Chief Legislative Assistance and Rule of Law (P4)

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, encompassing a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, human rights, and combating human trafficking. The OSCE's comprehensive approach to security includes politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects, ensuring that all participating States enjoy equal status and that decisions are made by consensus.

Job Overview:
The Chief Legislative Assistance and Rule of Law position at the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) involves providing strategic leadership and direction for legislative assistance and rule of law initiatives. The incumbent will ensure that the Unit's work aligns with ODIHR's mandate and strategic priorities, while also providing substantive guidance on legal opinions, assessments of legislative processes, and thematic studies. The role requires overseeing the development and evaluation of programs aimed at strengthening democratic governance and human rights, as well as managing partnerships with public authorities and civil society organizations. The position also entails leading a team, managing budgets, and promoting knowledge dissemination on rule of law issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for ODIHR’s legislative assistance and rule of law work, ensuring coherence with ODIHR’s mandate and strategic priorities.
• Offer substantive guidance and ensure the quality and consistency of the Unit’s outputs, including legal opinions and assessments.
• Oversee the development and evaluation of programs aimed at strengthening the rule of law and democratic governance.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with public authorities, international organizations, and civil society.
• Manage and lead the Legislative Assistance and Rule of Law Unit’s team, ensuring effective coordination and performance management.
• Lead the Unit’s strategic and operational planning, including workplans and budget management.
• Promote the development of knowledge products and provide expert advice on legislative matters.

Required Qualifications:
• Second-level University degree in law; a first-level degree with two years of additional experience may be accepted. • Minimum seven years of professional legal experience, including three years at the international level in legislative assistance and rule of law development. • Proven management and strategic planning skills, with experience leading multi-disciplinary teams. • Experience in drafting legal opinions and analyses on human dimension matters. • Knowledge across multiple OSCE human dimension thematic areas, including democratic governance and political participation. • Expertise in public international law and international human rights law. • Ability to provide high-level legal and policy advice on legislative reforms. • Strong analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams under tight deadlines. • Political intuition and tact, with the ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment. • Experience working with diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

Educational Background:
A Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent) in law is required for this position. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by additional qualifying experience.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of professional legal experience, with at least three years at the international level specifically in the field of legislative assistance and rule of law development. Candidates with nine years of experience and a first-level university degree will also be considered.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English with strong legal drafting skills is mandatory. Knowledge of other OSCE languages, particularly Russian, is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract at the senior professional level (P4) with a full-time schedule. The monthly remuneration is approximately EUR 8,500, and OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland. Social benefits include participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all 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.