Operational Support 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 operates in 57 participating States across Europe, Central Asia, and North America, making it the world's largest regional security organization. The organization has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. The OSCE Secretariat, located in Vienna, provides operational and administrative support to field operations and other institutions, assisting the Chairpersonship in its activities. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, encouraging the nomination of qualified candidates from all backgrounds.

Job Overview:
The Operational Support Officer position is a seconded role at the P3 level within the UN common system, focusing on enhancing the OSCE's operational effectiveness, efficiency, and impact. The officer will provide timely and robust operational planning and support, particularly in crisis preparedness and response, as well as in the establishment, restructuring, or closure of OSCE field operations. This role may require temporary deployments to crisis areas to support the Organization's operational response efforts. The officer will also contribute to developing conflict early warning trend analysis and recommend appropriate policy and operational responses. The position requires collaboration with various departments and units within the Secretariat and OSCE field operations, ensuring effective coordination and support across conflict cycle activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Operational Support Officer will be responsible for a wide range of tasks, including: supporting operational planning and implementation activities in coordination with relevant departments and OSCE field operations; reviewing and developing operational planning documents, guidelines, and standard operating procedures; designing and conducting crisis simulation exercises; assisting in after-action reviews and debriefings for senior OSCE officials; supporting work on various phases of the conflict cycle, including early warning and conflict prevention; coordinating analytical and organizational support for the OSCE Chair and Secretariat; and maintaining the OSCE-wide Network of Early Warning Focal Points. The officer will also be involved in developing concepts and tools related to conflict cycle issues and attending relevant meetings and workshops.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree in political science, international relations, or a related field. A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in international relations, political analysis, operational planning, and coordination is required, with five years acceptable if the candidate holds a relevant second-level degree. Field experience in an international environment is a distinct asset. Candidates should have established thematic expertise in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation, along with demonstrated political acumen, research and analytical skills, and familiarity with technological tools for conflict analysis and operational planning.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a first-level university degree in political science, international relations, or a related field. A second-level degree is preferred and can reduce the required professional experience by two years, making candidates with a relevant master's degree eligible with five years of experience instead of seven.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields such as international relations, political analysis, and operational planning. This experience should ideally include work with government agencies, national or international organizations, or non-governmental organizations. Field experience in an international context is highly valued and considered a distinct asset for this role.

Languages:
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are mandatory. Additionally, a working knowledge of at least one other language from the OSCE region is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to the organization's multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term secondment role with a full-time schedule. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds. The maximum period of service in this post is 10 years, and candidates should conduct themselves in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. The OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application process, and appointments are subject to medical clearance. Candidates are advised to apply well in advance of the deadline to ensure timely processing of their applications.