Environmental Governance Adviser (S)

Background:

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities.

The duties and requirements of this seconded (S) position correspond to a P3-level role in the UN common system. Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.

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 Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) deals with economic and environmental issues, operating under the premise that promoting economic prosperity and co-operation on environmental issues can contribute to international security and stability. The OSCE's role is twofold: a) to monitor economic and environmental developments among participating States, and inform them of any risk challenging security and stability, and b) to facilitate the formulation of economic and environmental policies and initiatives among participating States, to address the challenges as well as promote cooperation and build trust.

Within this context, the OCEEA’s Environmental Activities portfolio provide a platform for co-operation between participating States to address environmental issues that have significant security implications. It implements projects and activities related to sustainable use of natural resources, responses to impacts from climate change, energy security, and good environmental governance.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
 

The main purpose of this position is to support OCEEA’s activities as well as the development, implementation and co-ordination of projects and initiatives in the area of environmental governance, in close interaction with regional and local OSCE executive structures and other international actors, and to substantially contribute to policy advice and capacity-building events.

Working with minimum supervision, the Environmental Governance Officer provides expert advice on project implementation modalities and on the planning and conduct of programmatic activities in the field of environmental security, particularly good environmental governance, environmental assessment, and natural resources management. This includes guiding project design in line with OSCE standards, advising on partnerships and coordination mechanisms with OSCE structures and participating States, identifying priorities and opportunities for joint action, ensuring coherence with national and regional policies, and supporting effective delivery, reporting and visibility of programme activities.

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Senior Environmental Affairs Adviser [vacant at present] while the Deputy Co-ordinator/Head, Environmental Activities acts as the second level supervisor.

The Environmental Governance Adviser co-operates closely with colleagues across the OCEEA in identifying, elaborating, implementing and monitoring projects on the interaction of environment and security issues.

More specifically, the incumbent will be tasked with the following:

1. Developing, implementing and co-ordinating environmental projects and initiatives in line with OSCE project management standards and in consultation with OSCE structures, delegations, field operations, experts and partners;

2. Identifying needs and priorities, ensuring alignment with national and regional policies, and adjusting project outputs to maximize OSCE added value and impact;

3. Organizing meetings, technical events, ensuring partner co-ordination, logistical arrangements and substantive contributions;

4. Establishing and maintaining target-oriented working relations with international and regional organizations, initiatives, business partners and NGOs to enhance synergies and monitor environmental trends;

5. Representing OCEEA at relevant meetings and events, analysing environmental developments, to inform participating States and OSCE structures;

6. Identifying opportunities for joint activities, supporting co-ordinated programme development and sharing project results across partners and stakeholders;

7. Contributing to OCEEA policy and dialogue processes, including EEF, EEDIM and EEC meetings, by preparing inputs, drafting speeches, statements, presentations and briefing materials;

8. Collecting and analysing environmental and social data and preparing reports, papers and other written outputs;

9. Promoting synergies with OCEEA’s other programmes and liaising with the secretariat’s other departments and OSCE structures to enhance impacts;

10. Mobilizing and maintaining funding for environmental activities, preparing concept notes, proposals and donor reports in co-ordination with relevant OSCE departments;

11. Enhancing visibility of OCEEA activities by preparing outreach materials and supporting events that communicate project results and engage funding partners.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat and the OCEEA, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat and https://www.osce.org/oceea 
 

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in Environmental Science, Economics, International Relations or Political Sciences, with a focus on environmental security issues; 

• Recognized project management certification would be an asset;

• A minimum of seven years (five years with a relevant second-level university degree) of professional experience, preferably at the international/multilateral level;

• Working experience in diplomatic service and in an international organization would be an important asset;

• Familiarity with the OSCE regions, in particular Central Asia, South Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe or South Caucasus, would be an important asset;

• Familiarity with a broad spectrum of security-related environmental issues;

• Analytical skills and experience in developing policy briefs and analysis;

• Professional fluency in English, with excellent communication and drafting skills; knowledge of another OSCE regional language, in particular Russian, would be an important asset;

• Demonstrated gender and diversity awareness and sensitivity, and ability to integrate a gender and diversity perspective in the workplace;

• Ability to establish and maintain external partnerships as well as effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst remaining impartial and objective;

• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.
   

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.

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.

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 the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post is 10 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.

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.