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 purpose of the Verification Division is to provide the OPCW Director-General with the means to assess compliance by States Parties with the Chemical Weapons Convention (“the Convention”) by implementing effective, efficient and objective verification regimes in accordance with the Convention’s requirements and in the light of any guidance from the Policy-Making Organs.
The Director, Verification is responsible for the supervision of verification activities, planning and the management of resources and technical support, reviewing the outcome of verification and subsequent follow-up actions in line with established procedures and the OPCW confidentiality policy. The Director, Verification is also responsible for the management of the Division staff and budgetary resources; for the maintenance of the OPCW confidential registry and archives; for providing strategic direction to the OPCW Laboratory and for collaborating with other Directors, particularly the Director of Inspections, as necessary.
Responsibilities:
1) Strategic Leadership and Verification Oversight:
- Provision of strategic planning, policy advice and support to the Director-General, the Deputy Director-General and other Directors, the Executive Council, and States Parties regarding the verification regimes, their possible modification or development, and improvements as appropriate;
- Serve as a technical expert and provide advice to States Parties concerning the declaration, destruction and verification of any facilities/items and monitoring of any destroyed or converted facilities, storage sites or destruction sites in line with Convention requirements and Executive Council mandates;
- Guide the coordination and analysis of States Parties’ declarations, ensuring their accuracy and completeness;
- Advise on the formulation of policy and operational issues impacting on the administration of the Organisation;
- Manage confidential material, including the security of declarations and other information from States Parties;
- Provide strategic oversight of the assessment of inspection results, their evaluation of the risk posed by the inspected facilities to the object and purpose of the Convention, and whatever follow-on action that may be required in line with the Convention’s requirements;
- Oversee and validate the identification of the declared facilities and items to be inspected in order to verify the accuracy and completeness of those declared facilities or items.
2) Executive Management:
- Direct the work of the Verification Division by establishing policy and providing the guidance necessary to ensure that all verification-related activities are carried out effectively, efficiently and economically;
- Lead the planning for possible future operational requirements, such as the evolution of the Article VI verification regime, the use of AI and other data management tools to offer advice to States Parties concerning the non-proliferation objectives of the Convention;
- Lead the development of the OPCW Laboratory’s operational capabilities and novel research concerning verification process, and the expansion of the global Designated Laboratory network;
- Oversee the development and maintenance of specialist Divisional IT applications relevant to the verification process;
- Management of Divisional staffing and budgetary resources, and the management of risks to the operations of the Division;
- Provide leadership and accountability for the division’s performance in achieving its objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).
3) Representation:
- Take part in official visits to States Parties;
- Represent the Secretariat at international seminars, conferences and meetings on verification issues in an expert capacity;
- Represent the Division at meetings of the Executive Council, informal consultations with delegations, the Management Board and other committees or boards.
4) Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Essential:
- Advanced University degree in a relevant scientific discipline, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Business Administration or International Relations, from an accredited college or university;
- A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (Minimum 17 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential:
- Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of chemical demilitarisation, in chemical or similar industry, foreign and security policy, or international relations including disarmament regimes, substantial part of which should be at the senior level in the private or public (e.g. diplomatic sector, in international organisations) sectors;
- Proven track record of excellence, leadership, delivery, representation, and human and financial resource management.
Desirable:
- Knowledge or experience working with the CWC and member states is desirable. Work experience in the UN Common System is also desirable.
Skills and Competencies:
- Demonstrated professional competence in organisational development and change management;
- Policy formulation and analytical skills, project/programme management, communication and negotiation skills;
- Well-developed diplomatic and policy skills. Excellent communication and influencing skills with a proven ability to work with executive management;
- Demonstrated understanding of Knowledge Management leadership principles;
- Effective leadership skills and accountability;
- Ability to think strategically and to achieve results aligned with the organisation’s strategic goals;
- Proven ability to plan strategically, integrating complex organisational issues, functions and resources to achieve the objectives;
- Ability to identify, assess and mitigate risks that could impact the achievement of objectives.
- Proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment, including ability to manage, coach, develop and evaluate staff for delivering results;
- Proven planning, organisational, coordination, negotiation and problem-solving skills;
- Strong analytical and conceptual skills in analysing and interpreting policy and operational issues, formulating options, and proposing and implementing solutions;
- Strong ability to network and build relationships across organizational boundaries;
- Excellent inter-personal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to apply tact and accuracy and to present information clearly and logically both in writing and verbally;
- Proven ability to coordinate the work of others, work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities assuring required results are achieved;
- Ability to ensure an effective work structure to maximise productivity and achieve division and branch level goals;
- Proven ability to create partnerships and collaborative endeavours within the division or between divisions;
- Proven ability in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
- Understanding of how data and analytical methodologies can inform strategy development;
- Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and Results-Based Management (RBM) principles is highly desirable.
Languages
Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other OPCW official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is desirable.
Additional Information
This fixed-term appointment is for a duration of three years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the relevant OPCW Staff Regulations, Interim Staff Rules and other internal legislation as applicable. For this position, in accordance with the decision EC-108/DEC.4 of the Executive Council, former staff members subject to tenure are eligible to apply and be considered alongside other candidates.
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’.