General Information
Job Summary
This position is part of the Implementation Support Branch (ISB) and its responsible is to ensure that all Member States are capable of delivering on a wide variety of obligations concerning all aspects of national implementation including legislation and related notifications, the submission of declarations, the receiving of inspections and communicating with the Secretariat. The primary responsibilities of the Programme Officer (Legal) are to ensure that all Member States are capable of delivering on a wide variety of obligations concerning all aspects of national implementation including legislation and related notifications, the submission of declarations, the receiving of inspections and communicating with the Secretariat.
Main Responsibilities
As the Programme Officer (Legal) (P-3), you will be responsible for the following duties:
As Programme Manager:
Provides strategy and policy advice to Head of the Implementation Support Branch in connection with regional and sub-regional programmatic approaches to CWC implementation support.
Plans, leads/coordinates and evaluates the delivery of programmes and activities in support of the national implementation of the CWC, including: conceptualisation and design of new initiatives to assist States Parties with expediting the drafting and adoption of implementing and/or chemical security legislation, to enhance understanding and awareness of the CWC, and to advance national implementation.
As Legal Expert:
Provides accurate and timely information and advice related to legislation aspects of Article VII of the CWC.
Coordinates inputs and drafting of annual reports on the status of implementation of Article VII of the CWC; maintains and updates internal records (including those in databases) on legal implementation of the CWC.
Advises States Parties on proposed legislative approaches to the CWC; prepares or supports the preparation of draft CWC national implementing legislation; reviews draft legislation submitted by States Parties with regard to its alignment with the CWC and other relevant legal instruments.
To view the complete job outline please click here.
Education
Essential:
Advanced university degree in Law, preferably with specialisation in International Law or related fields; a first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 7 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Essential:
At least 5 years of relevant working experience in international organisations and/or government service, in the areas of International Law, Treaty Law, Law of International Security or related fields; or 7 years with first level degree.
Practical knowledge of the drafting and reviewing of legal documents and agreements.
Knowledge of and experience in dealing with the Chemical Weapons Convention or relevant disarmament treaties.
Desirable:
Direct experience in planning and implementing awareness-raising and/or capacity building projects, preferably within a multinational setting.
Experience in providing strategy and policy advice in relation to sensitive policy issues, particularly in connection with international peace and security.
Knowledge and experience in project planning, implementation and monitoring.
Excellent communication skills – both written and oral; good negotiation skills.
Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct legal research.
A well-developed sense of judgement.
Ability to plan and organise, and to work under pressure of time and urgent deadlines.
Flexibility and problem-solving skills.
Ability to reprioritize on tight deadlines.
Tact and discretion.
Ability to work individually and in a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Solid computer skills (eg. Windows, MS Office).
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
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
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.
Fixed-term staff members participate in the OPCW provident fund. A monthly staff contribution is met with a doubled amount by the OPCW to ensure separating staff have the capital necessary to move on to new challenges.
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.
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’.