JOB DESCRIPTION

Background:

The position is placed within the Office of the Head of Mission, the Policy and Planning Section (PPS) of the OSCE Mission to BiH. The PPS is a central unit in the Mission, responsible for political monitoring, reporting and outreach, project and programme evaluation, gender and youth mainstreaming and policy and planning advice to the Head and Deputy Head of Mission.

The PPS informs staff of all current internal and external developments at all times, while co-ordinating actions and recommendations within the team and further in the Mission. The PPS supports the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and policies; promotes and facilitates Mission-wide mainstreaming of gender and youth perspectives and Security Sector Governance and Reform approaches throughout the work of the Mission; monitors, reports, advises on and facilitates internal information-sharing on political, socio-economic, legislative and electoral developments; reviews and advises on external correspondence, speeches, talking points, reports and publications; maintains liaison with the CPC, participating States, and international organizations to ensure consistent and effective Mission policy and advocacy.

The primary goal of the post is to ensure that HoM is fully informed on mandate-relevant and UBP-relevant political developments and advised of their potential impact on the political and programmatic work of the Mission by maintaining current and detailed situational awareness of the BiH political environment at State, Entity, District and Cantonal levels, ensuring Mission senior staff are informed and advised on relevant political developments, and effective coordination is facilitated amongst the senior staff. Additional goal of the post is to ensure effective planning and coordination with, and within, the Office of the Head of Mission. This includes provision of timely and effective verbal and written advice on the full spectrum of Mission internal and external activities, ensuring all internal and external communications from the Office of the Head of Mission are accurate and to the highest standard; including co-ordination of all HoM’s activities with other OSCE missions, international organizations and BIH authorities, establishing and maintaining priorities and procedures for HoM’s office, ensuring that all documents for HoM’s approval conform to protocol and are in line with Mission policies, ensuring clearance and dissemination of all Mission reports (external and internal) and proper coordination between the programmatic units/departments (in head office and field offices) with the Head of Mission’s Office in terms of programme planning, design,
implementation and evaluation as well as strengthening public outreach and analysing trends in programme implementation.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of Mission (DHoM) and the overall supervision of the Head of Mission (HoM), should you be selected for the position, you will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Acting as the principal policy advisor to the HoM. Analysing political developments and assessing possible implications of political events on the work of the Mission; Advising Mission Senior Staff on the current political situation of the Mission area and advising them in developing concrete responses to issues of strategic interest; Preparing political analyses and reports of the political situation across BiH for the HoM/DHoM, as necessary;
2. Providing verbal and written advice and briefing to the HoM/DHoM on the full range of Mission activities, including confidential and sensitive political developments, planning, policy, management and security issues; Co-ordinating the input of the Mission’s departments into HoM’s briefing material, including making appropriate recommendations, proposals and analyses, Reviewing all documents, for quality, accuracy and conformity to protocol prior to HoM’s consideration and signature, and accompanying HoM to meetings and on travel as required; Planning and co-ordinating all HoM’s official travel inside and outside the Mission area;
3. Directing the Mission’s internal reporting process, drafting, co-ordinating and reviewing all reports for consistency and accuracy prior to their timely submission to senior management; Overseeing the implementation of OSCE project design and management standards, identifying and systemizing best practices, acting as a focal point with the Secretariat on programme-related issues, and leading the monitoring and evaluation process for all Mission programming;
4. Ensuring that the work of the Mission’s staff is consistent with the HoM’s direction and guidance and that there is effective co-ordination among senior staff in the Mission. This includes assigning tasks and initiating action; providing direction and ensuring appropriate oversight and follow-up, co-ordination of activities of the Office of HoM Programme, particularly in relation to budget-related documentation, ensuring the implementation of sound financial management and budgeting for the Office of HoM, including co-ordinating the approach to planning and preparation of programme concepts and activities in accordance with programme and Mission priorities; ensuring the timely and coherent submission of programmatic budgetary proposals; contributing to programme development and short and long-term objectives through identification of lessons learned, current trends, achievements and future plans in consultation and co-operation with Mission senior staff; ensuring consistency and co-ordination in the implementation of the Office of HoM programme’s different elements to ensure optimum impact is achieved from the human and financial resources employed;
5. Liaising and co-ordinating with Heads of Field Offices as the principal local level political representatives in their respective AoRs receiving political guidance from OHoM, including on: (i) political advocacy advancing strategic and legislative priorities as identified through the Mission’s project work; (ii) trust-building initiatives raising the level of transparency and trust between two or more conflicting groups/communities (addressing conflict drivers identified through proper conflict analysis); and (iii) early warning responsive action;
6. Serving as the principal point of contact for the HoM/DHoM with senior staff in the Secretariat and participating States in Vienna, and maintaining close links with international organisations, bilateral missions and government ministers in BiH. Co-ordinating high level visits to the Mission;
7. Performing other related duties, as required.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, please see: https://www.osce.org/mission-to-bosnia-and-herzegovina.

Necessary Qualifications:

• International mission members in the OSCE are internationally recruited. For the purposes of OSCE Missions (Field Operations) this means that they are hired to work in a duty station outside of their home country or country of permanent residence. As a result, nationals and permanent residents of the duty station are not eligible for international mission member positions. In the case of individuals with multiple nationalities, candidates are still ineligible for consideration even if using another citizenship for application while simultaneously maintaining the citizenship or permanent residence status of the country where the duty station is located.
• Second-level university degree in law, international relations, political affairs or social sciences. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional-level experience with several years at senior or strategic level including extensive experience in an international organization environment;
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the complex political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• Good understanding of the mandate and work of the OSCE Mission in the country;
• Established strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and unexpected demands;
• Proven experience in co-ordinating management actions with the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders;
• Proven experience in communicating management actions both in writing and orally;
• Established ability to identify and analyse problems and take corrective actions;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications and Oracle based packages;
• Holding a valid driving licence.

Asset:

• Working knowledge of the BiH official languages would be an asset.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration subject to social security deductions is around US$ 7,056 to which is added Board and Lodging Allowance (currently EUR 118 per day subject to change without prior notice). Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund.

Appointments are normally made at Step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. In exceptional cases, an initial appointment at up to Step 3 may be considered. This depends on factors such as relevant experience exceeding minimum requirements or higher previous remuneration. Any such request by a candidate must be reviewed and approved by the OSCE before the appointment

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.

Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance.

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 62 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements