Senior Communities Policy Adviser (S2)

General Minimum Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working with the OSCE are:

• Excellent physical condition

• Possession of a valid automobile driving license and ability to drive using manual transmission

• Ability to cope with physical hardship and willingness to work extra hours and in an environment with limited infrastructure 

Field of Expertise Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working in this field of expertise are: 

• Experience working with human rights, minority or gender issues

• Demonstrable organizational, analytical, communication and interpersonal skills

  Experience in drafting thematic reports

Level of Professional Competence Requirements

Furthermore, this level of responsibility requires the following:

Education:

First-level university degree in law, human rights, minority rights, political science, international relations, or equivalent professional experience; 

Experience:

Minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience

Mission Specific Requirements

Additionally, this particular post has specific requirements:

Mandatory:

• International mission members in the OSCE are internationally recruited. For the purposes of OSCE Missions (Field Operations) this means that they are hired to work in a duty station outside of their home country or country of permanent residence. As a result, nationals and permanent residents of the duty station are not eligible for international mission member positions. In the case of individuals with multiple nationalities, candidates are still ineligible for consideration even if using another citizenship for application while simultaneously maintaining the citizenship or permanent residence status of the country where the duty station is located;
• Extensive experience in international human and minority/community rights standards and the legal framework in Kosovo; 
• Knowledge of the applicable standards related to the return of refugees and displaced persons; 
• Sound experience in developing research methodologies and analysing information from field sources as well as producing quality reports; 
• Sound experience in project development and project cycle management; 
• Ability to design and implement strategies for enhancing community rights; 
• Experience in undertaking policy and advocacy activities, particularly those targeting government-level stakeholders;
• Cultural sensitivity and judgement; 
• Experience in producing analytical reports; 
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and with limited time frames; 
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work as a team member, with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills; working knowledge of at least one other language from the OSCE region is an asset;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

Desirable:

• Experience in negotiation/mediation;
• Knowledge of a local language or most common lingua franca;
• Previous experience in field missions, preferably in South-Eastern Europe;
• Knowledge of the political setting of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, including the mandate and structure of the international presence in Kosovo.
  

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Communities Section and indirect supervision of the Director of the Human Rights and Communities Department, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Developing the methodology and analysing the findings of proactive monitoring of Kosovo institutions and municipal developments, including the implementation and effective application of international standards and the legal framework in Kosovo with respect to community rights and policies;

2. Identifying community-related issues, analysing their implications and advising on departmental policies to achieve measured improvement in the performance of the institutions in Kosovo in respecting community rights and policies. Following up on the implementation of recommendations and policy decisions adopted;

3. Supporting the implementation of monitoring programmes throughout the OSCE Mission in Kosovo by providing expertise and guidance on issues of community rights and policies;

4. Analyses monitoring data concerning community rights, as well as plans and drafts related reports accordingly;

5. Drafting, implementing, and evaluating projects related to community rights;

6. Advising the institutions on matters related to community rights and policies;

7. Establishing and maintaining contacts with representatives of institutions responsible for implementation of community rights, and non-Albanian community representatives and civil society. Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of the community rights' situation in Kosovo and the region;

8. Facilitating dialogue between non-Albanian community representatives and relevant local institutions;

9. Liaising with other international organisations, including the relevant bodies within the Council of Europe, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and OSCE/ODIHR;

10. Performing other duties as assigned.
    

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, please see: http://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. Please note that nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are not eligible to apply.

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.

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 open for secondment, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

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

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.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. 

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.

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. 

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

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