Back Internship - Operations Centre

About Us

The OPCW internship programme is aimed at motivated students with an interest in gaining experience in international organisations. The programme normally provides work placements in the Technical Secretariat for a three to six month period. The objective of the internship is to provide you with first-hand experience in the day-to-day working environment of an international organisation. You will work with our international experts towards the OPCW mission to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons.

As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to our analytical work as well as the organisational policy of the OPCW.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Intern
• Remuneration
  540 Euros
• Closing Date
  01/07/2025

  Responsibilities

  Job Summary

  The Operations and Technology Support Branch (OTSB) provides key support to all INS operations and technology-related activities, drawing upon operational synergies with the OPCW ChemTech Centre.

  OTSB is responsible for coordinating all INS missions, providing operational, informational, administrative, technical and logistical support and ensuring timely and efficient procurement and maintenance of inspection equipment.

  OTSB also maintains close communication with inspection teams and States Parties before, during, and after the inspections. OTSB’s Situation Centre provides 24/7 support and maintains comprehensive operational control of missions to ensure secure and reliable communications through its Operations Centre.

  Through its InfoCell Unit, OTSB also analyses information and briefs OPCW leadership to facilitate the decision-making process and assist in crisis management.

  Main Responsibilities

  1) Purpose of Internship:

  The purpose of the internship is to offer a comprehensive learning experience in open-source research within an international organization. The intern will be involved in gathering, analyzing and synthesizing information from open-sources while contributing to organization's mandate and activities. The internship is designed to develop critical research and analytical skills while offering a broader understanding of the global context in which OPCW operates.

  2) Terms of Reference for the Internship:

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

• Monitoring, analysing, and reporting on time sensitive open-source information, including allegations of chemical weapons use, security threats to deployed OPCW missions, and developments in conflict areas of interest.
• Conducting open-source research and contributing to the preparation of various sections of Information
• Cell's routine reports (weekly + monthly), as well as ad hoc analytical products.
• Drafting a working paper on the CW capabilities of a state not party to the CWC.
• Monitoring open sources concerning fires, explosions and major accidents at industrial chemical facilities worldwide and drafting brief notes related on the subject.

  Qualifications and Experience

  Education

  Essential:

• Enrolled in and have completed at least one year of a degree programme in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or;
• in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher) or;
• have graduated from a university or a graduate school within a year prior to the commencement of the internship.
• Be a citizen of an OPCW Member State and fluent in both written and spoken English.

  Desirable:

• A university degree in international relations, security studies, or a closely related field is preferred.

  Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical skills and ability to analyse complex information, identify emerging trends, and extract insights that align with and support the OPCW's strategic objectives and operational priorities;
• Good knowledge of Outlook, Microsoft Office, MS Teams and SharePoint;
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within a diverse team, strong time management and organizational skills.

  LanguagesFluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

  Additional Information

  Acceptance for the programme shall not carry with it any expectation of employment with the OPCW. Interns may not apply for, or be appointed to, any posts or positions at the OPCW within six months of the internship agreement end date. The internship programme is run in accordance with the applicable internal rules and where applicable the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.

• Participants in the Internship Programme receive no financial remuneration from the OPCW for expenses that they incur in relation to the programme. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, etc. are the responsibility of the intern. The intern has to enter and exit the country in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures in The Netherlands.
• Participants will be asked to provide proof that they have sufficient financial means for living expenses for the period of their internship.
• Interns will work with the normal working pattern of the OPCW which will amount to no more than 40 hours a week.
• Participants who are citizens of non-EU countries should agree not to undertake other work in the Netherlands during their internship other than as an intern at the OPCW, notwithstanding whether such other work is compatible with the discharge of their functions with the OPCW.
  
  

  Only fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered.

  Only applicants under serious consideration 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