Human Resources Officer (P3)

Background:

*The appointment for this post is subject to the approval of the OSCE 2021 Unified Budget.

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 Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairmanship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Department of Human Resources (DHR) ensures that the OSCE has the human resources capacity necessary to successfully implement its mandates. DHR sets the policies and provides services in the areas of talent acquisition, administration of benefits and entitlements, payroll, performance management, talent development, and policy and employee relations across the Organization.

The HR Administration Unit (HR/Administration), is responsible for implementation of HR management policies of the organization, in particular through advice and HR administration for onboarding of newcomers/transfers or separations of current staff, Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) and interns; contract management; administration of benefits and entitlements, and administration of social security packages to all categories of staff funded from both, Unified Budget (UB) and extra-budgetary (ExB) resources. It provides the full range of the above-mentioned HR support services to management and staff at OSCE as first-line support for the Secretariat and Freedom of the Media (FoM), and as secondary-line support to all other OSCE executive structures.  In addition, the HR Administration Unit co-ordinates the process of duty station determination with regard to family/non-family and hardship statuses. The unit also performs protocol function, related to accreditation by the host government of staff located in Vienna and issuance of OSCE IDs for all OSCE Executive Structures. In the discharge of its functions, the Unit provides advisory and consultative support to the Secretariat, Institutions and Missions.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the  Chief, Human Resources Administration, the incumbent, as an expert in the area of human resources management, will provide the first line support to the Secretariat and Freedom of the Media (FoM) Institution by planning, organizing, managing and supervising the work of four-five incumbents in the unit and ensuring compliance with the OSCE Common Regulatory Management System (CRMS) within HR management.   

The Human Resources Officer works in co-ordination with all other sections of DHR and/or other OSCE Departments, contributing to review and development of policies and procedures, drafting/updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on HR Administration, learning initiatives, multi-functional working groups and task forces, drawing on his/her practical experience on HR management issues. The incumbent represents DHR on internal and external professional fora, conferences, workshops and other events related to his/her subject area. 

More specifically, the incumbent performs the following functions:

1. Applying and implementing and when required, interpreting the Staff Regulations Rules, and Staff Instructions or Staff Circulars in regard to contract management; administration of appointment/transfer/temporary assignment/separation, benefits and conditions of employment for all categories of  staff members, JPO, interns and daily staff at the OSCE Secretariat, and the Freedom of the Media Institution funded from both Unified Budget (UB) and Extra-budgetary (ExB) resources, taking into account principles of duty of care, gender equality, and OSCE values. Identifying problem areas, conducting assessment, and proposing solutions to alleviate problems;
2. Supervising and carrying out the work of the Section under his/her responsibility, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the timely completion and delivery of results, ensuring uniformity in the application of the Staff Regulations and Rules leading to equality of treatment. Fostering teamwork and harmony;
3. Verifying determination/calculation of benefits/entitlements and authorizing their processing in ERP through monthly Personal Action Form for the Secretariat (including Prague Office) and Freedom of the Media, submitting the list to Payroll and Analytics Unit;
4. Overseeing the administration of OSCE social security (or Austrian/Czech national social security) and providing advice to managers and staff at the Secretariat/FoM; assisting the Chief, HR Administration in facilitating the work of OSCE social security governance bodies and OSCE Chief Medical Officer on social security-related matters;
5. Contributing to updating the SOP on HR Administration, reviewing the existing policies and practices, developing and proposing new policies, practices and approaches, including update/development of ERP tools, when required;
6. Overseeing the maintenance and safeguard of the personnel records;
7. Certifying employment records for current and former staff;
8. Overseeing protocol function, in particular by managing accreditation process by the host government (entry visa, MFA ID cards) for OSCE staff (with eligible dependents) and non-staff (except for Experts/Consultants on SSA) and accreditation with OSCE (OSCE ID); 
9. If relevant, assisting in reviewing the ExB project proposals (HR component) or participating in the Unified Budget Proposal (UBP) reviews;
10. Attending conferences, briefings, presenting updates and providing clarifications/guidance on HR management issues;
11. Performing other duties as assigned. 

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in human resources, public or business administration, law, social sciences or other related field;
• A minimum of six years of professional experience in HR management with experience applying Human Resources Management principles, including experience in determination of entitlements administration, management of social security (including knowledge/experience of national social security system in Austria or Czech Republic), preferably in an international organization; 
• Experience in supervising, providing leadership and motivating staff;
• Ability to be discreet and maintain confidentiality;
• Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications, and familiarity with HR IT systems;
• Professional fluency in English, both written and oral; knowledge of other OSCE official language, especially German, is an asset;   
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds, whilst remaining impartial and objective;
• Ability to operate Windows applications including word processing, internet and other software applications.

Remuneration Package:
Monthly remuneration is around EUR 6,470, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

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 candidates 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. 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

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.