Senior Policy Officer (P-4)

Principal Functions

Under the general direction of the Director, Strategy and Policy and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the Diversity and Inclusion Officer performs the following duties;

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support programme management and coordination of the Organisation’s activities;
2. Support the implementation of results-based management (RBM) principles throughout the Technical Secretariat;
3. 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;
4. Assess and provide advice on strategic topics that relate to the implementation of the CWC;
5. Coordinate organisational reports as required;
6. Coordinate internal and external meetings and keep records of those;
7. 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;
8. Facilitate enhanced engagement with relevant external stakeholders;
9. Develop strategic advice in support of the implementation of relevant decisions of the Policy-Making Organs;
10. Provide support as Secretary to Boards and Working Groups as required;
11. May be asked to supervise interns and/or junior level staff;
12. Perform other duties as required.

Note:

1. 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;
2. Depending on the experience and skills of each individual in the Office, lead responsibilities may be re-allocated in-year.
3. All work requires close cooperation with all other divisions and most branches of the Technical Secretariat.

Knowledge and Experience

Education

Essential

1. 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.
2. 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.

Experience

Essential

1. 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;
2. Experience in developing policy guidelines and effectively communicating them to those who will implement;
3. Experience in programme and project management and the use of project management methodologies;
4. Experience in overseeing policies being implemented by others (sometimes more senior staff members) and effectively coaching/supporting such ‘implementers’;
5. Some direct involvement in negotiations – either multilateral or bilateral, or both.

Desirable

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

Skills and Abilities (key competencies):

1. Excellent strategic thinking skills;
2. 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;
3. Innovative and creative, but with the ability to generate ideas that can be grounded in reality and implemented in practice;
4. Excellent communication skills – both oral and written – and excellent stakeholder management skills, including strong ability to deliver results through others ;
5. Strong sense of initiative, including ability to plan, conduct and report on projects independently;
6. Flexibility (working simultaneously on two or more topics and supporting other colleagues) and ability to work under pressure;
7. Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to work in teams and in multi-cultural environments;
8. Computer literate (MS Office applications).

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is essential. A good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.