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 position is located in the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT). The Director-General established the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) pursuant to the Decision by the Conference of the States Parties entitled “Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use” (C-SS-4/DEC.3, dated 27 June 2018). The mandate of the IIT is to identify the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic by identifying and reporting on all information potentially relevant to the origin of those chemical weapons in those instances in which the OPCW’s Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) determines or has determined that use or likely use occurred, and cases for which the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism has not issued a report. The team conducts its activities in an impartial and objective manner, in line with the methodologies and best practices of international investigative bodies and commissions of inquiry.
The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Chief Coordinator of the IIT, in close coordination with the IIT Senior Legal Officer and relevant IIT team members.
Main Responsibilities
Within limits of assigned authority, and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the incumbent performs the following duties:
1. Reviews, processes, and analysis of information collected by the IIT, regarding incidents involving the use or likely use of chemical weapons;
2. Collates, processes, and analyses multi-source information (including open source materials) through the use of advanced programming and software tools and identifies information gaps and/or inconsistencies, to inform decisions relating to further investigative activities;
3. As required by the IIT senior management, provides inputs to investigation strategies, as well as to policies, guidelines, practices, and procedures for the conduct of the analytical work of the IIT and for further investigations;
4. Prepares accurate analytical products in support of investigations and in response to the requirements of the team as instructed, including clear and cogent reports (on incidents, pattern, profiles, groups and networks etc.), relational charts, timelines,
5. Liaises and coordinates with the IIT the Senior Legal Officer and Investigation Team to identify and analyse documents and other materials for determination of relevance to the investigative activities, including interviews;
6. As required, provides analytical input to the investigation activities and advice to the IIT senior management;
7. Assists relevant IIT staff in case management;
8. Contributes to the preparation of reports, including clear and cogent reports documenting analytical findings of investigations;
9. As required, provides clear and cogent presentations and technical briefings to the IIT staff and senior management on analytical activities and findings;
10. Participates in information collection deployments if required by the IIT senior management.
11. As required, supports the continuous improvement of policies and processes related to analytical activities, including through contributions to training and knowledge transfer activities;
12. As required, provides inputs to the non-staff costs of the IIT related to analytical requirements;
13. Performs any other duties as required by the IIT Chief Coordinator.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
- University degree in international law, criminal investigations, military science, crime analysis, social/political science, or other related fields.
- A combination of a first-level university degree or diploma in advanced criminal investigation from a national police academy or law enforcement agency together with significant analytical experience and/or certifications in investigations (military, police, judicial/prosecutorial, federal/national intelligence agencies) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Training in analysis techniques and technologies for criminal investigation, intelligence or social science, including specialized software and databases.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential:
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in investigative analysis work in as the context of international or national criminal or human rights investigations or intelligence.
- At least three years of experience in analytical activities at the international level, preferably with a focus on complex criminal or human rights investigations.
- Proven experience with structured analysis methodologies and analytical software, GIS, statistics and graphic applications.
Desirable:
- At least three years of experience working as an analyst on the Syrian conflict.
- At least three years of experience working as an analyst with a Commission of Inquiry, fact-finding mission, or international tribunal.
- Experience in forensic analysis.
- Experience in digital forensics.
- Experience with GIS technology.
- Experience in the analysis of military operations and organisational structures in conflict zones.
Skills and Competencies
Strong reasoning skills, including ability to understand complex scenarios, to simultaneously handle conflicting information and hypotheses, to identify source biases, and to develop sound logical inferences.
Strong analytical and conceptual skills in analysing and interpreting information and operational issues, formulating hypotheses, and proposing and implementing solutions.
Ability to evaluate incoming intelligence and determine pertinent data that should be directed to the attention of the IIT senior management and team.
Advanced computer skills, including ability to efficiently operate databases, search engines and data mining, analytical software, GIS, statistics and graphic applications.
Familiarity with and experience in the use of various research methodologies and sources including digital sources.
Excellent ability to handle complex and voluminous sets of records and data, and to meticulously pay attention to detail in the compilation of file records and reports.
Excellent drafting skills, including the ability to coordinate, develop, draft, write, produce, revise, and ensure completeness of plans, reports, annexes, and associated appendices.
Excellent presentation skills, including the ability to cogently draw, organise and present sound and concise conclusions and be able to re-evaluate initial conclusions on the basis of new information.
In order to see the complete list of skills and competencies, please click here.
Languages
Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of Arabic is desirable. A good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an asset.
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.
Fixed-term staff members participate in the OPCW Provident Fund. A monthly staff contribution is met with a doubled amount by the OPCW under the provisions for social security. As the OPCW is exploring membership of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), staff participation in the Provident Fund may be replaced by participation in the UNJSPF effective 1 January 2025.
Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.
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’.