Background:

This is an extra-budgetary position within the project “Stronger Democratic institutions in Eastern Partnership Countries”, an ODIHR project supported and funded by the EU, that is currently envisaged to last until the end of 2027. The selected candidate should commit to being available for the duration of the project.

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 OSCE participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. ODIHR’s assistance projects and other activities are implemented in OSCE participating States in accordance with ODIHR’s mandate.

The Associate Project Officer’s post is located in the Democratization Department within ODIHR. The Democratization Department’s activities include the following thematic areas: rule of law, democratic governance and gender, migration and freedom of movement, and legislative support. Within this context, the ExB project will implement activities covering all these thematic areas in EU Eastern Partnership Countries (hereinafter EaP Countries) with a view to bolstering systems of democratic governance, based on the respect of rule of law and human rights, increase public trust in institutions, encourage more representative government, inclusive and participatory political and decision-making processed, all of which contributes to more effective responses to ongoing crises an builds resilience to future ones.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Project Officer, and in close co-operation with the Rule of Law Adviser, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

1. Selecting, interpreting, organizing and summarizing background information to describe the overall context and background relevant to the project and/or democratization, in particular, rule of law, in EaP partner countries, assessing the local, regional or international context for the planning and administration of the project.
2. Implementing the project by facilitating process delivery, analyzing and interpreting project background history and documentation, identifying, reconstructing and documenting significant project events, decisions and deviations, leading needs analysis and formulation of project outputs and activities, including forecasting of budgets, participating in the selection and oversight of consultants, implementing partners and vendors.
3. Preparing and delivering capacity building, facilitation and moderation activities according to plan, and providing expertise in the development and implementation of policies, programmes and activities, and as well as management support in the relevant field of expertise.
4. Drafting sections of project documents such as background and justification, risk assessment and/or logical framework matrix etc., as well as drafting concept notes and providing substantive input to project progress and evaluation reports, talking points etc.; drafting comments on designated aspects of project progress as an input to programme monitoring; drafting project revisions, including adjusting individual project budgets, on the basis of changed work plans.
5. Conducting monitoring and reporting activities, including monitoring specific aspects of project implementation, budget and expenditure, and identifying problems and proposing that actions be taken to expedite delivery of inputs.
6. Arranging co-ordination meetings, workshops, training, discussion fora, sessions, briefings, visits, publications and related activities for visitors, missions and counterparts, including provision of guidance on related administrative matters, in collaboration with designated internal and external partners and stakeholders.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, please see: http://www.osce.org/odihr

Necessary qualifications:

• First-level university degree in law;
• A minimum of 4 years of experience (or two years of experience with relevant second-level degree) in the field of justice system reform, judicial independence, judicial examination of administrative disputes, respect of the right to a fair trial, judicial protection of fundamental civil rights, or trial monitoring. Mixed experience at the national and international level will be an added value;
• Demonstrated experience in planning, implementing and managing project activities, preferably in OSCE participating States in one or several of the following fields: justice system reform, judicial independence, judicial examination of administrative disputes, respect of the right to a fair trial, protection of fundamental civil rights, or trial monitoring;
• Proven knowledge of regional and international human rights standards, preferably in the field of judicial independence and/or right to a fair trial, and/or fundamental civil rights, and of rule of law principles;
• Experience working in developing or transitional societies, interacting with a range of government officials and professional in the justice sector and knowledge of political and socio-economic developments in the countries of the CEE, South-Eastern Europe and South Caucasus would be an asset;
• Demonstrated understanding of gender mainstreaming and ability to mainstream gender in project activities and result areas;
• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Working knowledge of Russian would be an asset.;
• Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is approximately EUR 5,600 depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland. Social benefits will include participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. The Organization contributes an amount equivalent to 15% of the employee’s salary to this Fund and the employee contributes 7.5%. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

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/.

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.

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.