Head, Public Affairs & OPCW Spokesperson (P-5)

About Us

The External Relations Division advises the Director-General on external relations policies, promotes universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and liaises with governments, international organisations, the media, and non-governmental organisations. The division manages relations with OPCW’s Host Country–the Netherlands–and provides support regarding engagement with States Parties, partners, the public, and other identified stakeholders, such as scientists, civil society, academia, and industry.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P5
• 
  Total Salary (including post adjustment)
  USD 133,947
• Closing Date
  20/06/2021

Responsibilities

Job Summary

The OPCW Public Affairs Branch's mission is to present the face, amplify the voice, extend the reach and raise the profile of the OPCW with the aim of conveying the on-going relevance of the Organisation and the global endeavor for a world permanently free of chemical weapons.
The main objectives of the post are to manage the Public Affairs operation and serve as the Spokesperson for the OPCW to the media and relevant stakeholders to convey its on-going relevance and the importance of the global endeavor for a world free of chemical weapons.

Main Responsibilities

As a Head of Public Affairs & OPCW Spokesperson, your responsibilities will include the management of Public Affairs operations. This includes serving as a Spokesperson for the OPCW, providing advises to Senior Management, reviewing and implemeting the OPCW policies on Media and Public Affairs as well as initiating and maintaining relations with the media and the public.

Are you equipped with experience directly relevant to media, public relations and corporate use of social media preferably as a governments or international institutions spokesperson? Do you possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and are knowledgeable of international security, disarmament and non-proliferation issues? If you fulfill all the requirements and suit the recruitment profile, then apply now!

To view the complete job outline please click here.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in International Relations, Political Science, Journalism or Communications. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 12 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of international security and/or weapons of mass destruction issues.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• At least 10 years of related experience in media, public relations and corporate use of social media and other community-building communication tools. Demonstrable experience managing a team.

Desirable:

• Experience of government or international institution spokesperson and with diplomatic processes.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of international security, disarmament and non-proliferation issues;


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to draft and edit a range of external communications products for a variety of audiences are essential;


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


• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to think strategically and achieve results;


• Ability to develop new policies in the area of communication management and public diplomacy for the Organisation;


• Solid information technology skills including proficiency in MS360;


• Up-to-date knowledge of social media platforms and development trends relevant to international organisations;


• Ability to coordinate the work of others to meet tight deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent activities;


• Proven ability in creating an enabling environment for diversity and inclusion goals while establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;


• Management experience and project result oriented approach essential.

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 three 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’.