Senior Policy Support Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Organization for security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security organization founded in 1975, with a mission to promote peace, stability, and democracy in Europe. It has 57 participating States and operates in various countries across Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The OSCE addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, human rights, and combating human trafficking. The OSCE Secretariat, located in Vienna, provides operational and administrative support to field operations and other institutions, ensuring effective coordination and implementation of the organization's mandates.

Job Overview:
The Senior Policy Support Officer will serve as the Head of the Eastern Europe Desk within the Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) of the OSCE. This role involves acting as the primary point of contact for all OSCE mission matters related to Eastern Europe, overseeing the implementation of field operations' mandates, and providing policy advice to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship. The incumbent will lead a team of Policy Support Officers, monitor developments in the region, and ensure effective coordination of activities among OSCE institutions and partner organizations. The position requires a proactive approach to analyzing potential crisis situations and recommending appropriate actions to maintain security and stability in the region. The Senior Policy Support Officer will also be responsible for managing the desk's activities, ensuring resource allocation, and fostering professional development among team members.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Policy Support Officer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Actively monitoring and reporting on the implementation of mandates for designated field operations, analyzing the impact of current and future activities on agreed tasks and objectives.
• Scrutinizing reports from field operations and advising the Chairpersonship on their distribution.
• Monitoring developments in Eastern Europe, focusing on early warning signals of potential crises and alerting the Secretary General and Chairpersonship to security threats.
• Assisting field operations in implementing policy guidance from participating States and the Secretary General.
• Providing expert support to the Secretary General and Chairpersonship, including conducting research, preparing analytical reports, and drafting decisions and statements.
• Coordinating field operation programming and mobilizing additional support and resources as needed.
• Organizing regular meetings of Heads of Mission and visiting designated field operations to ensure maximum support.
• Engaging with partner organizations on field-related issues and presenting OSCE work to international representatives.
• Participating in performance-based budgeting processes and discussions with the Advisory Committee on Management and Finance. 1
• Collaborating with the Department of Human Resources on staffing issues and supervising the activities of Policy Support Officers and support staff. 1
• Managing the desk's activities, ensuring appropriate task allocation and fostering team performance. 1
• Performing other related duties as required, including covering for absent policy support officers.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a second-level university degree in political science, public or law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law, international relations, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level degree. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in government, diplomatic service, international organizations, or related fields. Experience in Eastern Europe international development topics, project management, and resource mobilization is highly desirable. Proven experience in political analysis and reporting, as well as people management, is essential.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a second-level university degree, which typically corresponds to a Master's degree in relevant fields such as political science, international relations, or law. Candidates with a first-level university degree may be considered if they have additional qualifying experience that compensates for the lack of a second-level degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields. Candidates with a first-level university degree must have at least nine years of experience. This experience should ideally include work in government, diplomatic service, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations, with a focus on Eastern Europe and international development topics being an asset.

Languages:
Professional fluency in English is mandatory, including excellent drafting skills. A working knowledge of another OSCE official language, particularly Russian, is considered an asset. Familiarity with other languages spoken in the region may also be beneficial.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract at the P4 grade, classified as middle management. The monthly remuneration is approximately EUR 9,400, with actual salary depending on post adjustment and family status. 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. The maximum period of service in this post is seven years, and appointments are subject to medical clearance. The mandatory retirement age is 65 years for contracted positions.