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.
The mission of the OPCW is to have world free of chemical weapons and to use chemistry for peace, progress, and prosperity. Would you like to be one of professional team members, who works toward world free of chemical weapons? Then you should apply for the vacating post of Senior Industry Officer.
OPCW is looking for a dedicated professional with a background in chemical engineering, experience in multiple types of chemical operations and chemical technologies, capable to process safety activities as well as employ experience working in a toxic environment.
What is more, the incumbent of this post will be responsible to go through the entire stages of assigned inspections by: evaluating the declared information, providing supervision and assessment, monitoring the on-site progress, guiding and advising the production of Final Inspection Reports (FIRs) by the Inspection Teams (ITs) within the provisions of the OPCW Confidentiality Regime and the timelines of the Convention.
The individual will need strong communication skills, analytical and conceptual skills. To be able to work under strict confidentiality regime. The ideal candidate can flourish within a multi-cultural environment, should show integrity, and demonstrate professional competences.
Working under the direct supervision of the Head, Industry Verification Branch, the Senior Industry Officers will have the following responsibilities, and one or more in a back-up capacity, as indicated in sections 3.2 and 3.3.
3.1 Executes short-term planning of allocated inspections under Article VI (Activities not Prohibited) of the Convention, supervises their execution and facilitates the production of Final Inspection Reports (FIRs) by the Inspection Teams (ITs) in accordance with the provisions of the OPCW Confidentiality Regime and the timelines of the Convention.
3.2 Support other Verification Branches as required.
3.3 Supports Management of the Branch, the Division and the Secretariat.
3.4 Supports the work of the Policy Making Organs (PMOs) of the OPCW.
3.5 Represents the Secretariat in contacts with outside organisations and provides inputs to Secretariat training programs.
3.6 International Duty Travel to be undertaken as per the requirement of the assignment.
3.7 Performs other duties as required.
To view the complete job, outline please click here.
Education (Qualifications):
Essential:
An advanced university degree in the fields of chemical engineering and/or organic chemistry, or a closely related field. A relevant first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum nine years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Equivalent or specialized training in combination with at least thirteen years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree.
Desirable:
Qualifications in both chemical engineering and organic chemistry would be an asset. An additional degree in business or management (MBA) would be an asset.
Experience:
Essential:
• A minimum of 7 years relevant experience with operations in the chemical industry with advanced degree, 9 years relevant experience with first level degree, 13 years relevant experience with equivalent or specialized training. The experience should involve:
• industrial chemistry support for product development or chemical production; or
• conduct of plant operations; or
• chemical process design/development/optimisation; or
• process safety activities, including quantitative risk assessment, hazard and operability studies, auditing, etc.; or
• R&D chemical development or R&D chemical process design in agrochemicals or pharmaceuticals; or
• plant design or scale-up.
• Experience in multiple types of chemical operations
• Experience with multiple chemical technologies.
• Expertise in the use of MS Office packages (databases, spreadsheet, and word processing).
• Experience working in a toxic environment while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Desirable:
Preferably hands-on, practical in-plant experience, International experience; experience receiving or otherwise supporting Article VI inspections under the CWC.
Skills and Abilities (key competencies):
Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) including the ability to prepare reports.
Strong analytical and conceptual skills.
Tact, discretion, and the ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment.
Demonstrable ability to work with the confines of a strict confidentiality regime.
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’.