Deputy Head - Office of Legal Affairs, (P4)

Background:

The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) provides legal services OSCE-wide with respect to public international law, internal justice matters, financial and contractual matters, and legal issues related to the structure and activities of the OSCE, including claims against it. OLA also advises on personnel matters, develops and strengthens the overall regulatory framework of the OSCE, and advises on its implementation, including with respect to international civil service law.

The Office of Legal Affairs sits within the Office of the Secretary General, which in turn plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of the mandate and specific tasks assigned to the Secretary General by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in carrying out activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, co-ordinating policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chair as well as management decisions taken by the Secretary General. 

The Deputy Head is expected to assist H/OLA carry out the main tasks necessary for the functioning of the Office by preparing expert and timely legal advice on the full range of legal issues that affect the OSCE, including by representing OLA in working groups and committees and supporting H/OLA in the mentoring of Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), staff members hired on Short-Term Appointments (STAs) and interns.

The Deputy Head closely co-ordinates and liaises with H/OLA on requests for legal advice to ensure a common and consistent approach in OLA to, inter alia, the interpretation and application of the OSCE Common Regulatory Management System (CRMS), the decisions of the OSCE decision-making bodies, the resolution of administrative and personnel matters, and other matters falling within OLA’s portfolio of responsibilities.

The Deputy Head is directly supervised by H/OLA (P5). The Director, Office of the Secretary General (D1) is the second level administrative supervisor. The incumbent directly supervises Junior Professional Officers and interns.

The Deputy Head communicates with OSCE officials requiring OLA’s advice, as appropriate. The incumbent may be required to contact officials from the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as international and non-governmental organizations to obtain or provide any kind of information required by or of OLA.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Office of Legal Affairs, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Provides expert and timely legal advice on the interpretation of the regulatory framework of the Organization, including the Financial and Staff Regulations, Rules, Instructions and other administrative issuances, and prepares drafts and reviews proposed amendments thereto; and prepares drafts and reviews other administrative issuances (e.g., policy guidance, guidelines) and verifies their consistency with the Regulations, Rules and Instructions; 
2. Provides expert and timely legal advice on the full scope of multi-disciplinary, complex and novel legal issues relating to the function of the Organization, including concerning the legal status and privileges and immunities of the OSCE and its officials; 
3. Provides expert and timely legal advice on the drafting, negotiation and interpretation of legal instruments, including international agreements, arrangements, memoranda of understanding or other legal arrangements concluded on behalf of the Organization with participating States, international organizations and other entities; 
4. Provides expert and timely legal advice on contractual matters, as required, including dispute resolution, intellectual property rights, insurance and data protection; participates in the drafting and negotiation of leases and high value and complex commercial contracts with senior officials in the Secretariat, Institutions and Field Operations; 
5. Provides expert and timely legal advice on procedural issues arising in OSCE decision-making bodies; 
6. Conducts legal research and analysis for the preparation of legal opinions, studies, reports or correspondence; 
7. Serves as Officer-in-Charge (OiC) of the office, in the absence of H/OLA. 

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

Necessary Qualifications:

• Education: A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) in Law is required. A second-level university degree would be desirable. 

• Experience and knowledge/skills:  A minimum of seven years (nine with a first-level university degree) of progressively responsible professional-level experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required, including at least three years in international organizations; 

• Proven knowledge of the legal frameworks of international organizations;

• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet. 

• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills; Knowledge of another official OSCE language would be 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 team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;

• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration is around EUR 7,800, with the actual monthly salary depending on post adjustment and family status. OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. 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. In exceptional cases, an initial appointment at up to Step 3 may be considered. This depends on factors such as relevant experience exceeding minimum requirements or higher previous remuneration. Any such request by a candidate must be reviewed and approved by the OSCE before the appointment

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.

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.