Technical Monitoring Officer / UAV Operator (S2)

General Minimum Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working with the OSCE are:

• Excellent physical condition 
• 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

Field of Expertise Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working in this field of expertise are:

• Demonstrable organizational skills
• Proven ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Demonstrable interpersonal skills and documented experience in negotiations
• Depending on the field activity's mandate, significant prior experience in relevant fields such as international customs practices and procedures, law enforcement, and military observations and arms control may also be required
• Negotiating experience, preferably in the area of monitoring operations and/or related activities

Level of Professional Competence Requirements

Furthermore, this level of responsibility requires the following:

Education:

• First-level university degree in relevant field(s); certified training course is desirable

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience including minimum 1 year in a relevant field strongly preferred

Mission Specific Requirements

Additionally, this particular post has specific requirements:

Mandatory:

• Minimum six years of relevant professional experience in any of the following fields: military, police, government or international/multilateral organizations in a field environment; 
• Minimum one year of experience in the field of civilian or military aviation: experience in planning air  operations or work experience on projects related to unmanned aviation;
• Experience in utilizing common UAV Ground Control Station software (i.e. DJI GO, DJI Pilot, Litchi, ArduPilot Mission Planner, QGround Control etc.);
• Experience in utilizing image and video editing software;
• Experience in analyzing aerial images and in identifying military equipment or other objects of interest;
• Sound organizational and negotiation skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely;
• Proven experience of working in a demanding and constantly changing operational environment;
• Strong diplomatic skills, tact, cultural sensitivity and political judgement;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and under minimum supervision;
• Excellent report writing skills;
• Ability to operate computer Windows applications, including word processing and e-mail;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, as well as the ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills;
• 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;
• 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;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, as well as the ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

Desirable:

• Experience in piloting military or civilian manned aircraft (helicopters or planes); experience in operating small to large multi-rotor or fixed-wing UAVs in a military, law enforcement or commercial setting;
• Experience in operating fixed-wing or hybrid fixed-wing VTOL UAVs, UAV or remotely piloted aircraft system license provided by national aviation authorities or internationally-recognized UAV training centres;
• Working knowledge of Russian and/or Ukrainian language(s);
• Possession of valid "C" automobile driving license.

Tasks and Responsibilities

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. We encourage qualified applicants, especially women 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 nonfamily 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.

In line with its Mandate and specific tasks assigned by political agreements reached in Minsk, the SMM is utilizing Unmanned and Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in order to collect data from inaccessible locations and to assess the security situation, on both sides of the line of contact in eastern Ukraine. To this end, Technical Monitoring Officers/UAV Operators are deployed to dedicated Technical Monitoring Patrol Groups (TMPGs) which are responsible for executing UAV flights in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, through different types of aerial platforms – small multi-rotor aircraft (quad-copters), fixed-wing mapping UAVs or hybrid fixed-wing UAVs with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities. Successful applicants will be deployed to one of the five SMM Patrol Hubs in eastern Ukraine where the TMPGs are operating – Donetsk, Kramatorsk, Luhansk, Mariupol or Sieverodonetsk. Internal or external training for the operation of UAVs in the SMM will be provided for all new Technical Monitoring Officers/UAV Operators. 

Under the overall guidance of Deputy Patrol Hub Leader and direct supervision of the Technical Patrol Group Leader/UAV Operator, and in close co-operation with Hub and Monitoring Team (MT) Operations Units, the Technical Monitoring Officer/UAV Operator is responsible for the below:  
 

1. Ensuring the effective implementation and daily conduct of mini (short-range tactical aircraft – quad-copters) and mid-range (fixed-wing mapping or hybrid ISR fixed-wing VTOL aircraft) UAV operations within the given Area of Responsibility (AoR);
2. Preparing UAV flight plans through the equipment’s software, in coordination with relevant Monitoring Team and Patrol Hub structures (MT/PH Management, Operations, Security) and other Technical Monitoring Officers/UAV Operators;
3. Operating the equipment during dedicated UAV patrols, in line with the Operational Instruction on the Use of Mini and Mid-range UAVs, applicable Patrolling or Security Instructions, and relevant UAV manuals;
4. Carrying out preliminary post-flight data assessments and analysis, preparation of Daily Flight Reports and coordination of reporting and data analysis-related matters with relevant Units on Monitoring Team and, if required, on Head Office level;
5. Performing UAV maintenance activities and coordination of potential technical issues with the manufacturer or HO Operations in order to keep the equipment airworthy; 
6. Organizing training activities for other Monitoring Officers or Technical Monitoring Officers on mini and mid-range UAVs in line with the applicable SMM-approved training programs;
7. Performing regular UAV ground patrolling duties if required;
8. Performing other duties as assigned.

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

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. Please note that nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are not eligible to apply.

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/ourcompetency-model.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered.

Please apply to your relevant authorities well in advance of the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. The OSCE can only process Secondment applications that have been nominated by participating States. For queries relating to your application, please refer to the respective delegation as listed here: https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.