Head, Assistance and Protection Branch (APB) (P-5)

About Us

The International Cooperation and Assistance Division serves as international provider and platform for providing specialised and technical assistance in support of States Parties efforts to meet their obligations under the Convention through a portfolio of wide range of programmes and projects. These capacity building programmes are aimed at contributing to build and enhance States Parties capacity to fostering the use of chemistry for peaceful purposes for the economic and technological development of the States Parties; facilitating the national implementation and responding and dealing with threats involving toxic chemicals.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P5
• 
  Total Salary (including post adjustment)
  USD 121,663
• Closing Date
  09/12/2020

Responsibilities

Job Summary

We are looking for a dedicated professional with practical experience to lead all aspects of the technical assistance and capacity-building programmes under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

You will be responsible for working closely with States Parties providing specialist advice, and programmes to develop and improve their emergency response capacity against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

You have leadership and management skills, are able to think strategically and can apply sound political awareness.

The ideal candidate can thrive within a multi-cultural environment, should show integrity, and demonstrate professional competence.

Main Responsibilities

• Plan, and council, the Director, International Cooperation and Assistance on the Branch’s budget to ensure maximum fiscal responsibility and efficiency;


• Work closely with State Parties by informing and supporting them to meet their obligations;


• Lead and promote the development of the Assistance and Protection database;


• Ensure the database has relevant information provided by States Parties and other important Articles X related materials;


• Maintain, and coordinate with the Capacity Building and Contingency Operation Cell of the Inspectorate, to ensure that deployed Assistance Coordination and Assessment Team members can work with Investigation of Alleged Use teams;


• Promote the International Support Network for Victims of Chemical Weapons;


• Lead and coordinate the tasks of the branch in a way of synergised work.

To view the complete job outline please click here.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in management, social sciences, science and technology, international relations, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional qualifying experience (minimum 12 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential: At least 10 years practical experience in a field related to the convention on chemical weapons, including especially administration of international or bilateral technical assistance and capacity building programmes, preferably in the area of emergency response and preparedness, involving:

• Preparing strategies, formulating policies and negotiating agreements;

• Planning and executing exercises and training courses;

• Leading the programmes in line with results-based principles;

• Previous working experience within an international organisation would be an asset.

Skills and Competencies

Essential:

• Excellent and validated planning, organisational, coordination, negotiation and problem-solving skills;

• Strong analytical and conceptual skills in analysing and interpreting operational issues, assessing assistance needs and setting priorities, formulating options, and proposing and implementing solutions;

• Demonstrated experience developing and leading capacity-building and other training programs, and in mobilising resources from donor states for such development programs;

• Political awareness and a capacity to think strategically are critical skills for this post;

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to think strategically, achieve results and manage knowledge; a capacity for people management, team building, and staff development would be an asset;

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a shown ability to apply tact and accuracy and to present information clearly and logically both in writing and verbally; 

• Solid information technology skills;

• Knowledge of Results-Based Budgeting or similar budgeting processes;

• Ability to ensure an effective work structure to improve efficiency and achieve Section goals;

• Ability to coordinate the work of others, forge collaboration with other work units, work to set target-dates and balance multiple concurrent activities;

• Solid track record in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

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.

Additional Information

This fixed-term appointment is for the duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.

The OPCW is a non-career organisation with limited staff tenure. The total length of service for Professional staff shall not exceed 7 years.

The Director-General retains the discretion to not 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.

Only applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered. Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.

Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions

Important notice for applicants who are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system

Although headquartered in the Netherlands, the OPCW is not a regular Dutch employer but a public international organisation with its own special status. Please be advised that if you are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system, you will be excluded from this system as a staff member of the OPCW. You will consequently be insured under the organisation’s system. The above also applies to your dependents unless they are employed by a regular Dutch employer, they are self-employed in the Netherlands, or are receiving Dutch social security payments.

Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for more information about the possible consequences for you and your dependents, such as exclusion from ‘AWBZ’ and ‘Zorgverzekeringswet’ coverage: ‘Werken bij een internationale organisatie’.