| Background |
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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, 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 Chairmanship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.
As part of the Office of the Secretary General (OSG), the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) provides authoritative legal advice and assistance on a wide range of issues to the Secretary General and the Secretariat’s Departments, the Chairmanship, the Institutions and Field Operations and, as required, to the Delegations.
The OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality is committed to increasing the number of female staff in all areas of the OSCE’s work. Women are currently underrepresented in senior management categories and therefore female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply for this senior management opportunity.
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| Tasks and Responsibilities |
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Under the administrative supervision of the Director of the OSG, the selected candidate will provide authoritative legal advice to the Secretary General on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity. More specifically, she/he will be performing the following duties:
- Managing the staff of the OLA; overseeing the preparation, management and reporting of the annual programme budget; co-ordinating, planning and overseeing the deliverables and outputs of the Section in a timely and effective manner;
- Providing expert legal advice on multi-disciplinary, highly complex, and often sensitive legal matters, involving issues relating to international, public, private and administrative law and the OSCE Common Regulatory Management System (CRMS), including the interpretation and application of applicable instruments, including those related to administration and management, institutional support, procurement and contracts, project proposals, donor agreements and other operational modalities;
- Providing legal advice on the interpretation and application of internal regulatory documents such as of staff and/or financial regulations and rules and other administrative issuances; reviewing, providing legal advice on and clearing draft amendments to the staff/financial regulations and rules, subsidiary instructions and administrative issuances or amendments, verifying their consistency with the CRMS; providing legal advice on analyses and evaluations of human resources policies and practices;
- Providing legal advice on and supporting the pursuit of investigations and disciplinary cases;
- Providing legal advice and supporting the negotiation and settlement or, where necessary, the adjudication or arbitration of claims and disputes arising from operational activities of the Organization, private third party or commercial claims and disputes arising from OSCE contracts as well as appeals before internal bodies or the external OSCE Panel of Adjudicators;
- Providing legal advisory services to the Secretary General, Heads and Deputy Heads of executive structures, the OSCE Chairmanship and participating States on questions relating to the legal status of the Organization and its officials, in particular the privileges and immunities applicable to the different executive structures or operational issues related thereto;
- Performing other tasks as required, such as chairing meetings and roundtables on legal issues; representing the Secretariat at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences on topics related to law; effectively co-ordinating legal advice throughout the OSCE executive structures; maintaining liaison with counterparts on legal matters in other international bodies and organizations and representing OLA in various statutory, ad-hoc, inter-departmental committees, working groups and task forces.
For more information about the work of the OSCE, please see www.osce.org/secretariat
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| Necessary Qualifications |
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- Second-level university degree in law with a post-graduate degree in public/international law; a first-level university degree in combination with at least 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a second-level university degree;
- A minimum of 10 years of directly related and progressively responsible professional experience, including at least 8 years in administrative legal service in an international organization or a national administration;
- Extensive knowledge of the administration of international organizations, including the staff administrative regulations;
- Demonstrated ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities and to set priorities;
- Demonstrated managerial and leadership experience; ability to ensure effective and cohesive team performance with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, different gender and diverse political views;
- Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
- Professional fluency in English, including excellent written and oral communication skills in English, including excellent drafting skills and an ability to produce concise reports and opinions;
- Computer literate with practical knowledge of word processing and related Microsoft applications.
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| Required competencies |
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Core values
- Commitment: Actively contributes to achieving organizational goals
- Diversity: Respects others and values their diverse perspectives and contributions
- Integrity: Acts in a manner consistent with the Organization’s core values and organizational principles
- Accountability: Takes responsibility for own action and delegated work
Core competencies
- Communication: Actively works to achieve clear and transparent communication with colleagues and with stakeholders of the Organization
- Collaboration: Works effectively with others on common goals and fosters a positive, trust-based working environment
- Planning: Works towards the achievement of goals in a structured and measured manner
- Analysis and decision-making: Analyses available information, draws well-founded conclusions and takes appropriate decisions
- Initiative-taking: Proposes and initiates new ideas, activities and projects
- Flexibility: Responds positively and effectively to changing circumstances
Managerial competencies (for positions with managerial responsibilities)
- Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, builds trust and creates an enabling environment
- Strategic thinking: Identifies goals that advance the organizational agenda and develops plans for achieving them
- Managing performance: Helps to maximize team performance by providing active feedback and skill development opportunities
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| Remuneration Package |
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Monthly remuneration is approximately EUR 9,195 depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.
Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.
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| How To Apply |
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If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://jobs.osce.org/vacancies.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.
Only those applicants who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.
Recruitment shall be based on a transparent process, subject to open competition among nationals of participating States and without regard to gender, race, colour, religion and beliefs nor to ethnic or social origin or to nationality.
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.
The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 5 years.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
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