Background:

Please note that this is an extra-budgetary post, and the initial appointment will be for the duration of until August 2025 with possible extension, subject to availability of extra-budgetary funding.

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Presence in Albania please see: https://www.osce.org/presence-in-albania.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Project Officer is responsible for ensuring coherence and consistency in the implementation of the trial-monitoring project. The incumbent leads and supervises project staff and provides guidance, oversight, and quality control of work.

Reporting to the Head of the Rule of Law and Human Rights department and with technical direction from the Programme Co-ordinator in the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, the Project Officer serves as the main focal point for the project and provides advice, co-ordination and follow-up on all issues relevant to the implementation of the project. The incumbent is responsible for managing the implementation of all phases of the project cycle including reporting, monitoring, and post-project evaluation in compliance with rules and regulations. The Project Officer directly liaises with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve the project’s objectives.

More specifically, the incumbent will be performing the following duties:

1. Leading and providing guidance, oversight, and quality control of trial monitoring teams’ work;
2. In consultation with Conflict Prevention Center (CPC) programme staff, preparing and conducting interviews with selected stakeholders;
3. Performing preliminary analysis of data collected through case monitoring and stakeholder interviews;
4. Co-ordinating, reviewing and ensuring coherence in inputs provided by Trial Monitors based on their observation of criminal proceedings;
5. Performing preliminary analysis of data collected through case monitoring and stakeholder interviews;
6. Drafting quarterly project implementation reports, as well as “country chapters” for Inception, Mid-term, and Final Reports;
7. In consultation with the Programme Co-ordinator and the Office of the Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), designing and organizing peer-learning events;
8. In co-ordination with respective Field Operation management liaising with EU delegation on all matters related to project implementation;
9. Performing other duties as assigned to implement the ExB Project.

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;
• First-level university degree in law;
• A minimum of four years of responsible and relevant professional experience in practicing criminal law with minimum two years in-practice courtroom experience;
• A minimum of two years of experience in managing team performance;
• Prior experience with trial monitoring or equivalent experience is an asset;
• Prior experience in drafting analytical reports on processing of complex criminal cases;
• Excellent knowledge of international human rights standards related to criminal law, criminal procedure and fair trial;
• Sound understanding of South-Eastern Europe political situation and judicial structure, including the framework pertaining to the processing of corruption and economic crimes;
• Political sensitivity, diplomatic skills when conversing with relevant authorities;
• Several years of project management experience is an asset;
• Experience working on issues related to the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of corruption cases and organised crimes is an asset;
• Professional fluency in English, both written and oral; knowledge of local languages is an asset;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national, cultural and professional backgrounds, whilst remaining impartial and objective;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration subject to social security deductions is about US$ 4,190 to which is added Board and Lodging Allowance (currently: Tirana 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.

Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

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

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact: recruitment-al@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.