Technical Laboratory Assistant (GS-5)

Position Remarks

This fixed-term appointment is for a duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, as applicable. The Director-General retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. Several vacancies may be filled. STAFF MEMBERS IN THE GENERAL SERVICES CATEGORY ARE RECRUITED AND PAID ON A LOCAL BASIS

Principal Functions

Under the direction of Analytical Chemists and supervision of the Head, of Laboratory, and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the incumbent performs the following duties;

1. Control and maintain laboratory equipment
· Organise additional (preventive) maintenance to be performed by manufacturers or service providers
· Document findings and results according to the laboratory quality system
· Do weekly refills of liquid nitrogen at the NMR
· Run performance tests on instruments in the calibration room following the respective Work Instruction (QDOC)
· Prepare GC-MS instruments for training courses in the training laboratory
2. General laboratory duties
· Update the laboratory inventory of equipment and chemicals
· Assure that common consumables are available and initiate re-orders at the right time
· Keep the laboratory work place clean and organized
· Prepare solutions and mixtures as required
3. Assistance during trainings, meetings, demonstrations and laboratory tours
· Assist the head of Laboratory and laboratory chemists with administrative duties during trainings, meeting, demonstrations, exercises and tours.

Knowledge and Skills

Education (Qualifications):
Essential: High school diploma or equivalent diploma of higher secondary education.

Desirable: Relevant vocational training or a first level university degree would be highly desirable.

Skills and Abilities (key competencies):
· Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and logically both in writing and verbally.
· Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
· Demonstrated ability to work safely and efficiently in a laboratory environment
· Computer literacy including knowledge and experience of Windows-based word processing, databases and spreadsheet programmes is essential. Experience with laboratory inventory and/or LIMS systems is desirable.
· Personal qualities should include tact, accuracy and discretion.

Experience

Essential: At least four years of progressively responsible and relevant experience
o Practical experience in operating analytical instruments such as GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR or NMR
o Practical experience in routine instrument maintenance for analytical instrumentation
o Practical knowledge in storage and inventory of chemicals including knowledge of safety rules for handling of hazardous chemicals and application of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
o General chemical laboratory tasks
§ Preparation of stock solutions, reagents and other solutions and mixtures
§ Proper disposal of chemical wastes
§ Handling of compressed gases
§ Record keeping, report generation, basic data processing.
Desirable:
o Handling of cryogens (liquid nitrogen)
o Experience in working at a bio-safety workbench handling biomedical samples (blood, urine)
Experience in handling chemicals relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention

Languages

Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

Salary Remarks

Annual Salary
Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and provident fund deductions)