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 Secretariat for the Policy-Making Organs (PMO) provides support to the policy-making organs and subsidiary bodies of the OPCW, facilitating the decision-making process and the follow-up to and implementation of decisions.
The main activities of PMO are:
- Organising the sessions of the policy-making organs;
- Coordinating the preparation of documentation;
- Monitoring the implementation of decisions;
- Providing interpretation and translation;
- Maintaining the archives and databases of the official-series documents;
- Administering contractual printing services;
Editing official documents, establishing and carrying out editorial policies.
Main Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Director, Secretariat for the Policy-Making Organs (PMO), the incumbent of this post performs the following tasks:
- Provides substantive and analytical support, as well as strategic advice, to the Director of PMO;
- Coordinates the provision of secretariat services to the sessions and meetings of the Executive Council and the Conference of the States Parties, as well as their preparatory bodies (Bureau, General Committee, as well as working groups and facilitations, as requested), including continuous guidance, coordination and authoritative advice to Chairpersons and other officers, States Parties in general, and internal interlocutors, on the organisation of work, conduct of business, rules of procedures and established practices of the policy-making organs;
- Prepares and coordinates timely submission of all pre-session, in-session, and post-session documentation (including agendas, speaking notes, reports);
- Plans and coordinates elections and appointment of officers of the policy-making organs;
- Prepares organisational reports, including the drafting of reports of the Executive Council and the Conference of the States Parties and the EC activities report;
- Prepares summaries and analytical reports on the proceeding of meetings, and follows-up on the implementation of their decisions and recommendations;
- Researches and prepares overviews of procedure and practice of the policy-making organs;
- Provides advice on the formal procedures of meetings and established practices to delegates as well as in response to internal requests;
- Is responsible for ensuring compliance with governing documents, audit recommendations, and best practices and other requirements, as well as monitoring risks and business continuity needs.
- Represents the Director of PMO in committees, boards and panels, and liaise with external stakeholders, including Delegations, as directed;
- Supervises, as requested junior level staff and/or interns;
- Performs other duties as required.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential
- Advanced university degree in international relations, political sciences, law, or equivalent;
- A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum of 7 years) in these areas may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in analytics of meetings/sessions and diplomacy with a high level of client communication in either national administration and/or international environment, preferably in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with an advanced degree, or 7 years of such experience with first level degree;
- Proven work experience in multilateral decision-making processes.
Desirable
- Experience in an international organisation.
Skills and Competencies
Skills
- Excellent negotiation and diplomatic skills;
- Excellent analytical skills (e.g. quickly identifying the essence of a complex issue) and ability to initiate and implement necessary action that is proportionate to the issue at hand;
- Excellent planning and organising skills;
- Demonstrated experience with writing formal statements and reports in a political/legal context.
Abilities
- Strategic thinker with the ability to breakdown complex matters into tangible actions;
- The ability to perform and work with standard office software (Microsoft 365);
- Excellent people, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Attitudes and behaviours
- Proactive mindset, strong perception, and ability to navigate changes effectively;
- Proficient in handling complex issues with discretion, professionalism, and cross-cultural awareness;
- Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives relevant to the role;
- Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions.
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
Please note that all vacancies will close at 22:00 The Netherlands local time on their respective closing day. Thereafter, the vacancy announcements will no longer appear in the Candidate Portal and you will no longer be able to submit your application. We recommend that you apply well in advance of the deadline.
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’.
