About Us
The OPCW’s mission is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to achieve our vision of a world free of chemical weapons in which chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity, and to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament, and global economic development.
The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
General Information
Responsibilities
Job Summary
Information Services Branch (ISB) is an organisational unit within the Division of Administration, responsible for bringing efficiency and effectiveness to how information is managed and distributed. Its role is to support the OPCW by leveraging information technology to enable the Organisation to successfully fulfil its mission.
The purpose of the Information Services Branch (ISB) is provide the Technical Secretariat with modern, secure IT systems and infrastructure that enable it to support the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention seamlessly and collaboratively. ISB deliver secure, modern systems and agile IT infrastructure that empowers the Technical Secretariat to achieve its mission.
ISB objectives:
Deliver reliable systems and infrastructure by operating and supporting information and communication technologies in line with internationally recognised standards for security, quality, and performance;
Drive value through modernisation by managing current IT systems while introducing new initiatives that strengthen OPCW’s core operational and administrative functions;
Enhance organisational capability by enabling OPCW staff and stakeholders to securely use digital tools to communicate, manage information, analyse data, and conduct business in support of the Organisation’s mission;
Strengthen the Organisation’s IT governance and alignment by coordinating across divisional technology units, providing subject-matter expertise, and ensuring that technology investments are prioritised and executed in line with the organisational IT Strategy;
Advance strategic priorities by focusing on security, resilience, agility, and innovation (including responsible use of emerging technologies such as AI) as mutually reinforcing themes that expand the Organisation’s capacity to deliver.
Main Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director of Administration, the Head, Information Services Branch (ISB) will be responsible for the following:
1. Shape and implement IT strategy: Formulates and drives the OPCW ICT strategy within the IT Governance framework, ensuring alignment with organisational outcomes and strategic priorities. Leads the introduction of new technologies, the retirement of legacy systems, and the adoption of secure, modern, and efficient solutions.
2. Advise and guide senior leadership: Provides policy and strategic advice to senior management on the role, potential, and responsible use of ICT—including AI and emerging technologies—in supporting the Organisation’s mission and operational effectiveness.
3. Lead ISB operations and resources:
a. Workplan: Prepares, monitors, and adapts the ISB annual work plan in response to evolving needs, ensuring delivery against organisational priorities while managing risk and strengthening resilience.
b. Budget: Defines and manages ISB’s financial requirements; oversees budget planning, allocation, and execution in line with Results-Based Budgeting principles.
c. People: Leads and motivates ISB staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth, while maintaining flexibility through effective use of contract and partner resources.
4. Ensure effective governance and compliance: Assumes accountability for the consistent application of ICT governance processes, standards, and methodologies across federated ICT teams. Oversees technology projects, procurement, and vendor partnerships to ensure value, security, and alignment with the organisational IT Strategy.
5. Oversee service and project delivery: Directs and supports the delivery of secure, resilient, and user-focused ICT services. Provides technical expertise and leadership for major projects, ensuring adoption of best practices such as portfolio management, DevOps, cloud-first, and AI-driven platforms.
6. Strengthen resilience and continuity: Embeds business continuity and disaster recovery planning into all ISB operations. Conducts regular risk assessments, exercises, and incident response rehearsals to safeguard the Organisation’s mission-critical functions.
7. Represent and advocate for OPCW: Represents the Organisation in internal and external forums, fostering collaboration with peer organisations, international bodies, and industry partners. Promotes the adoption of shared standards, responsible technology use, and inter-agency cooperation to enhance OPCW’s resilience and influence.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
- Advanced University Degree in computer sciences, business administration, mathematics, engineering or related field relevant to the work;
- A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 12 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
Desirable Certification:
- Relevant training/certification on current Information technology, methodologies and/or artificial intelligence;
- Prince2 Practitioner.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential:
- At least 10 years of relevant and progressively responsible and combined experience in managing projects related to software development and system integration technologies, information management, technical support, project management, IT security, database design, business intelligence, risk management and knowledge management;
- Extensive experience in managing and integrating business applications, ERP enhancement, including but not limited to: Project management, Organisational change processes and staff communications, business process re-design, training and business user adoption strategies. Ideally, this would include experience working with Unit4 Business World;
- At least 7 years of professional people management experience in an international environment, managing multiple technology teams through line managers or running multi-site ICT functions. Ideally, this will also include third-party delivery teams under contracted terms and demonstrable skills in managing the differences of internal and external technical teams;
- Experience working as a part of senior management and/or advising senior management on issues related to information technology;
- Experience in an international setting involving several nationalities amongst team members.
Desirable:
- Professional experience working within a classified data security regime would be an asset;
- Experience working in an International Organization would be an asset.
Skills and Competencies
Key competencies:
- Professionalism
- Planning and Organising
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Client Orientation
- Technological Awareness
- Commercial Acumen.
Managerial competencies:
- Managing Performance
- Leadership
- Influencing
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.
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
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’.