policy advice and reporting on mandate implementation; (d) facilitates co-ordination of field operations' activities with OSCE institutions; (e) facilitates co-ordination of field operations' activities with partner organizations; (f) ensures co-ordination of field operations' activities on a regional basis; (g) promotes follow-up of field operations' activities in regional frameworks; (h) ensures institutional memory in the Secretariat regarding field operations activities.

The Senior Policy Support Officer reports to the Deputy Director for Policy Support Service, while the Director of CPC acts as the second-level supervisor. The Senior Policy Support Officer manages the activities of Policy Support Officers in the Desk, overseeing their workload, managing their performance and guiding their development; has responsibility for all the tasks of other policy support officers in the Desk during their absence; supervises other staff as required (e.g., interns, JPO, General Service staff).

More specifically, the incumbent is tasked with the following:
 

1. Actively monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the mandates of designated field operations; analyzing the impact of present and future activities on agreed tasks and objectives, including implementation of projects if applicable; scrutinizing reports submitted by field operations and advising the Chairpersonship on their distribution;

2. Monitoring and analyzing developments in the assigned region, with a focus on early warning signals of potential crisis situations, alerting the Secretary General and the OSCE Chairpersonship to issues that might constitute a threat to security and stability, and providing recommendations on appropriate preventive or reactive action that could be taken in response to such developments;

3. Assisting field operations in implementing policy/mandate guidance from the participating States and the Secretary General, including leading or participating in CPC meetings and initiatives with the involvement of relevant institutions/units, the OSCE Troika representatives and field operations;

4. Providing the Secretary General and, through him/her, the Chairpersonship, as well as their representatives and envoys, with expert, advisory, material, technical and other support which may include conducting research on political topics and presenting findings, preparing analytical reports and policy options proposals, travel files, background information, draft decisions and draft statements on issues related to OSCE activities in the field;

5. Providing substantive and co-ordination support to field operation programming, including co-ordination with the Secretariat, institutions, donors and mobilizing additional support and resources as needed; organizing regular meetings of Heads of Mission in Vienna and in the designated region; paying regular visits to all designated field operations to ensure maximum support of their work by the Secretariat;

6. Taking an active part in consultations with partner organizations on issues related to activities in the field; giving presentations on the work of the Organization to representatives of international organizations, officials and delegations;

7. Taking an active part in performance-based programme budgeting process for the assigned field operations including interacting with the delegations of the Advisory Committee on Management and Finance (ACMF) and taking part in discussions on their content under the guidance of the OSCE Permanent Council; participating in the development and review of proposals for activities of field operations financed from extrabudgetary resources;

8. Working closely with the Department of Human Resources on staffing issues for designated field operations and, if appropriate, participating in selection panels; supervising the activities of three policy support officers (South-Eastern Europe Desk) as well as support staff and interns; providing input to the onboarding and briefing new Mission members;

9. Managing the assigned desk, ensuring appropriate task and resource allocation, fostering strong performance and facilitating professional development of team members; 

10. Performing other related duties and assignments as required, such as replacing other policy support officers during their absence.
     

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, public or international law, international relations or another related field is required. 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 seven years (nine years with a relevant first-level degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in a government, diplomatic service, international organization, national administration or an international non-governmental organization;

• Experience working on South-Eastern Europe international development topics would be an asset;

• Experience in project management and resource mobilization;

• Proven experience in producing political analysis and reporting;

• Proven people management experience;

• Professional fluency in English, including excellent drafting skills; working knowledge of another OSCE official language, especially one of the languages spoken in the region, would be 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, whilst maintaining impartiality and objectivity;

• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet.
   

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 9,400, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Appointments are normally made at Step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. In exceptional cases, an initial appointment at up to Step 3 may be considered. This depends on factors such as relevant experience exceeding minimum requirements or higher previous remuneration. Any such request by a candidate must be reviewed and approved by the OSCE before the appointment

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

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.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

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.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance. 

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 62 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years. 

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