About Us
The OPCW internship programme is aimed at motivated students with an interest in gaining experience in international organisations. The programme normally provides work placements in the Technical Secretariat for a three to six month period. The objective of the internship is to provide you with first-hand experience in the day-to-day working environment of an international organisation. You will work with our international experts towards the OPCW mission to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons.
As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to our analytical work as well as the organisational policy of the OPCW.
General Information
Responsibilities
Job Summary
The Administration Division manages the OPCW’s day-to-day human resources, finances, and logistical support, and coordinates knowledge management.
The Division also represents the Technical Secretariat during sessions of the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters (ABAF) and serves as the point of contact for the OPCW’s External Auditor.
The Human Resources Branch provides human resources advice and services to the OPCW in relation to human resources planning, sourcing, recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of service, training and staff development programmes, transition support, and individual staff and manager support and separation processes.
The Branch is also responsible for developing HR best practices and policies, and facilitating staff learning, leadership and talent development, performance and career management, organisational change and work-life balance.
Purpose of Internship:
To offer the Intern hands-on experience in the Human Resources Branch (HRB), supporting initiatives that promote staff wellbeing, inclusion, and engagement within a multicultural international organisation. The Intern will collaborate with the HR Governance Team and may contribute to broader HR projects aligned with their interests and development goals.
Expected start date: May/June 2026
Main Responsibilities
Terms of Reference for the Internship:
The HR Governance Team is set to deliver a programme of staff wellbeing and inclusion e-learning modules and supporting communications this year. Intern will support the HR Governance Team in ensuring timely delivery, maximising quality and organisational reach on the below areas;
- Assisting in the development of e-learning content on staff wellbeing and inclusion;
- Supporting the creation of short videos and multimedia materials for learning modules;
- Assisting with basic scripting, storyboarding, and structuring of digital content;
- Formatting and prepare content for upload to internal learning platform Articulate;
- Assisting in creating promotional materials to support the rollout of e-learning modules;
- Supporting staff wellbeing and inclusion communication campaigns (e.g., visuals, messaging);
- Providing general support to HR Governance Team activities related to wellbeing and inclusion, as required;
- Undertaking other tasks aligned with team priorities and intern development.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
- Enrolled in and have completed at least one year of a degree programme in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or;
- in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher) or;
- Have graduated from a university or a graduate school within a year prior to the commencement of the internship and;
- Be a citizen of an OPCW Member State and fluent in both written and spoken English
Desirable:
- Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated (within one year) from, a degree programme in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Communications, Learning & Development, or a related field at a university (or equivalent tertiary institution);
- Familiarity with content creation and design tools (e.g., video editing, graphic design, or presentation tools) is an asset.
Skills and Competencies
- Teamwork - We work collectively towards a common goal and together we get the job done. As a team member you have to genuinely value other people’s ideas and expertise and be willing to learn from others.
- Commitment to Continuous Learning - The OPCW is committed to a process of continuous learning.
- Technological Awareness - It is hard to keep up with the fast pace of technological change, but the Organization offers training as well as support to keep abreast of technological development.
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
Acceptance for the programme shall not carry with it any expectation of employment with the OPCW. Interns may not apply for, or be appointed to, any posts or positions at the OPCW within six months of the internship agreement end date. The internship programme is run in accordance with the applicable internal rules and where applicable the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.
- Participants in the Internship Programme receive no financial remuneration from the OPCW for expenses that they incur in relation to the programme. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, etc. are the responsibility of the intern. The intern has to enter and exit the country in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures in The Netherlands.
- Participants will be asked to provide proof that they have sufficient financial means for living expenses for the period of their internship.
- Interns will work with the normal working pattern of the OPCW which will amount to no more than 40 hours a week.
- Participants who are citizens of non-EU countries should agree not to undertake other work in the Netherlands during their internship other than as an intern at the OPCW, notwithstanding whether such other work is compatible with the discharge of their functions with the OPCW.
Only fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered.
Only applicants under serious consideration 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
