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.
The Secretariat for the Policy-Making Organs (PMO) ensures effective support of the work of the Conference of the States Parties (CSP), the Executive Council (EC), and their subsidiary bodies. It assists the functioning of the policy-making organs through providing logistical services for formal and informal meetings, preparation of official documentation, and providing language services and maintenance of archives and databases.
The Director, Secretariat for the Policy-Making Organs provides strategic coordination of the Secretariat service functions supporting the Policy-Making Organs in the planning, coordination and delivery of the CSP, EC, and Subsidiary Body meetings, consultations and sessions.
Responsibilities:
1) Strategic Leadership and Senior Advisory Role:
2) Executive Support to the Policy-Making Organs and their Subsidiary Bodies:
Lead and oversee the organisation, coordination, and delivery of effective Secretariat support to the sessions and meetings of the PMO and their subsidiary bodies in accordance with the Organisation’s legal framework, rules of procedure, and established practices;Determine the planning, administration and logistics of the annual EC and CSP planning including the coordination with Host Country counterparts as well as with substantive divisions and offices to ensure timely submission and compliance with document guidelines and deadlines;Support the development of meeting agendas; prepare and circulate official documentation and necessary background information to assist operational and substantive decision-making for the CSP, the EC as well as the Subsidiary Bodies in all OPCW official languages, ensuring accurate terminology, translation and timely document processing and production;Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle and archiving of governing body documentation, including submission, editing, translation, issuance and archiving. Review and assess the draft decisions of the PMO ensuring accuracy, completeness and procedural correctness of documents submitted to governing bodies;Monitor and report on the implementation of CSP and EC decisions and provide regular updates to the Director-General;Ensure adequate support to subsidiary bodies of CSP and EC by coordinating with other Divisions provision of support staff and other resources.3) Management of the Division:
Provide overall leadership, direction and management of the PMO division including leading the formulation, planning and implementation of the programme and budget of the division in accordance with the priorities;Review and implement the language policy and tools of the Organisation;Oversee the preparation and implementation of internal PMO procedures;Manage performance, development and training of staff, including the Organisation’s translation and interpretation services and resources, ensuring high-quality multilingual support for meetings and official documentation.4) Senior Representation and Engagement:
Manage sensitive interactions with meeting participants, maintaining strict neutrality and professionalism;Facilitate consensus-building by ensuring clarity, procedural integrity and timely circulation of information;Represent the Director-General as required, in internal and external meetings, briefing and official engagements;Provide high-level representation at internal and external committees and networks;Perform other duties as required.
Essential:
Advanced University degree in a relevant discipline including in the area of international relations, law, political sciences or public administration, from an accredited college or university;A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (Minimum 17 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Essential:
Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible relevant working experience in an international and multicultural context, or diplomatic positions. 10 years should be in a senior management or diplomatic posts working closely with States Parties and intergovernmental bodies while holding a wide range of management and organisational responsibility.Desirable:
Work experience in the UN Common System would be a strong asset, as would knowledge or experience working with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Member States.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.
This fixed-term appointment is for the duration of three 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
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’.