About Us
The OPCW internship programme is aimed at motivated students with an interest in gaining experience in international organisations. The programme normally provides work placements in the Technical Secretariat for a three to six month period. The objective of the internship is to provide you with first-hand experience in the day-to-day working environment of an international organisation. You will work with our international experts towards the OPCW mission to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons.
As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to our analytical work as well as the organisational policy of the OPCW.
General Information
Responsibilities
Job Summary
The Office of the Legal Adviser (“LAO”) reports directly to the Office of the Director-General. The main responsibilities of the Office are:
- Implementation and interpretation of the CWC. To provide legal advice to the Director-General, units within the Technical Secretariat and the Policy-Making Organs on matters related to the interpretation of the CWC, the Rules of Procedure of the Policy-Making Organs and relevant decisions adopted by the Conference of the States Parties and/or the Executive Council.
- OPCW internal legislation. To provide legal advice to the Director-General and units within the Technical Secretariat regarding the interpretation of the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, the OPCW Financial Regulations and Rules, and administrative directives adopted thereunder.
- Personnel cases. To prepare the Organisation’s briefs in respect of appeals brought by staff members in cases before the Appeals Council or the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organisation (ILOAT).
- International Agreements. To provide legal advice to the Director-General and units within the Technical Secretariat in the negotiation, preparation, conclusion and interpretation of international agreements relating to verification activities (facility agreements), relationship agreements with other international organisations, privileges and immunities agreements with States Parties, the Headquarters Agreement, voluntary contribution agreements with donors, and any other enabling legal instruments.
- Procurement of goods and services. To provide advice within the Technical Secretariat with regard to OPCW’s commercial matters, including procurement of goods and services.
- Others. To support the Director-General and units within the Technical Secretariat on other matters, as required.
The expected start of Internship is on 1 May 2025
Main Responsibilities
Interns will be asked to conduct the following tasks:
- Prepare first drafts of memoranda and other communications, as requested, on a variety of legal issues arising from the CWC implementation;
- Research rules of public international law on matters related to the interpretation of the CWC;
- Prepare background notes on legal issues relating to individual States to guide senior officials of the OPCW in their bilateral discussions with the States;
- Provide support in preparation for meetings of States Parties and prepare records of such meetings;
- Research on administrative law matters, including the jurisprudence of the ILOAT, related to the implementation and interpretation of the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, the OPCW Financial Regulations and Rules, and other internal legislation.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
- Enrolled in and have completed at least one year of a law degree programme in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or; in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher) or;
- Have graduated in law from a university or a graduate school within a year prior to the commencement of the internship and;
- Be a citizen of an OPCW Member State.
Desirable:
- Graduated from an undergraduate degree in law (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) or have completed at least one (1) year of a postgraduate degree programme in law (e.g., Master of Laws or PhD).
Skills and Competencies
- Possess excellent research and analytical skills.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
- A good working knowledge of another OPCW official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.
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
Acceptance for the programme shall not carry with it any expectation of employment with the OPCW. Interns may not apply for, or be appointed to, any posts or positions at the OPCW within six months of the internship agreement end date. The internship programme is run in accordance with the applicable internal rules and where applicable the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.
- Participants in the Internship Programme receive no financial remuneration from the OPCW for expenses that they incur in relation to the programme. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, etc. are the responsibility of the intern. The intern has to enter and exit the country in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures in The Netherlands.
- Participants will be asked to provide proof that they have sufficient financial means for living expenses for the period of their internship.
- Interns will work with the normal working pattern of the OPCW which will amount to no more than 40 hours a week.
- Participants who are citizens of non-EU countries should agree not to undertake other work in the Netherlands during their internship other than as an intern at the OPCW, notwithstanding whether such other work is compatible with the discharge of their functions with the OPCW.
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.
According to article 8 paragraph 44 of the Chemical Weapons Convention the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
OPCW is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. OPCW recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
OPCW General Terms and Conditions
