Senior Verification Coordination Officer P-4

COMPLETE OUTLINE

PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Support the Director of Verification in developing and implementing the Division’s activities and ensuring that major programme objectives are met:
   1. Coordinate the workflows of the branches so as to ensure  that the Division’s objectives are met within required timelines, and escalating issues to the Director where necessary.
   2. Ensure that the direction and activities of the branches are in line with the Division’s programme and the guidance of the Director, and encourage cross-Branch coherence and coordination of such activities.
   3. Provide support to the heads of branches on the implementation of the Director’s strategy.
   4. Draft presentations and other papers on the Division activities and represent the Division in meetings (eg annual presentations to newly accredited national representatives) as necessary.
2. Coordinate Branch Heads’ management of their budgets and overall coordination of the Division  budget:
   1. In close consultation with the Administration Division’s Budget and Finance Branch, act as the Divisional focal point for all budgetary and workforce issues
   2. Lead on the  preparation the Division’s biannual budget and programme of work, including by  consulting the Branch heads  in the division; review and update KPIs and liaise with other Divisions including the Inspectorate on cross-cutting budget issues.
   3. Monitor overall budget compliance by the Division and prepare reports, as required, to various executive bodies.
   4. Lead on the preparation of the Division’s biannual training plan and budget, and provide guidance to Branch heads as to training for their staff. Liaise with the OPCW Staff Development and Training Committee, including providing implementation reports.
3. Coordinate reporting on verification activities:   
   1. Manage the preparation of the annual Verification Implementation Report (VIR), and all VIR accompanying documents (Addendum to the VIR, Summary of EC Chair’s Informal Consultations on VIR, Summary of the VIR, and other if/when needed) including  themes, focus, structure and content; manage  the coordination and harmonization of the contributions to the VIR from other units.
   2. Check factual content of the VIR and its consistency with established policies and positions of the Secretariat with all the branches of the Verification Division and the Inspectorate Division as well as with the Legal Office and the Office of the Deputy Director-General; consult other OPCW business units and oversee the publication and presentation of the VIR to States Parties and its endorsement by the Executive Council; and manage the preparation and publication of the unclassified summary of the VIR
   3. Produce a monthly summary of verification activities by means of compiling the Verification Performance Indicators (VPI).
   4. Organise the preparation of the verification programme aspects of the Annual Report of the Organization.
   5. Coordinate the preparation of briefings on verification activities for the use by senior management.
   6. Coordinate the Division’s input to reports prepared by other Divisions including briefing for the Director-General in respect of senior visitors and meetings with States Parties.
   7. On behalf of the Division’s Director gives introduction on the Division to onboarding colleagues.
4. Coordinate cross-cutting activities within the Division:
   1. Coordinate and align the input from the Heads of Branches.
   2. Analyse issues and risks that may affect overall implementation of Division objectives and identify possible remedies; maintain the Division’s risk register.
   3. Act as the Division Business Continuity focal point.
   4. Oversee divisional knowledge management strategies and supervises division’s KM officer.
   5. Act as the division’s RBM focal point.
5. Assess and provide advice, as required, on the implementation of the verification regime, including any topic related to Articles III, IV, V and VI of the CWC:
   1. Propose measures for the optimization of the utilization of resources for verification and participate in their implementation and assessment.
   2. Draft papers to the Policy Making Organs on behalf of the Secretariat on issues related to the implementation of the verification regime of the Convention.
   3. Prepare documents for use during consultations amongst Member States on specific issues.
   4. Draft correspondence to Member States related to the implementation of the verification regime of the Convention in general terms and as related to specific cases.
   5. Provide assistance and supportto  the Director of Verification in implementing the recommendations of the PMO.
6. Supervise the work of the P-3 Officer of the Office of the Director of Verification(P3) in particular:
   1. Provide guidance / support to the Officer, and as necessary liaise with Branch Heads in order to ensure that their activities are aligned.
   2. Provide guidance / support to the Officer concerning IT projects and the Verification IT Activities Committee (VITA).

RECRUITING PROFILE: 

Education (Qualifications):

Essential:

1. Advanced university degree in a relevant field, e.g.: international relations/studies, disarmament/military, law, natural science or engineering (ideally chemistry), 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 (minimum 9 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
3. Equivalent or specialized training in combination with at least thirteen years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree.

Desirable: PRINCE2 or similar project management certification

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, or at least 13 years with equivalent or specialized training).
2. Expert knowledge of analysis/review – primarily related to international treaty obligations or technical (ideally chemical) industry.
3. Experience in effectively communicating and negotiating win-win outcomes to issues, and influencing others including those more senior
4. Experience in managing budgets, including forecasting, monitoring spend, and applying basic budget principles.
5. Experience in managing structured projects
6. Experience in coordinating with others (often more senior staff members), in communicating effectively, and in coordinating /supporting colleagues who lead on implementation.

Desirable:

1. Experience in disarmament, arms control and/or non-proliferation.
2. Knowledge of chemical disarmament and/or the chemical industry.
3. Experience in international organisations, government, or not-for-profit sector.
4. Experience in managing IT projects and in applying structured project management principles such as PRINCE2 or similar methodology.
5. Experience in line management.

Skills and Abilities (key competencies):

1. Excellent strategic awareness and political acumen.
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; ability to identify solutions and to deliver results including by working around obstacles and ensuring outputs are achieved on time Self-starting, ability to show initiative.
4. Excellent communication skills – both oral and written – and excellent stakeholder management skills, including strong ability to deliver results through others and to persuade those more senior. Ability to persuade, and to communicate key issues clearly.
5. Line management capability / willingness to develop the capability (direct experience is desirable but not essential).
6. Ability to  plan ahead and to identify risks and how  to mitigate them
7. Flexibility (working simultaneously on two or more topics and supporting colleagues in a matrix-style team) and ability to work under pressure.
8. Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to work in teams and in multi-cultural environments.
9. 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.