Policy Support Officer, Eastern Europe Desk

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are reminded that all costs in relation to appointment 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 Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) supports the OSCE's activities in the field and is the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCE's role in the politico-military dimension.

The Policy Support Service (PSS) serves as the Organization¿s primary point of contact on all matters concerning field operations; it monitors the implementation of the mandates of the individual field operations and advises the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairmanship on related policy issues. It also analyses early-warning signals regarding the situation in the field and recommends the implementation of relevant preventive or reactive action. Support provided to the SG and the Chairmanship includes background information, policy support and advice, draft decisions, draft statements and summary records. PSS facilitates the co-ordination of programmes and activities among field operations and with those of OSCE specialized units within the Secretariat and institutions and assists field operations in the Performance Based Programme Budgeting (PBPB) process..

The PSS is composed of four regional desks covering Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The incumbent will be a member of the Eastern Europe Desk. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Policy Support Officer and the general guidance of the Deputy Director for Policy Support Service, he/she will be tasked with:

• Monitoring the implementation of the mandates assigned to the OSCE field operations in the Eastern Europe region;
• Monitoring and analysing developments in the region;
• Following-up on action to ensure timely flow of information among the field operations, the Chairperson-in-Office, the Delegations and the Secretariat;
• Taking an active part in performance-based programme budgeting process for the assigned field operations including interacting with the delegations of the Advisory Committee on Management and Finance (ACMF), other relevant committees, the Preparatory Committee and the Permanent Council;
• Contributing to research on selected political topics related to implementation of the mandates of assigned field operations, drafting background papers and reports, compiling briefing material;
• Attending meetings and writing summaries, notes and reports for internal distribution;
• Preparing visits of the Chairmanship and senior OSCE officials to the field operation area; accompanying high-level visits to the region, upon request, and drafting reports on these visits;
• Preparing in-house briefings, publications and other material;
• In co-operation with the Programming and Evaluation Support Unit, reviewing extra-budgetary projects from field operations to ensure that these are in line with the relevant mandate;  proposing editorial changes and further action, as necessary;
• Performing other related duties such as participating in CPC-related events.

• University degree in political sciences, public or international law, international relations or another related field;
• Minimum of six years of professional experience in government, national administration or other relevant professional field;
• Work in diplomatic service and/or international organisations would be an asset;
• Professional fluency in English including excellent drafting skills; knowledge of another OSCE working language, and/or working knowledge of one of the languages spoken in the region would be an asset;
• Excellent communication skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgement and team spirit;
• Computer literacy;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Proven interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.