PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS
Reporting to the Head, Declaration Validation and Evaluation Section (Industry), and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality, the Evaluation Officer performs the following duties:
Evaluate declarations, predominantly under Art. VI and amendments and associated reporting
- Evaluate industry declarations, amendments and other verification related information to agreed timescales and ensure associated reporting is complete, timely and accurate.
- Clarify with State Parties issues identified during evaluation, including preparation of requests for clarification and meetings with States Parties as required.
- Provide accurate, complete and timely inputs for DEB reports on declaration related issues for management and for States Parties, including the VIR and annual reports and other reports to policy making organs.
- Contribute to the objectives of Declaration Validation and Evaluation (CD section) in relation to Article III as required by overall DEB workload.
Design, gain approval for and manage projects associated with the improved implementation of CWC provisions by customs authorities
- Maintain relationships with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to advance the designation of CWC related chemicals within the Harmonised System (HS) of classification.
- Maintain relationships with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to include scheduled chemicals in the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) software.
- Maintain continued links the UNEP Green Customs Initiative on technical issues to improve liaison and in particular regarding technical information concerning the CWC.
- Recommend additional initiatives as appropriate.
Design, gain approval for and manage projects associated with the improved implementation of CWC provisions by the global chemical industry
- Maintain the OPCW internet scheduled chemicals database, monitor usage, report and make recommendations for further development
- Together with Head/DVE(I), manage liaison with other global and regional chemical agencies (e.g. European Chemicals Agency), make recommendations and carry forward decisions.
- Research options for further visibility of scheduled chemicals in existing legislation and control measures, for example the inclusion of CWC information in product data sheets or hazard data sheets.
- Perform systematic research in current and projected legislation related to chemicals that could be used to facilitate the declaration process and make recommendations accordingly.
Maintain and develop DEB outreach materials
- Ensure existing materials, recommendations and guidance are kept up to date in line with EC (Executive Council) decisions, OPCW policy decisions etc.
- Recommend improvements to type, content, and delivery of support materials.
- Liaise with ICA (International Cooperation and Assistance Division) in the design and delivery of training courses, presentations and other outreach activities.
Perform systematic research on Chemical Industry practices, mainly but not exclusively related to the CWC, including technological developments which may affect current practices and manufacturing processes
- Participate in seminars, courses or other activities to maintain his/her technical skills and to acquire new applicable knowledge.
- Prepare reports on new developments on the field of chemistry, chemical engineering, not excluding biotechnology.
- Evaluate their impact in the current production methods of known or potential CW agents and scheduled precursors and hence on the declaration/verification regime.
Ensure that all activities are fully in accordance with the confidentiality regime of the Organisation
- Ensure that the procedures required by the confidentiality regime of the Technical Secretariat are observed, records are properly maintained on creation, handling, copying and destruction of classified documents.
Participate to short-term planning of allocated inspections under Article VI (Activities not Prohibited by the CWC) of the Convention, supervise their execution and facilitates the production of Final Inspection Reports (FIRs) by the Inspection Teams (ITs) within the provisions of the OPCW Confidentiality Regime and the timelines of the Convention
- Access all declarations and other documentation relevant to the inspection site using the SCN (Security Critical Network) and/or hard-copies from the Secure Archives.
- Evaluate the declared information and deciding on whether the chemicals are scheduled and thresholds are appropriate for inspection.
- Decide the requirement for number of inspectors for specific mission.
- Reviewing the Draft Warning Order prepared by the Inspectorate, negotiating any changes necessary and recommending the Draft Warning Order to Head, IVB.
- Assist in the drafting, obtaining approval from VER Management of the Inspection Mandate on the SCN using the Mandates Workflow, arranging for translation as necessary; and submitting it for signature of the Director-General.
- Assist in the briefing the IT on technical, treaty-related and policy issues in relation to the inspection, emphasising special features of the plant site/facility and advising the IT in its preparation for the inspection.
- Populate the Mission Folder with signed Inspection Mandate, declarations, previous inspection reports and other relevant documents and send it to the IT Leader.
- Assist in the debriefing the IT upon its return to The Hague on technical, treaty-related and/or policy issues upon request by IVB.
- Advise on issues requiring further attention, uncertainties and/or possible violations of provisions of the Convention and guiding the IT in converting the Preliminary Findings Report into the FIR within the timelines of the Convention. This guidance is a quality assurance function that normalises the conclusions of inspections against one another.
- Assist in the reviewing the Risk Assessment for Schedule 1 facilities and Schedule 2 plant sites performed by the IT.
- Communicate and meet with the inspected State Party representatives to resolve issues requiring further attention (IRFA) and/or uncertainties arising from an inspection; make recommendations to management in relation to such issues, in cooperation with IVB.
- Assist in the participation in Technical Visits to States Parties resulting from inspection activties.
- Co-ordinate with the Industry Verification Branch the technical clarification process of any noted issues pertaining to Article VI inspections including participation in bilateral/multilateral discussions and bilateral technical visits.
Support the work of the Policy Making Organs (PMOs) of the OPCW
- Advise and assist the designated Facilitators of the Industry Cluster Consultations of the Executive Council on issues within their purview.
- Attend Industry Cluster Consultations as Secretariat expert.
- Draft Secretariat Notes, Non-Papers, Draft Decisions, etc. relating to Article VI issues for submission to the Executive Council.
- Discuss issues relating to the work of the PMOs with Delegations and providing advice to the delegates.
Represent the Secretariat in contacts with outside organizations and provides inputs to Secretariat training programs
- Maintaining contact at working level with other designated organisations and groups;
- Attend meetings, conferences, seminars etc. of other designated international organisations, actively participating by making appropriate presentations and reporting back on the proceedings of and issues arising from these events.
- Develop training materials for industry declaration related training, National Authority training, Regional and National Seminars, etc. and making presentations at such events.
Undertake international duty travel as per the requirement of the assignment.
Act as Head of DVE(I) section, whenever required.
Performs other duties as required.
RECRUITING PROFILE
Education (Qualifications):
Essential: Advanced university degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, life science. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 7 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. The lack of a degree may be off-set with relevant specialised training in combination with a minimum of 11 years of qualifying experience.
Experience:
Essential: At least 5 years of related experience in Chemical Industry or in a government agency overseeing chemical trade (such as customs or an appropriate licensing authority). Experience in the use of electronic data analysis tools.
Desirable: Information handling and analysis in a public organisation or in chemical industry. Export controls and customs regulations related to the CWC; Knowledge of statistical methods and tools. CWC-related experience.
An additional background in data analytics would be an asset
Skills and Abilities:
- Good planning and organisational skills, including demonstrated ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor his/her own work plan and those under his/her supervision.
- Good interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills, including ability to prepare reports.
- Strong customer focus.
- Strong analytical and conceptual skills.
- Up-to-date knowledge on industrial chemistry in relation to chemicals covered by the CWC.
- Knowledge of computer equipment, Windows-based word processing, databases and spreadsheet programmes.
- Personal qualities should include tact, accuracy and discretion and the ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment and create a positive and productive team environment.
- Appreciation of the need to observe confidentiality in a highly-sensitive work area.
- Commitment to continuous learning is essential.
Language Requirements:
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.
