Senior Human Dimension Officer (S3)

Background

With 57 participating States, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional security organization.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nursultan (the Office) is looking for a professional, proactive and motivated Senior Human Dimension Officer (SHDO) within its Human Dimension portfolio.

According to its mandate, the Office supports Kazakhstan in implementing OSCE principles and commitments within the OSCE framework of a comprehensive approach to security. The Office assists the Government of Kazakhstan by building the capacity of national stakeholders and civil society. It facilitates information exchange between OSCE institutions and relevant state and civil society agencies on OSCE activities. The Office maintains contacts with national and local authorities, universities, research institutes, civil society representatives, and non-governmental organizations. It arranges OSCE regional, national and local events, including seminars, trainings, round table discussions, conferences and supports OSCE delegation visits. The Office also co-operates with the OSCE Institutions and executive structures (particularly the Secretariat, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights/ODIHR, OSCE Secretariat’s Programme for Gender Issues,  the Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities/HCNM, Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media/RFOM, and other OSCE field operations in Central Asia, interacts with diplomatic missions and international organizations.

In its Human Dimension portfolio, the Office implements a wide range of activities in human rights and fundamental freedoms, focusing on the development of civil society, the rule of law, the election system, freedom of the media, rights of persons belonging to national minorities and combating trafficking in human beings, in close co-operation with the authorities and civil society of Kazakhstan. The Office engages in regional projects in any of the above-mentioned areas, which may include assistance in arranging OSCE regional events, visits to the area by OSCE delegations, or other events with OSCE participation.

The incumbent will be based in Nursultan and, when necessary, travel and maintain working relations with partners across Kazakhstan and abroad.

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: 

• Second-level university degree in human rights, political sciences, international relations, public administration, law, gender or other human rights related fields policy or public administration, or related fields; a first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree
• Significant experience in human rights and fundamental freedoms with international organizations, governments and / or civic associations (including NGOs and political parties).
• Ability to compile and analyze information on OSCE human dimension topics.

Level of Professional Competence Requirements

Furthermore, this level of responsibility requires the following:

Education:

Second-level university degree in human rights, political sciences, international relations, public administration, law, gender or other human rights related fields policy or public administration, or related fields; a first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree

Experience:

Minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience including at least 3 years at the management level relevant to the actual position. 

Mission Specific Requirements

Additionally, this particular post has specific requirements:

Mandatory:

• Significant working experience in one of the following fields: development of civil society, the rule of law, election system, freedom of the media, promotion of gender equality; combating domestic violence and trafficking in human beings; prevention of torture; human rights advocacy and promotion of rights of persons belonging to national minorities;
• Demonstrable organizational, analytical, communication, team working and interpersonal skills;
• Experience in negotiating, communicating and liaising with government officials and institutions, incl. human rights institutions, judiciary, law enforcement authorities, penitentiary;
• Previous significant experience in analyzing, reporting and communicating on human dimension developments; 
• Experience of working in a programmatic/strategic planning role using a results-based management approach;
• Thorough understanding of multi-disciplinary issues in international co-operation and development;
• Professional fluency in English and the ability to draft documents clearly and concisely, working knowledge of Russian language;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Ability to work independently or under minimum supervision; 
• Confident/demonstrated communication and analytical skills; 
• Demonstrated Project Management skills: (planning, designing, budgeting, management, evaluation);
• Experience developing and managing budgets for multiple events; 
• Demonstrated knowledge and willingness to manage, coach and work with a team of people;
• Staff management experience and team-building ability;
• Flexibility and ability to work under time pressure in a deadline-driven environment;
• Advanced ability to operate windows applications, incl. Microsoft Office, Internet and email

Desirable:

• Experience working in Central Asia and/or knowledge of the region’s history and recent developments
• Good knowledge of the Russian language 
• Working experience in the field missions 
• Knowledge of OSCE principles and commitments

Tasks and Responsibilities

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan promotes the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments. With particular emphasis on the regional context, it assists Kazakhstan in meeting and addressing the OSCE human dimension commitments. As such, it works in areas such as the development of civil society, the rule of law, election system, freedom of the media, promotion of gender equality; combating domestic violence and trafficking in human beings; prevention of torture; human rights advocacy and promotion of rights of persons belonging to national minorities.

Further, it promotes the political dialogue of Kazakhstan's legislative and executive bodies with civil society, including within the presidential reform agenda.

The Human Dimension Department is one of three programmatic departments in the Programme Office with a total staff of twenty-eight mission members.

Under the general direction and supervision of the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan (HoO) and direct supervision of the Deputy Head of Office (DHoO), the incumbent in this middle management role will provide support and advice to the Head of Office on all major human dimension issues. Specifically, the Senior Human Dimension Officer performs the following duties:

1. Managing the Human Dimension (HD) and providing direction to activities in accordance with the mandate of the OSCE Programme Office in Nursultan;
2. Informing senior management of host country priorities, identifying priority projects and important cross-departmental issues, participating in and contributing to planning initiatives of the Office;
3. Developing, proposing or implementing strategies, concepts and approaches to meet new challenges, preparing detailed proposals on programmatic issues related to the priorities of the Office;
4. Compiling, preparing and submitting the Office regular/annual/ monthly/ periodic reports to the OSCE Secretariat and institutions, on request and approval by senior management.
5. Preparing and disseminating information about the OSCE and its activities to local and international media, including OSCE press releases and news items, on request and approval by senior management;
6. Co-ordinating co-operation and work on major human dimension issues with national parliament, government, regional and local authorities, non-governmental organizations, political parties/entities, communities, universities and research institutions, media and international stakeholders; participating in inter-agency meetings and advising on human rights and fundamental freedoms issues of common concern;
7. Co-ordinating and monitoring the development and implementation of human dimension activities and projects related to Office priorities as defined by HoO;
8. Supervising and analyzing reports in the field of human dimension developments;
9. Assisting in arranging OSCE regional events, among other things, regional seminars and visits to the area by OSCE delegations, as well as other events with OSCE participation; liaises with the other OSCE field operations in the region.
10. Coaching and supervising the HD team of national staff;
11. Contributing to written output, e.g., speeches and talking points (for the HoO), analytical notes, reports and input to reports on substantive aspects of the work of the Programme,
12. Monitoring the budget of projects being implemented and liaises with all relevant counterparts to ensure timely and accurate payment of expenditures;
13. Identifying and proposing areas for potential programmatic activity; preparing project proposals including budget formulation; implementing approved projects and activities; proposing corrective action to any problems and issues that arise;
14. Co-ordinating and preparing the Programme's Unified Budget Proposal established on a performance-based programme budgeting approach;
15.  Performing other duties as required.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, please see: https://
www.osce.org/programme-office-in-nur-sultan.

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/our-competency-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.