About Us
The OPCW’s mission is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to achieve our vision of a world free of chemical weapons in which chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity, and to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament, and global economic development.
The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
General Information
Responsibilities
Job Summary
The Public Affairs Branch (PAB) is a part of the External Relations Division (ERD).
The External Relations Division (ERD) advises the Director-General on external relations policies; promotes universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC); and liaises with governments, international organisations, the media, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The division manages relations with OPCW’s host country – the Netherlands – and provides support regarding engagement with States Parties, partners, the public, and other identified stakeholders, such as scientists, civil society, academia, and industry.
The results-focused mission of the Public Affairs Branch (PAB) is to present the face, amplify the voice, extend the reach and raise the profile of the OPCW with the aim of conveying the on-going relevance of the Organisation and the global endeavour for a world permanently free of chemical weapons.
Digital Communications Officer is primarily responsible for developing, managing and implementing the strategic direction of the OPCW’s digital communications activities.
This post will be available by August 2025.
Main Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Public Information Officer (P3), the incumbent shall perform the following duties:
Develop, manage and implement the strategic framework for OPCW’s digital communications activities, including social media and website content.
Social media
- Designing and implementing a social media strategy reflecting the communication priorities of the Organisation;
- Creating engaging and brand-consistent content for all OPCW social media platforms, including copy and visuals;
- Crafting social media campaigns for flagship OPCW projects;
- Continuously improving OPCW social media presence by capturing and analysing the appropriate social media data and metrics, insights and best practices;
- Collaborating with other departments to identifying priority topics, opportunities and major events or developments that require social media coverage and engagement;
- Elaborating and updating OPCW’s social media policies, standards and guidelines;
- Maintaining the OPCW editorial calendar.
Website
- Draft content for the OPCW website, including press releases, news items and evergreen content;
- Support the Public Information Officer in editing and copy-editing public information content and outreach material;
- Design and develop new pages for the OPCW website;
- Publish content on the OPCW website;
- Serve as a point of contact within PAB for any updates to be made to the OPCW website;
- Conduct regular research on emerging digital trends and suggest opportunities to enhance OPCW’s digital presence and reach.
Branding
- Guide in the design of visual products for the OPCW website and social media, ensuring that they are consistent with the OPCW branding guidelines and visual identity;
- Ensure that external templates and visuals are made available to colleagues; centralise all materials in a single location for easy access and consistency;
- Serve as the primary focal point for branding guidelines;
- Together with the Digital Communication Assistant and under the supervision of the Public Information Officer, identify visual communication trends to introduce to the OPCW digital presence, liaise with suppliers for support as required.
- Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
- An advanced university degree in communications, journalism, advertising, marketing, or a related field;
- A first-level university degree in a related field in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 4 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
- A relevant combination of technical qualifications and extensive professional experience (minimum 8 years) in communications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced or first university degree.
Desirable:
- Experience in graphic design and web content management.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential:
- Minimum two years of related working experience in journalism or communications, including social media.
Desirable:
- Experience working for international organisations. Knowledge of international security issues.
Skills and Competencies
- Expert use of Drupal Content Management System;
- Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite);
- Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics);
- Search engine optimisation;
- HTML, CSS.
Languages
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.
Additional Information
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.
According to article 8 paragraph 44 of the Chemical Weapons Convention the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
OPCW is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. OPCW recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
OPCW General Terms and Conditions
Important notice for applicants who are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system
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’.
