Senior Operational Support Officer (S)

Background:

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.

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, combating human trafficking, 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 Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) plays a key role in supporting and co-ordinating the OSCE's activities in the field, in providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairmanship, in leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and in supporting the various formats dealing with protracted conflicts. The CPC also serves as the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCE's role in the politico-military dimension.

Within the CPC, the Operations Service covers a broad variety of tasks such as operational planning for the set-up, reorganization, and closure of field operations. It provides strategic advice and analysis on conflict cycle issues, including early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, and peacebuilding. It also contributes to the preservation of key institutional memory through the development and exchange of lessons learned and best practices, primarily related to operational issues, including through the conduct of after action reviews. It also maintains a 24/7 Situation/Communications Room. In its efforts, it ensures operational liaison with other international organizations. 
 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of Deputy Director for Operations Service, the Senior Operational Support Officer will be responsible for co-ordinating the strategic direction of OS, including through providing analysis and operational advice on conflict cycle issues. Accordingly, the focus of your work will be on the OSCE's activities in the areas of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management, mediation and dialogue facilitation, post-conflict rehabilitation, and peacebuilding, as well as issues that cut across the conflict cycle, confidence building, and other OSCE tools in this respect.

More specifically, you will be tasked with: 
 

1. Co-ordinating the strategic direction of OS and liaising with other sections of the CPC in the specified fields; 
2. Liaising with other sections of the CPC (in particular the CPC/PSS Early Warning Focal Point) and other departments in the Secretariat as well as executive structures in the field of early warning and conflict prevention, including with a view to advancing the OS conflict cycle work plan; 
3. Contributing to operational / strategic advice and analytical support to the Chairmanship and senior management of the Secretariat on conflict cycle related activities;
4. Developing analysis and providing timely information and background material on relevant geo-political trends and developments in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, and peacebuilding on issues of concern to the OSCE and in support of the Chairmanship and senior management of the Secretariat;
5. Preparing briefs, speeches and speaking points on conflict cycle-related issues for the Chairmanship and senior management of the Secretariat;
6. Contributing to the enhancement of the Conflict Prevention Centre's functions/capabilities in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, and peacebuilding;
7. Analysing, developing, and exchanging lessons learned/best practices on operational issues; chairing the debriefing of senior officials of the Chairmanship and OSCE field operations for the purposes of lessons learning with a view to enhancing the effectiveness and impact of OSCE field operations and preserving institutional memory; reviewing the debriefing reports drafted by other OS staff for content, political message, and accuracy, prior to their final clearance by DD/CPC-OS and D/CPC;
8. Supporting the Chairmanship and senior management of the Secretariat in organizing the Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC) and following up on it;
9. Attending meetings, conferences and workshops relevant and writing summaries, notes or reports for internal distribution;
10. As required to carry out her/his above duties, establishing close working contacts on priority OSCE themes, particularly those in the politico-military dimension, with OSCE institutions, thematic units and field operations as well as with appropriate international, governmental, non-governmental and academic organizations and institutions, as well as with prominent research centres;
11. Deputising for DD/CPC-OS during his/her absence and assuming all his/her responsibilities;
12. Performing other related tasks as assigned.     

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

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree in political science, international relations, or a geo-political related field; 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;
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in conflict-related analysis and operational support or a related field with a government agency, a national or international organization or a non-governmental organization;
• Experience of working in an international environment or in the field would be an important asset;
• Established thematic expertise, especially in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, mediation, dialogue facilitation, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, and peacebuilding; familiarity with the relevant international efforts in these fields;
• Demonstrated ability to analyse, experience and international practice as well as to develop and report on best practices in conflict cycle related areas;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of another official OSCE language would be an asset;
• 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;
• Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications (e.g. Power Point) and experience in maintaining and updating databases.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, 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 the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

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.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

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.