The OPCW’s Verification Division works towards achieving chemical disarmament and preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons through participation in the planning and oversight of inspections at both military and chemical industry facilities. The division also manages declarations while maintaining and strengthening the scientific capabilities of the Organisation, especially its laboratory component. The division also conducts Technical Assistance Visits at the request of States Parties.
The Division is responsible for the day-to-day operation of OPCW’s verification regime. It is a key element of the Secretariat, using trustworthy and science-based information to implement all aspects of the Convention including decisions from the Policy Making Organs.
Our Declaration Branch is seeking an experienced professional to lead our team responsible for verifying information. As the Head, you'll oversee the branch, ensuring that declarations submitted by States Parties are accurate, complete, and on time. Your role involves maintaining the integrity of submissions by assuring their accuracy and completeness, contributing significantly to the verification process.
As the Head, Declarations, you will execute the following duties:
1. Manages the Declarations Branch:
a) In consultation with the Director Verification, develops strategies to ensure that DEB delivers against its core tasks (above) and plans against future need effectively, efficiently and as economically as possible.
b) Ensures that such strategies are reflected in the objectives for each Section within DEB, with appropriate SOPs / WIs and KPIs identified in order to ensure delivery meets organisational requirements.
c) Manages, in co-ordination with the DEB Section Heads, the DEB budget in close coordination with the VER Senior Verification Coordination Officer.
d) Coaches DEB staff and evaluates their performance, including:
a. Development of individual work plans for assigned job holders to ensure the Branch delivers on its core objectives.
b. Periodical review of performance with assigned job holder directly managed by the H/DEB, to provide support, training and guidance to help the job holder develop their capabilities further.
2. Identifies long term strategies and manages associated risk in respect of DEB core functions, including:
a) the updating and development of specialist IT tools (including the Secure Information Exchange, the Secure Critical Network and the Verification Information System).
b) assistance and support to States Parties concerning the application of the CWC requirements concerning declarations, including on issues where practice varies among SPs (e.g. Schedule 2 data aggregation, the declaration of bio mediated production, the accounting for transfer of schedule chemicals etc.).
c) the archiving and availability of verification-related documents in line with OPCW confidentiality requirements.
3. Oversees the provision of accurate, up to date and timely reports and generates evaluated information and declaration-related inputs to reports, such as reports to the Policy Making Organs, the Verification Information Report, the Annual Report etc.
4. Organises and oversees the input/output of information for the Secure Critical Network, including overseeing access for users to the Secure Critical Network and the Enterprise Content Management system, and liaison with other Secretariat business units who require access to confidential information.
5. Ensures a 24-hour response to any requirement from the Management in relation to Declarations and for the preparation of a Challenge Inspection.
6. Takes on other tasks as may be required by Director VER, including functioning as Acting Director VER when required, and collaborating with other Branches and business units.
Essential: Advanced university degree in a subject matter of relevance to the job; this might be in a scientific field, or in information systems management or programme management from an accredited college or university; a first level university degree in a relevant subject in a technical field in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 12 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Desirable: An additional degree or other recognised qualification in information management would be an asset.
Essential: Over 10 years' experience preferably in a field related to the Convention on Chemical Weapons, for instance in international relations including arms control, a State Party National Authority or other relevant government department, the chemical process industry or the control of international trade in scheduled chemicals, in jobs that require the following activities:
a) Preparing strategies, formulating policies and negotiating agreements.
b) Managing multidisciplinary teams.
c) Planning and executing implementation of strategies.
Desirable: Previous working experience in the preparation of national declarations under the CWC or other similar international treaties (e.g. IAEA); in information management and r data analytics; working in international environments and with multi-cultural teams; and knowledge of the CWC requirements including those set out in the CWC Verification Annex, and their practical application.
In order to succeed in this role, you have to have the following competencies:
· Managing teams for delivery and for the development of team members; creating an enabling work environment;
· Experience in the evaluation of work programmes and projects and the management of budgets in order to achieve desired goals;
· Strategic thinking and strong analytical skills;
· Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills.
Additional competencies (desirable):
· Political awareness;
· Tact, discretion, and the ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment.
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 two 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.
Fixed-term staff members participate in the OPCW Provident Fund. A monthly staff contribution is met with a doubled amount by the OPCW under the provisions for social security. As the OPCW is exploring membership of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), staff participation in the Provident Fund may be replaced by participation in the UNJSPF effective 1 January 2025.
Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged..
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’.