Chief of Rule of Law and Human Rights Unit (S3)

Background

OSCE field operations are the front line of the OSCE’s engagement on the ground, supporting host authorities in fulfilling OSCE commitments and implementing a comprehensive approach to security. The OSCE Mission to Skopje is the Organization's longest-serving field operation working on social cohesion, fundamental rights, gender equality, the rule of law, good governance, integrity and anticorruption, criminal justice and police reform.

General Minimum Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working with the OSCE are:

• Excellent physical condition
• Possession of a valid automobile driving license and ability to drive using manual transmission
• Ability to cope with physical hardship and willingness to work extra hours and in an environment with limited infrastructure 

Field of Expertise Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working in this field of expertise are: 

• Second-level university degree in law or significant work experience in criminal justice and/or law enforcement (the latter required for police and corrections officer training)
• Experience in the practice of law, e.g. judges, prosecutors, lawyers, etc.
• Knowledge of courtroom proceedings and criminal law and procedure
• Knowledge of international legal procedure standards and instruments
• Demonstrable organizational, analytical, communication and interpersonal skills

Level of Professional Competence Requirements

Furthermore, this level of responsibility requires the following:

Education:

Second-level university degree in a relevant field; First-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree

Experience:

Minimum of 6 years relevant, diversified and progressively responsible professional experience including at least 3 years at the management level relevant to the actual position

Mission Specific Requirements

Additionally, this particular post has specific requirements:

Mandatory:

• Second-level university degree in Law, International Human Rights, Criminal Law, or similar;
• Extensive experience at the policy and programmatic level in the wider Rule of Law, with a particular focus on judicial reform, fundamental rights, access to justice, tolerance and non-discrimination, trial monitoring, anti-corruption;
• Extensive experience in programme and project design, project management and supervision;
• Demonstrated and progressively responsible management experience;
• Strong analytical, organizational and planning skills;
• Strong interpersonal, motivational and communication, as well as facilitation and mentoring skills;
• Strong drafting and presentation skills for various purposes including thematic backgrounds, talking points or analytical concept notes;
• Sound knowledge of the political environment and the legal system in the host country, the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) and social and political dynamics connected with it and a keen sense of political acumen to navigate these dynamics effectively;
• Professional fluency in the English language with excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.

Desirable:

• Experience in working with the OSCE or other international organizations
• Solid understanding of the political system in the Republic of North Macedonia
• Knowledge of at least one of the local languages in the Mission area

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Head of the Human Dimension Department (HDD), the incumbent is responsible for: 

1. Functioning as the main Departmental contact on matters related to rule of law and human rights and advising the Head of Department, and the Senior Management as required, on legal, policy, programmatic and strategic issues within this field;
2. The overall day-to-day functioning of the Unit, including supervision of staff, providing leadership and support, managing performance, identifying learning needs/opportunities and sharing substantive knowledge;
3. Designing project, implementation, monitoring and self-evaluation; providing relevant input for the Mission’s Budget Cycle (PBPR, PO, UB);
4. Managing Unit and ensuring quality implementation of the Unit’s projects in accordance with departmental and Mission strategies, and the OSCE rules and regulations;
5. Ensuring that the wider Rule of Law and Human Rights component is synergetic with other interventions of the Mission, and co-ordinating the work of Unit with other Units/Departments in the Mission;
6. Supporting the Head of Department in ensuring management based on results, key performance indicators and careful project implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
7. Liaising and maintaining good relations with the Unit’s interlocutors at an appropriate level, to ensure best use of OSCE resources, compatibility of projects, alignment and avoidance of duplication;
8. Performing any other duties as required.

For more detailed information on the work of OSCE Mission to Skopje, please see www.osce.org/skopje

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. Please note that nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are not eligible to apply.

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.

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.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. 

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. If your participating State does not provide the option to apply online for seconded positions, you are kindly requested to submit your offline application form available at https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form to the respective OSCE delegation whose address can be found at https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.

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: https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.