Head of the Office of Political Affairs and Communications

Alert

You can not apply to this vacancy anymore.
Sorry, the application deadline for this vacancy has expired.

Check the list of current vacancies

Our field operations, institutions and units are constantly looking for talented profiles.

See our current vacancies
OSCE job notifications

Subscribe to our vacancy alerts and get notifications in your email box.

Subscribe to job notifications
Learn more about our work

From fixed term contracts to internships and a Junior Professional Officer programme, find out what fits you best.
More information

Archived vacancy details

The following information is provided for archival purpose only.

Issued by: OSCE Mission in Kosovo
Vacancy number: VNKOSP02072
Vacancy type: International Contracted
Field of expertise: Political Affairs
Grade: P4
Number of posts: 1
Duty station: Prishtine / Pristina
Date of issue: 23 July 2018
Deadline for application: 30 August 2018 - 23:59 Central European Time (CET/CEST)
Date of entry on duty: 15 October 2018

Background

		OSCE missions and field activities are the front line of OSCE work in countries that require assistance and are the agent through which political decisions are translated into action. Each mission has a different mandate, but generally work addresses early warning, preventive diplomacy, conflict management and post-conflict rehabilitation. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK) promotes human rights, good governance and the safety of all people living in Kosovo by monitoring and supporting the work of local institutions. The Mission, established in 1999, is among the largest OSCE field operations. The OSCE Gender Action Plan is committed to increasing the number of female staff in all areas of the OSCE’s work. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this management opportunity.

Tasks and Responsibilities

		Under the supervision of the Head of Mission (HoM), the incumbent will be performing the following functions: Managing the tasks and team of the Office of Political affairs in its three key components: political affairs, media and public relations and co-ordination of field reporting, through the conduct of the following duties: Political Affairs: 1. Informing the Head of Mission (HOM), Deputy HOM, and senior management, on key political developments and advising on policies and major issues affecting the implementation of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo mandate under Permanent Council Decisions; 2. Supervising and managing all aspects of the Office’s political function, including clearance, external reporting, political and policy analysis, compilation, drafting or clearance of speeches and talking points, and reviewing and contributing to the drafting of Mission strategies, concepts and approaches to meet new challenges; 3. Managing the implementation of specific tasks coming from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and acts as the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Early Warning Focal Point. Liaising with the political offices of other international missions in Kosovo and with government and community representatives, at appropriate level. Media Relations and Communications: 4. Acting as the Principal Advisor to the HOM and senior management on the Mission’s communications and relations with media; Acting as the principal Mission Spokesperson; 5. Preparing, co-ordinating and supervising the drafting and clearance of press lines, talking points, press releases and speeches on key topics to be used by Mission’s senior management and staff; Developsing communication policies and strategies for the Mission, aimed at increasing public understanding of the work of OSCE and generating maximum coverage of Mission activities in local, regional, and international media; 6. Maintaining contacts with local, regional, and international journalists and editors to ensure fair coverage of OSCE activities and developments, as well as liaising with media offices of other international organizations and the diplomatic corps; Maintaining co-operation and co-ordination with the OSCE Spokesperson and the Communications Office at the OSCE Secretariat and managing tasks originating there; 7. Supervising and co-ordinating media events in key regional locations to present OSCE activities to the media and general public; Participating in the design and supervising the implementation of the Mission’s programmatic public campaigns. Co-ordination of Field Reporting: 8. Advising, supervising, and co-ordinating the work of the Mission’s Field Reporting Officers to ensure timely, accurate, balanced and professional reporting from the Mission’s regional centres. 9. Performs related duties as required. For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, please see: http://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo

Necessary Qualifications

		Second-level university degree in political studies, international relations, journalism/public information; A minimum of 8 years of relevant, diversified and progressively responsible professional experience, including at least 5 years at a managerial level relevant to the position preferably in the region and/or in field missions; Demonstrated analytical and drafting ability; Experience in the OSCE and/or related international organisation(s) would be a considerable asset; Familiarity with Kosovo’s political environment, and knowledge of the broader region; Familiarity with OMiK’s mandate and programmatic priorities; Demonstrated commitment to OSCE values, including gender mainstreaming and respect for diversity; Contacts among the government, international organizations, and media in OMIK’s area of responsibility or in the region would be an asset; Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications; Professional fluency in English language including written and oral communication skills; Knowledge of local languages (Albanian, Serbian, etc.) is an asset; Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities; Ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds while maintaining impartiality and objectivity; Possession of a valid driving license.

Required competencies

		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

Remuneration Package

		Monthly remuneration subject to social security deductions is about US$ 5,944 to which Board and Lodging Allowance (currently EUR 109 per day subject to change without prior notice) is added. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Appointments are made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

How To Apply

		If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://jobs.osce.org/employment. The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise 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 shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see http://www.osce.org/states. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages 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 7 years. Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.