PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS
- Develop the Secretariat’s strategic planning, in consultation with all relevant units.
- Provide policy advice to the Director-General and senior management, and support the Secretariat’s Management Board in coordinating policy implementation – in particular on cross-cutting themes.
- Supports enhanced governance of the Organisation, including through support of policy formulation and implementation, in particular on cross-cutting topics.
- Assess and provide advice on strategic topics that relate to the implementation of the CWC.
- Coordinate key organisational reports, including the Annual Report, and contribute to the report on activities of the Executive Council.
- 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, including other international organisations and chemical industry.
- Provide advice and recommendations on capacity building activities across the Secretariat from a long-term planning perspective.
- Provide advice and recommendations on contingency operations and the verification regime (including both the chemical weapons and the industry dimensions) from a long-term planning perspective.
- Support the Organisation’s work on countering chemical terrorism, including through the Open-Ended Working Group on Terrorism.
- Develop strategic advice on chemical safety and chemical security in support of the implementation of relevant decisions of the Policy-Making Organs.
- Support the implementation of results-based management (RBM) principles and practices throughout the technical Secretariat.
- Support the Director OSP in programme budgeting and reporting.
- Support the Advisory Board on Education and Outreach (ABEO) as its Secretary in both administrative and substantial terms.
- May be asked to supervise interns and/or junior level staff.
- Perform other duties as required.
RECRUITING PROFILE:
Education (Qualifications):
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.
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.
- Expert knowledge of policy or strategy analysis/review;
- Experience in developing policy guidelines and effectively communicating them to those who will implement;
- 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;
- Experience in project or programme management and/or RBM.
Skills and Abilities (key 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).
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.
