Chief, Legislative Support Unit

Background:

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. ODIHR's assistance projects and other activities are implemented in participating States in accordance with ODIHR's mandate.

The Office’s democratization activities include the following thematic areas: rule of law, democratic governance and gender, migration and freedom of movement, and legislative support. ODIHR implements targeted assistance programmes facilitating and enhancing participating states’ compliance with OSCE commitments towards the development of democratic structures.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Democratization, the incumbent will be tasked with:

· Conceptualizing, identifying, designing and implementing legislation-reform assistance and democratic law-making schemes;

· Advising on legislation reform policy issues as well as on questions of international law, including the interpretation of international instruments, and compliance of domestic law with relevant international standards;

· Preparing and co-ordinating meetings, workshops, conferences and seminars in the area of legislative reform;

· Analyzing, reviewing and commenting on questions of conformity of domestic legislation with OSCE commitments and other relevant standards;

· Providing standards and assistance in the production, quality and consistency of all recommendations, reviews and opinions issued or endorsed by the ODIHR in respect of legislative developments throughout the OSCE region;

· Monitoring legislation and state practices affecting human dimension issues;

· Developing, maintaining, updating and adjusting to new needs the ODIHR legislative data-base (www.legislationline.org);;/)

· Establishing a system to regularly monitor, assess, evaluate and report on outcomes and impact of Legislative Support Unit work ;

· Managing the work of the Legislative Support Unit;

· Maintaining and developing contacts with international organizations, experts, NGOs, national correspondents for the ODIHR Legislative data-base and other relevant agencies on Human Dimension issues;

· Reporting to ODIHR management and, as required, to ODIHR partners and donors on the progress in the implementation of the projects and activities conducted by the Legislative Support Unit;

· Performing related duties as required.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second level university degree in law is required;
• Thorough knowledge of public international law, constitutional law or comparative government structures. Knowledge of human rights and democracy-building issues is essential;
• Eight to ten years of professional work experience in Law, including at least six years of experience at the international level are required; knowledge of the functioning of political institutions, other international organizations and Government offices;
• Political intuition; Organizational and analytical skills; resourcefulness, initiative and maturity of judgment;

· Excellent knowledge of English with good drafting skills; knowledge of other OSCE working languages would be an asset;

· Ability to work with minimum supervision.

· Ability to advise high-level officials on the interpretation of international human rights instruments, and the compliance of domestic laws with OSCE commitments and international standards;

• Ability to co-operate effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions as well as monthly changes of the post adjustment multiplier and exchange rate, is approximately EUR 6,000. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland.

Social security will include participation in the Cigna International medical insurance scheme and OSCE Provident Fund maintained by the OSCE. The Organization contributes an amount equivalent to 15% of the employee's salary to this Fund and the employee contributes 7.5%. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Appointments are 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://jobs.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise 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 shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States,please see http://www.osce.org/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.

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 the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.