Policy and Co-ordination Officer

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to 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 Transnational Threats Department (TNT Department) was created in the OSCE Secretariat pursuant to Ministerial Council Decision MC.DEC/9/11, with a view to ensuring better co-ordination, strengthened coherence of action and more efficient use of the OSCE¿s resources in addressing transnational threats. It supports the Secretary General in his function as focal point for Organization-wide programmatic activities that relate to countering transnational threats, and in ensuring co-ordination and coherence of action of such activities. The TNT Department comprises the Co-ordination Cell, the Strategic Police Matters Unit, the Action Against Terrorism Unit and the Borders Unit.

Under the supervision of the Director/Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats (D/TNT), the Policy and Co-ordination Officer will assist the Director/Co-ordinator in discharging his/her responsibilities in leading the work of the TNT Department, including with regard to the effective implementation of its work programme, and in supporting the Secretary General as a focal point for the co-ordination of TNT-related activities throughout the Organization. More specifically, the responsibilities of the incumbent will include:

• Preparing initial drafts of TNT policy papers, speeches and other documents as instructed by the TNT Director/Co-ordinator; compiling, revising and editing inputs from the TNT Units and submitting them for clearance by the TNT Co-ordinator;
• Assisting the TNT Director/Co-ordinator in the  co-ordination and daily prioritization and management of TNT tasks, being primarily responsible for the Director/Co-ordinator¿s own work plan, priorities and follow-up;
• Facilitating the TNT Department¿s overall work plan, dealing directly with Unit Heads within the Department and in close co-ordination with other Departments, Secretariat units, Institutions and field operations, as well as in consultation with Delegations of participating and Partner States, as appropriate;
• Following ongoing work on TNT issues and ensuring that full responses are made on tasks within the requested timeframe, including through close co-ordination with other Departments in the Secretariat, while ensuring constant involvement of the Office of the Secretary General (OSG);
• Preparing co-ordination meetings on behalf of D/TNT, ensuring participation and active follow up;
• Accompanying D/TNT as required, and/or participating himself/herself on his/her behalf, in internal and external substantive meetings (including Permanent Council (PC), Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), Security Committee, Advisory Committee for Management and Finance (ACMF), Preparatory Committee, Task Force meetings) and writing the TNT minutes, performing post-session follow up actions on decisions adopted;
• Reviewing  incoming communications and documentation; identifying problems and issues to be addressed and proposing actions; drafting substantive responses for D/TNT¿s signature as necessary;
• Co-ordinating and preparing the departmental Unified Budget proposal based on a performance-based programme budgeting approach and following up on TNT-related issues raised in the ACMF;
• Performing other related duties as required.

• University degree in international relations, political science, business  administration, social sciences, law or related field;
• Minimum of six years practical experience at the professional level, including some experience of policy development and co-ordination, preferably in an international environment;
• Ability to draft policy texts and speeches in a timely manner;
• Ability to co-ordinate work between the different departments of a large organization, to maintain regular contacts with a variety of clients and to write accurate reports;
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and to handle a multitude of  diverse tasks in a deadline-driven environment;
• Analytical skills, ability to identify problems and propose solutions;
• Understanding of the principles of performance-based programme budgeting and ERP systems would be an asset;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent drafting skills; knowledge of other OSCE working languages would be an asset;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to work in a team and establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

This post is open for secondment only. Candidates are requested to apply through the OSCE desk of the respective Ministry for Foreign Affairs several days prior to deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of the application. Delayed nominations will not be considered.

The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization. The nomination of female candidates is particularly encouraged. The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation.