Field Security Officer

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, 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 Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) is an unarmed, civilian mission, present on the ground 24/7 throughout Ukraine. Its main tasks are to observe and report in an impartial and objective way on the situation in Ukraine; and to facilitate dialogue among all parties to the crisis. The Mission contributes to reducing tensions and to fostering peace, stability and security. The Mission engages with authorities at all levels, as well as civil society, ethnic and religious groups and local communities. The Mission gathers information and reports on the security situation; and establishes and reports facts in response to specific incidents, including those concerning alleged violations of fundamental OSCE principles. The Mission currently foresees around 1,500 Mission members spread across 10 Monitoring Teams and budgetary resources of about EUR 100 million. 

The Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), in line with the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, is committed to further improving gender balance among staff in all areas and levels within the SMM. Currently, female professionals are underrepresented in Safety and Security Unit. Qualified female candidates are therefore strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

If applicable, deployment is subject to attendance to and successful completion of pre-deployment training and assessment.

Applicants are hereby notified that the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) is designated by the OSCE as a non-family duty station. This designation is based on the fluid and dynamic working environment in the SMM. The currently prevailing working conditions in the duty station may include working in a hazardous location with extended hours of service, and possibly curtailed freedom of movement. Successful candidates who are appointed to locations deemed by the OSCE as hazardous will receive hazard pay. In addition, all successful candidates will be required to participate in the OSCE accident and life insurance scheme in accordance with the OSCE Staff Regulations and Staff Rules.

Potential applicants should be aware that this is a non-family posting.

The selected candidate will be deployed in the Donetsk region.

Under the direct supervision of Regional Security Officer and under the overall guidance of the Chief of Mission Security, as Field Security Officer, you will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Providing assistance to the Regional Security Officer (RSO) in maintaining the security management system in an assigned Area of Responsibility (AoR) of the Monitoring Hub;
2. Managing and advising on all aspects of security for SMM personnel, operations, premises and property of the assigned Monitoring Hub and Forward Patrol Bases (FPB) in the AoR; ensuring that appropriate security measures are implemented; managing security issues on a day-to-day basis; during critical incidents at a respective location and/or area of operations, maintaining contact with the Regional Security Officer in order to keep him/her informed about the developments;
3. Liaising and maintaining permanent contacts with local military, police authorities as well as providers of security services, including de facto authorities in non-governmental controlled areas;
4. Analysing and evaluating a broad spectrum of security-related information; drafting and maintaining security-related guided documents including security plans, threat and risk assessments, security surveys, security instructions, procedures, technical specifications, incidents reports assessments, security advisories, evaluation reports, etc.;
5. Leading and managing the security system at the Monitoring Hub level including ensuring the conduct of permanent assessment of the security situation in areas of active armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine in the Hub area of responsibility;
6. Gathering security threat information and conducting proper analyses; conducting the Security Risk Assessments (SRA) in the Hub AoR in a timely manner in order to identify the existing threats and risks to SMM staff on the ground; recommending proper risk mitigation measures to the Hub Leader; ensuring that SMM security policies, plans, and procedures are strictly followed by all staff members; ensuring proper response in emergency situations;
7. Providing advice and recommendations to the Monitoring Hub Leader on all aspects of safety and security; providing timely and effective support on issues that may have an impact on Hub, and FPBs safety and security; ensuring all Mission, and region-specific security policies, plans, and procedures are firmly implemented in the AoR;
8. Submitting timely security reports to the Regional Security Officer and ensuring that security upgrades and enhancements in the respective AoR are implemented; ensuring preparations for emergency situations and incident response;
9. Participating in inter-agency security network at the local level and co-operating with representatives of other international organizations and NGOs in the AoR in dealing with common security issues;
10. Liaising with relevant host government security services as well as de facto security providers in areas not controlled by the Ukrainian Government in order to gain support for security provision to the SMM personnel in the respective AoR;
11. Collaborating closely with the Operations Team and other functional sections at the Hub level in order to ensure that all operations and activities are conducted in a safe way;
12. Performing other related duties as required.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, please see https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine

• Citizenship of an OSCE participating State, excluding the citizenship of Ukraine;
• First-level university degree in security studies, risk, disaster or emergency management, social/political science, military science, public administration, law enforcement, law or related field;
• Minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in security or risk management, in a government, police, military, public or private sector context including at least two years at international level;
• Excellent knowledge of security management, combined with solid background of military, police or security specialization;
• Knowledge, understanding and ability to manage security challenges in conflict environment;
• Substantial knowledge of the politico-military history and recent developments in the Mission area;
• Professional fluency in English, Ukrainian and/or Russian language(s);
• 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; proven resilience to high stress environments;
• Ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work as a member of a team, with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Ability to operate Windows applications including word processing and email;
• Prior experience in working in Eastern Europe and/or knowledge of the region is an asset;
• Possession of a valid automobile Class C driving license and ability to drive a 4x4 vehicle using manual transmission is desirable.

• Commitment: Actively contributes to achieving organizational goals
• Diversity: Respects others and values their diverse perspectives and contributions
• Integrity: Acts in a manner consistent with the Organization’s core values and organizational principles
• Accountability: Takes responsibility for own action and delegated work

• Communication: Actively works to achieve clear and transparent communication with colleagues and with stakeholders of the Organization
• Collaboration: Works effectively with others on common goals and fosters a positive, trust-based working environment
• Planning: Works towards the achievement of goals in a structured and measured manner
• Analysis and decision-making: Analyses available information, draws well-founded conclusions and takes appropriate decisions
• Initiative-taking: Proposes and initiates new ideas, activities and projects
• Flexibility: Responds positively and effectively to changing circumstances

• Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, builds trust and creates an enabling environment
• Strategic thinking: Identifies goals that advance the organizational agenda and develops plans for achieving them
• Managing performance: Helps to maximize team performance by providing active feedback and skill development opportunities

Monthly remuneration subject to social security deductions is about USD 3,943 to which is added Board and Lodging Allowance (currently EUR 125 per day subject to change without prior notice). Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund.

Please note that appointments are normally 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/vacancies.

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 applicants who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

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.

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.