Senior Executive Officer (S)

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.

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.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in his/her activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, and co-ordinating tasks across the Secretariat. It groups horizontal services such as Executive Management, Communications and Media Relations, Legal Services, External Co-operation, Security Management, Gender Issues, Conference and Language Services, Central Records Management, and oversees the OSCE Document Centre in Prague (DCiP). The OSG ensures effective co-ordination of policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship, and management decisions taken by the Secretary General.

The Senior Executive Officer is a member of the OSG Policy Team. The Policy Team, which is managed by the Senior Adviser, coordinates advice on political and other developments both within and outside the OSCE region, including all aspects of comprehensive security policy. It also coordinates advice and support in relation to coordinated political planning, developing/implementing strategies, and research and analytical activities. The Policy Team develops messages and provides strategic vision for speeches and statements by the Secretary General and OSCE Chairmanship, based on input from the relevant Secretariat units. Team members draft and/or review the Secretary General’s preparatory materials for meetings and travel as well as all speeches, articles and reports. The Policy Team coordinates and follows up on the implementation of special projects for the Secretary General, and it contributes to outreach to participating States, civil society, academic and research institutions.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the guidance of the Senior Adviser and the overall supervision of the Director of the Office of the Secretary General, the Senior Executive Officer provides advice and coordination support to the Secretary General and through him/her to the Chair, including all aspects of comprehensive security policy and/or management issues in the Secretariat and OSCE-wide. In particular, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

• Developing speeches, presentations, food-for-thought and perception papers, reports and other documents, both for delivery as well as in written form, for the Secretary General and Chair;
• Providing policy analysis, advice and support to the Secretary General and the OSCE Chair, assisting in the development of OSCE strategies and policies;
• Closely following events and policy issues in the OSCE region that are relevant to the Organization’s mandate;
• Co-ordinating preparations and drafting/consolidating inputs for the meetings and travels of the CiO and the Secretary General, including speaking points, briefing notes and background information, in co-operation with other departments and units from the Secretariat;
• Advising the Secretary General on documents submitted for his/her decision and making sure submissions are clear and ready for a decision when reaching the Secretary General;
• Assisting the Secretary General on trips and in meetings, providing policy advice and ensuring operational and communications support, note-taking, reporting, and follow-up to action points;
• Attending and reporting on meetings of the advisory and decision-making bodies of the OSCE, including the Troika and bilateral meetings with the Chair; representing Executive Management in internal meetings of the OSCE Secretariat, when requested;
• Performing other relevant duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A second-level university degree in international relations, political science, administration, regional studies or another related subject; a first-level university degree in the said fields in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• A minimum of seven years (nine years with a relevant first-level university degree) of professional-level experience in international relations work at the national and/or international level performing cabinet-type functions, liaison or speech writing functions;
• Demonstrated capacity to anticipate emerging needs and potential risks and propose solutions to address them;
• Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, public presentation skills;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills; working knowledge of another OSCE language is an 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, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literacy with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, 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.

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

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post is 10 years.

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 here .

Please apply to your relevant authorities well in advance of the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. The OSCE can only process Secondment applications that have been nominated by participating States. For queries relating to your application, please refer to the respective delegation as listed here .

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

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

Additional Information

• Issued by: OSCE Secretariat
• Requisition ID: SEC000690
• Contract Type: International Secondment
• Grade: S
• Job Type: Seconded
• Number of posts: 1
• Closing Date: Feb 18, 2025
• Employee Status: Fixed Term
• Schedule: Full-time
• Education Level: Master\’s Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent)
• Job Field: Political Affairs
• Target Start Date: As soon as possible

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