Evaluation Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Organization for security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1975, with a mission to promote peace, stability, and democracy in Europe. The OSCE has 57 participating States and operates in various countries across Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The organization focuses on a comprehensive approach to security that includes politico-military, economic, environmental, and human aspects. The OSCE Secretariat, located in Vienna, Austria, provides operational and administrative support to the field operations and other institutions, ensuring that the organization meets its objectives effectively and efficiently.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Officer will be a vital member of the Evaluation Unit within the Office of Internal Oversight (OIO) at the OSCE Secretariat. This position involves leading and conducting thematic and strategic independent evaluations, which are essential for enhancing the performance and effectiveness of the OSCE's operations. The Evaluation Officer will develop evaluation objectives, scope, and methodologies, manage evaluation processes, and prepare comprehensive reports in accordance with professional standards. The role also includes reviewing peer products, conducting follow-ups on recommendations, and providing advisory services to Evaluation Focal Points and Managers. The Evaluation Officer is expected to uphold international evaluation standards and contribute to a culture of evaluation within the organization, ensuring accountability and learning from evaluations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Evaluation Officer will be responsible for a range of tasks, including:

• Developing proposals for new strategic and thematic evaluations and conducting evaluability assessments to determine readiness for evaluation.
• Designing and conducting evidence-based evaluations and strategic assessments, managing evaluation processes, and preparing key deliverables such as Terms of Reference, Inception Reports, and Final Reports.
• Collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, applying appropriate methods for data collection and analysis, and formulating credible conclusions based on triangulated evidence.
• Managing evaluations commissioned to external consultants and contributing to the periodic update of the evaluation consultancy roster.
• Developing communication plans and products for Independent Evaluations and presenting results to relevant audiences.
• Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) of the Evaluation Unit and compiling statistics on evaluation recommendation acceptance and implementation.
• Contributing to building a culture of evaluation and accountability within the OSCE through participation in the internal Evaluation Network and delivering training and workshops.
• Performing other related duties as assigned by the Head of Evaluation/director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Deputy Director of OIO.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree in public policy, international affairs, evaluation, or other social sciences that involve qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Additionally, a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in leading and conducting complex evaluations within international organizations or the public sector is required. Candidates should demonstrate experience in developing high-quality evaluation documents, problem-solving and communication skills, and technical evaluation skills, including the application of various evaluation approaches and methods. Knowledge of UNEG evaluation norms and standards, ethical guidelines, and the ability to integrate human rights and gender equality into evaluation processes are also essential. Professional fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in other OSCE languages is an asset.

Educational Background:
The position requires a first-level university degree in relevant fields such as public policy, international affairs, evaluation, or social sciences. A second-level degree is preferred, as it reduces the required experience from seven years to five years. The educational background should include a strong foundation in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, which is critical for the evaluation tasks.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in leading and conducting complex evaluations, with at least five years of experience required if they hold a relevant second-level degree. This experience should be within international organizations or the public sector, demonstrating a solid understanding of evaluation processes and methodologies.

Languages:
Professional fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of other OSCE languages is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to the organization's multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract at the professional level (P3) with a full-time schedule. The monthly remuneration is approximately EUR 7,800, subject to adjustment based on family status and other factors. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria, and social benefits include participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging candidates from various backgrounds to apply. Appointments are subject to medical clearance, and the maximum period of service in this post is seven years. The OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application process.