National Programme Coordination Officer (NP1)

Job Posting Organization:
The OSCE Presence in Albania was established in 1997 with the mission to promote democratization, rule of law, and human rights, while consolidating democratic institutions in accordance with OSCE principles, standards, and commitments. The organization operates in various sectors, including arms control, trafficking prevention, electoral assistance, anti-corruption initiatives, gender mainstreaming, environmental projects, human rights protection, and legislative, judicial, and media reform. The OSCE Presence in Albania is dedicated to capacity-building for law enforcement officials and works collaboratively with various stakeholders to achieve its goals.

Job Overview:
The National Programme Coordination Officer (NP1) position is a fixed-term appointment within the OSCE Presence in Albania, specifically located in the Office of the Head of Presence and under the direct supervision of the Head of the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU). The successful candidate will play a crucial role in providing analytical assessments of strategic documents, project proposals, budgets, and evaluation reports. This role requires identifying systemic issues, risks, and areas for improvement, and formulating actionable recommendations. The officer will validate financial reports for extra-budgetary projects, ensuring alignment with donor agreements, and will provide technical guidance to programme staff on project design, implementation, and reporting processes. The NP1 will also contribute to the consistency and harmonization of project documentation across various programmes, assist in preparing guidance materials, and draft regular briefings on programme implementation and relevant policy issues. Additionally, the officer will coordinate monitoring meetings, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and follow-up actions, and serve as a focal point for evaluation-related activities, ensuring compliance with OSCE evaluation policies and standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Programme Coordination Officer include:

• Providing analytical assessments of the quality, coherence, and strategic alignment of strategic documents, project proposals, budgets, and evaluation reports.
• Identifying systemic issues, risks, and areas for improvement and formulating recommendations.
• Validating extra-budgetary projects’ financial reports for donor submission in alignment with donor agreements.
• Offering technical information to programme staff on project design, implementation, and reporting processes in accordance with project cycle management guidelines.
• Contributing to the consistency and harmonization of project documentation and practices across programmes.
• Assisting in the preparation of guidance materials and tools.
• Drafting regular briefings and background materials on programme implementation, donor developments, and relevant policy issues for internal use.
• Coordinating programme and project monitoring meetings, ensuring timely organization and effective stakeholder engagement.
• Serving as a focal point for evaluation-related activities and contributing to the review of Terms of Reference (ToRs) to ensure compliance with OSCE evaluation policy. 1
• Liaising with the OSCE Secretariat, other OSCE structures, and external partners to support coordination of activities related to projects and donor contributions.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the National Programme Coordination Officer position include:

• A first-level university degree in political science, international relations, public administration, economics, development studies, or a related field.
• A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in programme/project coordination, administration, or management.
• Experience with project cycle management, including project design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Familiarity with donor-funded projects, including budgets and financial reporting, is advantageous.
• Experience liaising with internal and external stakeholders, including international organizations or government counterparts, is desirable.
• Strong analytical and drafting skills for documents, reports, and briefings.
• Ability to work independently while respecting supervisory guidance.
• Excellent organizational skills, including coordination of meetings and tracking follow-up actions.
• Some knowledge of OSCE principles and commitments is desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the National Programme Coordination Officer position includes a first-level university degree in political science, international relations, public administration, economics, development studies, or a related field. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of the role and effectively contributing to the OSCE's mission in Albania.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the National Programme Coordination Officer position is a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in programme/project coordination, administration, or management. This experience should encompass project cycle management, including project design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting, as well as familiarity with donor-funded projects and financial reporting.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for the position include excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Albanian. Additionally, a working knowledge of other languages from the OSCE region is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to the organization's objectives.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract with a full-time schedule, and the target start date is July 1, 202

• The remuneration package is approximately 2,148 EURO, subject to National Social security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security deductions, and OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation. Appointments are typically made at Step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale, with the possibility of an initial appointment at up to Step 3 in exceptional cases. Candidates should be aware that the OSCE does not reimburse expenses related to interviews, tests, visas, or relocation. Furthermore, OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance, and the mandatory retirement age is 65 years for contracted positions. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.