Tasks and Responsibilities:

As Operational Support Officer, you will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Operational Adviser and under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre for Operations Service.

Internally, you will co-operate closely with the departments, sections and units of the Secretariat as well as with OSCE field operations to co-ordinate operational planning activities and their implementation, to develop and run crisis response simulations, to facilitate the development and exchange of operational lessons/best practices, and to provide strategic advice and assistance on conflict cycle-related activities.

You will liaise with OSCE institutions to exchange information in developing strategic advice and assistance on conflict cycle-related activities.

Externally, you will interact with the Chairpersonship and delegations of participating States to provide analysis, advice, and support related to operational planning and implementation, on conflict cycle issues, in the organization of relevant events, and to provide briefings, as required, as well as in the conduct of crisis response simulations for the incoming Chairpersonship and field operations.

You will interact with international and national stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions working in similar areas of expertise to exchange information, lessons, and best practices as well as to an identify possible areas of co-operation and to create synergies.

More specifically, you will be tasked with the following:

1. Under the guidance of the Senior Operational Adviser, providing support in conducting and co-ordinating operational planning activities with departments, sections and units of the Secretariat and with OSCE field operations and institutions, and other international/regional organizations, as necessary, for crisis response activities and/or the deployment of new OSCE field operations/activities, as well as the enhancement, restructuring, downsizing and closure of existing field operations.Deploying to crisis areas, as required and for limited periods, in support of crisis response efforts;

1. Reviewing and updating existing guidelines, generic operational planning templates, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other operational planning documents related to OSCE activities in the field; Develops new such guidelines, SOPs, and planning documents related to field-oriented OSCE activities, as required;
2. Supporting in developing and running crisis response simulations for field operations and the OSCE Chairpersonship to enhance their crisis response preparedness;
3. Analysing OSCE operational activities, including by conducting after-action reviews, and international practices to identify lessons and/or best practices on operational issues.Monitoring, analysing, and reporting on changes in the field-related policies and procedures of other relevant organizations. Exchanging lessons with relevant international partners and identifies areas of co-operation;
4. Preparing briefs, speeches and speaking points on operational and conflict cycle-related issues for senior management of the Secretariat, as required. Attending meetings, conferences and workshops relevant to operational planning and the conflict cycle and drafting summaries, notes, or reports for internal distribution;
5. Contributing to analytical support, strategic advice, and assistance with regard to other conflict cycle-related activities, as required;
6. Performing additional tasks as assigned.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in political science, international relations, or a related field;
• A minimum of six years of progressively responsible professional experience in operational planning and implementation with a government agency, a national or international organization or a non-governmental organization;
• Experience of working in an international environment and/or in the field would be a distinct asset;
• Thematic expertise in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, crisis response, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, and familiarity with relevant international efforts in these fields of thematic expertise;
• Demonstrated knowledge of lessons learned methodologies and ability to analyse experience and international practice to develop and report on best practices in the field of operational planning;
• Demonstrated political acumen;

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• Knowledge of another official OSCE language would be desirable;
• Knowledge of technological tools for operational planning and crisis response, e.g., geographic information system, would be a distinct asset;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of a team and with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, different gender and diverse political views, whilst maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications.