The Inspectorate Division is responsible for the efficient and effective deployment of inspection teams to both military and commercial facilities around the world, as required by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The Division maintains readiness to conduct Challenge Inspections and Investigations of Alleged Use, and to deploy the Rapid Response and Assistance Mission (RRAM) to Member States, as needed, in the event of a chemical incident.
In your role as an inspector, you can support the vision of the organisation through your involvement in demilitarisation or chemical industry inspections, by carrying out verification of the destruction of existing chemical weapons, by preventing chemical weapons re-emergence, as well as by building readiness to respond to a chemical attack.
Inspections will take place at industrial or military facilities in any of the 193 states parties to the CWC and can last from few days to two weeks. During inspections, you will perform diverse tasks depending on your specialty and the training received at OCPW. This diversity of activities and training is a great opportunity for personal and professional growth.
In your role you will be responsible for:
To view the complete Job Descriptions of each Specialty, click below links:
Analytical Chemist
Chemical Production Technologist
Chemical Weapons/Munitions Specialist
Advanced Health and Safety Specialist
All candidates will have to undergo a special fitness test when recruited, including a three-phase employment physical test to ensure an adequate fitness level and heat tolerance in order to wear respirators, and Fully Encapsulated Protective Ensemble. Successful candidates will possibly be required to work in high-risk areas.
You should have a relevant advanced university degree or equivalent in combination with a min of 5 years qualifying experience. A First level University degree in combination with relevant qualifying experience (min 7 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
An advanced university degree or equivalent;
AC: in Analytical Chemistry or Chemistry, or Biochemistry, Bioanalytical, or relevant scientific discipline from a recognised institution.
CPT: in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry or Biochemistry, or relevant scientific discipline from a recognised institution.
CWMS: in a relevant STEM subject (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) such as Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or closely related field from a recognised institution with background in the field of chemical weapons, chemical defence or munitions.
For ammunition or first responder specialists, the lack of a degree may be off-set with other certified training (e.g. military, police HAZMAT response) together with an extensive technical background in the field of toxic chemicals, CWs and/or munitions, and a minimum of 11 years’ relevant experience.
HSS: Paramedical Sciences, CBRN or other closely related field from a recognised institution;
Required Certification (if applicable):
Current paramedic registration Current PHTLS certificationCurrent ALS (or ALCS) certification
AC: Min 5 years of related experience with an advanced degree or 7 years with a first level degree. Related experience could be in: Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) or Research and Development (R&D) operations in the (bio)chemical industry, (bio)chemical process scale-up, chemical process troubleshooting, working with (especially sample preparation or synthesis) with toxic or other high-hazard chemicals, forensic laboratory (especially related to security or law enforcement fields), research and development in either synthetic or analytical chemistry.
CPT: Min 5 years of relevant experience with an advanced degree or 7 years with a first level degree in chemical industry, such as: (bio)chemical process operations, plant design, (bio)chemical process development, process safety evaluations and/or related technical functions.
CWMS: Min 5 years of related experience with an advanced degree, 7 years with a first level degree or 11 years with relevant certified training in the fields of: toxic chemicals, CWs and/or munitions, Chem-EOD and HAZMAT-response, as well as investigative experience.
HSS: Min of 5 years of relevant experience with an advanced degree or 7 years with a first level degree or eleven years with an equivalent or specialized training such as a paramedic, professional nursing or health and safety technician. Only candidates with recent hands-on pre-hospital or remote clinical experience with current valid registration will be considered.
To succeed in this role you will need the following skills and competencies:
Effective communication (especially factually orientated)Proactive and goal-orientedAdaptabilityTeamworkGood computer skillsGood situational awarenessJudgment and decision makingDesirable:
Conflict management NegotiationTo view more details about skills and competencies, please refer to the complete job descriptions
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’.