Special Adviser on Non-Albanian Communities and Outreach Co-ordinator

OSCE missions and field activities are the frontline of OSCE work in areas that require assistance and are the agent through which political decisions are translated into action. Each mission has a different mandate, but generally, work addresses early warning, preventive diplomacy, conflict management and post-conflict rehabilitation.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo promotes human rights, good governance and the safety of all people living in Kosovo by monitoring and supporting the work of local institutions. The Mission, established in 1999, is among the largest OSCE field operations. The OSCE Gender Action Plan is committed to increasing the number of female staff in all areas of the OSCE’s work.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this opportunity.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Mission and in close co-ordination with Directors of Mission Programmes, Head of Political Affairs and Communications, Head of Office of Central Co-ordination, and in particular with the Communities Section of the Department of Human Rights and Communities, the incumbent will be supporting mainstreaming community rights into the Mission's overall programming, with a special focus on non-Albanian communities by:

1. Pro-actively identifying legal, political and other issues of concern for persons belonging to non-Albanian communities;
2. Indicating issues of concern for persons belonging to communities, which have the potential to develop into a conflict;
3. Engaging in advocacy and facilitation to resolve potential issues and/or to protect and promote the rights of persons belonging to communities;
4. Pro-actively supporting the mainstreaming of community rights into the Missions' overall programming;
5. Advising, as appropriate, the Head of Mission, programmatic departments and offices, on immediate or systematic action to enhance and mainstream non-Albanian community rights into programme implementation;
6. Advising programmatic departments on practical ways to enhance and mainstream community rights into programme implementation;
7. Supporting the programmatic departments in the efficient planning of programmes, policies and activities, and their implementation regarding the protection and promotion of the rights of persons belonging to communities;
8. On behalf of, and with the approval of the Head of Mission, pro-actively engaging and representing the Mission in outreach, conflict resolution and mediation activities related to non-Albanian communities, in particular related to security and property issues obstructing their return;
9. Regularly meeting with representatives of communities in Kosovo, in particular the Kosovo Serb community, at the governmental and municipal levels throughout Kosovo, to discuss their concerns and to advise them on the protection and promotion of their rights;
10. Participating and providing inputs for activities of relevance to communities, including community meetings, roundtables, seminars, workshops, and conferences;
11. Pro-actively advising the Head of Mission, Deputy Head of Mission and the Mission’s Senior Management in developing policies that address particular community issues that require an immediate Mission response, thus complementing the Mission’s systematic work on the protection and promotion of community rights in Kosovo;
12. Monitoring on a daily basis open source and Mission information regarding community issues throughout Kosovo, gathering data including in collaboration with relevant sections and field offices, and drafting thematic briefs, analysis and reports;
13. Addressing identified immediate response issues in terms of outreach to the affected community, the related institutions, and collecting relevant information to serve as the basis for designing the Mission’s response;
14. Reviewing existing policies and legislation in Kosovo to identify trends, gaps and other inconsistencies in the area of community rights with a special focus on non-Albanian communities;
15. Following developments regarding the situation of communities and related legislative, policy and institutional frameworks, and providing advice for integration of communities’ perspectives in such developments;
16. Performing other duties as required.

For more information on the work of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, please see http://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo. 

• Citizenship of an OSCE participating State, excluding citizenship or permanent residency of the country of the duty station;
• Advanced university degree in law, political or social science, preferably at Masters level or higher; additional specialization in human rights protection mechanisms is also required;
• At least eight years of relevant professional experience, including six years in jobs related to minority rights and minority issues;
• Prior work experience in Kosovo and in-depth knowledge of the political situation in Kosovo, the situation of non-majority communities, and of national minorities in the region;
• Established competency to organize, conduct meetings and negotiations, and writing reports;
• Established experience in programming and project management, preferably on issues related to minorities and international human rights protection standards;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and working knowledge of local languages including Serbian, Croatian, or Bosnian, or other languages spoken in the Mission area;
• Ability to operate Windows applications, including word processing and email.

• 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 approximately US$ 6.126 to which is added Board and Lodging Allowance (currently EUR 119 per day). Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the OSCE Health insurance coverage scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund.

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/employment.

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 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.