Director, External Relations (D-2)

Principal Functions

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director-General and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the Director, External Relations performs the following duties:

1. Organises and supervises the research and analysis of political developments in Member States and non-Member States, and follow closely political developments and major events, and through analysis of this information, identify major trends in the area of international relations and their impact on disarmament, the goal of universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention in particular, and provide advice on external relations policy and action to the Organisation;
2. Provides guidance to, and supervises the planning and implementation of, programmes promoting universal adherence to and understanding of the Convention, including seminars and workshops, participation support projects, and other approaches for the purpose of generating interest in OPCW activities by those countries which have difficulties in sustained involvement in OPCW matters. Initiates, plan and conducts targeted bilateral visits both at political and working levels aiming at universal adherence to the Convention;
3. Manages the Organisation's contacts and explore and promote co-operation with the UN and its bodies and other international organisations and NGOs whose work is relevant to the aims and objectives of OPCW. Supervises, organises and co-ordinates the OPCW's participation at high-level international conferences, meetings and seminars with the aim of increasing the OPCW's level of visibility in the international forum and promoting CWC goals and objectives;
4. Supervises and provides guidance in developing and implementing the media strategies and programmes aimed at raising the international profile of the Organisation and increasing awareness of the Convention through such means as press conferences, public visits, OPCW publications, including periodic publications and audio-visual items, and information kits on the OPCW, CD ROMs and films or videos on the OPCW. Maintains and improves the OPCW website on Internet. Establishes good relationships with media sources and enhance media coverage of the OPCW/CWC and maintain an active data base of the public OPCW contacts and mailing addresses;
5. Supervises the implementation of the OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy established by Member States by arranging, co-ordinating on and exercising the right of approval for public relations engagements by OPCW staff. This includes all staff members' speaking engagements before the public or material to be published by them; and ensure that the Media Policy is implemented in accordance with the Confidentiality Policy throughout the Secretariat;
6. Supervises the work of the Cultural Committee;
7. Oversees the implementation of the Action Plan on Public Diplomacy;
8. Ensures that the Division is effective as the focal point for UN and its bodies and for other international organisations and NGOs, and for Member & non-Member States. Meet and conduct dialogues, consultations with senior members of these organisations and with representatives of governments, on behalf of the Organisation and the Director-General;
9. Oversees the implementation of the Headquarters Agreement with the Host Country, secure the privileges and immunities granted therein, co-ordinate the parties involved, and initiate solutions to any possible conflicts between or among those parties on behalf of OPCW. Ensures that all aspects of the Headquarters Agreement are adhered to by all parties. Provides support to the work of the Host Country Committee;
10. Provides guidance and supervises the preparation of speeches, lectures, presentations, background information packages, country reports and external correspondence. Support the Office of the Director-General and other senior staff members of the Organisation. Provide political and diplomatic support to the Organisation and also to Member States in preparations for the activities of the policy making organs (Conference of States Parties and Executive Council and their subsidiary bodies) through the conducting of periodic briefings, including the Secretariat Brief, which is an informal summary records of the activities of various formal meetings of the Organisation;
11. Supervises and manages   protocol services to the Director-General for both external visits and meetings with high ranking officials of governments and other organisations; and plan and organise visits to the OPCW by high level officials, including heads of states and governments and other senior dignitaries. Plan and implement major events;
12. Monitors and implements the Division's programme and budget and make sure that the programme as implemented is consistent with the budget;
13. Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge and Experience

Education

Essential

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in International Relations, Public Science, International Law, Business Administration or a related field is required.
A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

Essential

A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of diplomacy and external relations, a substantial part of which should be at the senior level in the private, public or diplomatic sector or in international organisations.

Desirable 

Experience in multilateral negotiations and conferences and in dealing with the public and in handling and supervising protocol functions would be an asset.

Skills and Abilities (key competencies)

1. Extensive knowledge of the Chemical Weapons Convention;
2. Profound knowledge of international security/multilateral disarmament issues;
3. Effective leadership skills and ability to take responsibility of key organisational issues, including ability to think strategically and achieve results which are aligned with the larger picture of the organisation and its strategic goals;
4. Demonstrated understanding and exhibited behaviour of Knowledge Management leadership principles;
5. Well-developed diplomatic and policy skills, good judgement, and ability to communicate effectively both in writing and orally;
6. Emotional intelligence, ability to work well in a fast-paced, iterative environment, open to changes in focus and direction;
7. Ability to quickly establish rapport with different personalities and build and refine trusting and open partnerships with leaders and people across a diverse organisation;
8. Proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment with people of different cultural and national backgrounds, including ability to effectively supervise, mentor, train, develop and evaluate staff;
9. Excellent and proven planning, organisation, coordination, negotiation and problem-solving skills;
10. Strong analytical and conceptual skills in analysing and interpreting operational and political issues, formulating options, and proposing and implementing solutions;
11. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to apply tact and accuracy and to present information clearly and logically both in writing and verbally;
12. Ability to  coordinate the work of others, work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent conflicting activities assuring required results are achieved;
13. Proven ability to generate a strategic plan that integrates numerous organisational issues, functions and resources for effective action;
14. Ability to create partnerships and collaborative endeavours within the division or between divisions.

Language Requirements

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.