SENIOR POLICY OFFICER (P-4)

Job Description

The Office of Strategy and Policy develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and the Secretariat’s management, particularly relating to cross-cutting issues such as education and outreach, counter-terrorism, and science and technology.

In addition, the Office supports the organisational governance of the Secretariat in areas such as knowledge management, results-based management, or risk management.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P4
• Total Estimated monthly remuneration depending on post adjustment and family status: USD
  10.052
• Closing Date
  08/10/2024

Responsibilities

Job Summary

The Office of Strategy and Policy develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and the Secretariat’s management, particularly relating to cross-cutting issues such as incidents of chemical weapons use, non-routine missions, chemical security, engagement with international organisations and chemical industry, education and outreach, counter-terrorism, and science and technology.

Main Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Strategy and Policy, the Senior Policy Officer will perform the following objectives and main responsibilities:

• Support programme management and coordination of the Organisation’s activities;
• Support the implementation of results-based management (RBM) principles throughout the Technical Secretariat;
• Provide advice and recommendations on activities across the Secretariat from a long-term planning perspective, including in areas of capacity building, training and internal capabilities development;
• Assess and provide advice on strategic topics that relate to the implementation of the CWC;
• Coordinate organisational reports as required;
• Coordinate internal and external meetings and keep records of those;
• Contribute, as appropriate, to the preparations of conferences and meetings, coordinate the Secretariat’s follow-up, and provide advice on related issues to the Director-General;
• Facilitate enhanced engagement with relevant external stakeholders;
• Develop strategic advice in support of the implementation of relevant decisions of the Policy-Making Organs;
• Provide support as Secretary to Boards and Working Groups as required;
• May be asked to supervise interns and/or junior level staff;
• Perform other duties as required.

Note:

• Any one staff member might be asked to lead on or contribute to any of the topics listed above, but no staff member will be expected to work on all the topics listed above;
• Depending on the experience and skills of each individual in the Office, lead responsibilities may be re-allocated in-year.
• All work requires close cooperation with all other divisions and most branches of the Technical Secretariat.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

Advanced university degree in a relevant field, e.g.: natural science or engineering, international relations/studies, security studies, disarmament/military, law, public policy or management, business administration. Other subjects may be accepted provided the majority of work experience is highly relevant to the post.

A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree; or other certified relevant training together with an extensive relevant technical background may be accepted in lieu of the relevant university degree.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:   

At least 7 years of professional experience in a relevant field, or at least 9 years with only a first level degree. The lack of a degree may be off-set with relevant specialised training and extensive relevant technical background in combination with a minimum of 13 years of qualifying experience

• Experience in developing policy guidelines and effectively communicating them to those who will implement;
• Experience in programme and project management and the use of project management methodologies;
• Experience in overseeing policies being implemented by others (sometimes more senior staff members) and effectively coaching/supporting such ‘implementers’;
• Some direct involvement in negotiations – either multilateral or bilateral, or both.

Desirable:

• Experience in disarmament, arms control and/or non-proliferation;
• Knowledge of international security affairs;
• Knowledge of chemical safety and security;
• Experience in multilateral affairs;
• Strategy or policy development experience in international organisations, government, or non-profit sector;
• Expert knowledge of policy or strategy analysis/review.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent strategic thinking skills;
• Excellent analytical skills (e.g. quickly identifying the essence of a complex issue) and ability to initiate and implement necessary action that is proportionate to the issue at hand;
• Innovative and creative, but with the ability to generate ideas that can be grounded in reality and implemented in practice;
• Excellent communication skills – both oral and written – and excellent stakeholder management skills, including strong ability to deliver results through others;
• Strong sense of initiative, including ability to plan, conduct and report on projects independently;
• Flexibility (working simultaneously on two or more topics and supporting other colleagues) and ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to work in teams and in multi-cultural environments;
• Computer literate (MS Office applications).

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 two 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 mandatory age of separation at the OPCW is 65 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 fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered. Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.

Fixed-term staff members participate in the OPCW Provident Fund. A monthly staff contribution is met with a doubled amount by the OPCW under the provisions for social security. As the OPCW is exploring membership of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), staff participation in the Provident Fund may be replaced by participation in the UNJSPF effective 1 January 2025.

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’.