Back Operational Support Officer (S)

Background:

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The CPC supports and co-ordinates the OSCE’s activities in the field, providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairpersonship, leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and supporting the various formats dealing with protracted conflicts. The CPC also serves as the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCE’s role in the politico-military dimension.

The post is located in the Planning and Analysis Team (PAT) within the OSCE Secretariat’s Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC)/Operations Service (OS). Within the CPC, the Operations Service covers a broad variety of tasks, such as operational planning for the set-up, restructuring, and closure of field operations; analysis in the fields of early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution, post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding and issues that cut across the conflict cycle; the identification of lessons and best practices; operational liaison with other international organizations; and maintaining a 24/7 Situation/Communications Room.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Operational Support Officer will support in providing operational and methodological guidance on conflict cycle issues. This will include the development of concepts and plans to operationalize the various phases of the conflict cycle and acting as the OS focal point for co-ordinating the OSCE-wide Network of Early Warning Focal Points. She/he will work to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of OSCE conflict cycle tools, developing with other relevant staff in-depth analyses of geo-political developments/trends and recommend appropriate responses thereto.

Working with moderate autonomy, the Operational Support Officer’s main responsibilities lie in providing analytical and operational support to Secretariat senior management and the Chairpersonship in the fields of early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding, cross-cutting issues, confidence-building measures and other OSCE tools, mechanisms and procedures. Additionally, he/she will collect and analyse OSCE lessons by conducting end-of-assignment debriefings for senior OSCE officials and the Chairpersonship, and by preparing lessons learned/best practice reports. She/he will also support the Chairpersonship in the organization of and follow up to the Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC).

The Operational Support Officer works under the direct supervision of the Senior Operational Adviser and under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre for Operations Service.

Specifically, the Operational Support Officer will be tasked with the following:

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. If your participating State does not provide the option to apply online for seconded positions, you are kindly requested to submit your offline application form available at https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form to the respective OSCE delegation whose address can be found at https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post is 10 years.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please apply to your relevant authorities well in advance of the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. The OSCE can only process Secondment applications that have been nominated by participating States. For queries relating to your application, please refer to the respective delegation as listed here: https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.

Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Additional Information