Environmental Affairs Adviser (S)

Background:

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 Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) deals with economic and environmental issues, operating under the premise that promoting economic prosperity and co-operation on environmental matters can contribute to international security and stability. The OCEEA helps the OSCE address economic, social and environmental aspects of security, through monitoring economic and environmental challenges among participating States and the implementation of OSCE commitments in that regard,   strengthening co-operation between participating States in this area and collaboration with relevant international economic and environmental organizations, and  developing tools, initiatives and dialogue platforms to facilitate economic and environmental co-operation and sustainable development. 

Within this context, the OCEEA’s Environmental Activities portfolio provides a platform for co-operation between participating States to address environmental issues, in relation to security objectives. It implements projects and activities related to sustainable use of natural resources, responses to impacts from climate change, energy security, and good environmental governance.
 

Tasks and Responsibilities:
 

The main purpose of this position is to support OCEEA’s activities as well as the development, implementation and co-ordination of projects in the area of transboundary natural resource and water management, in close interaction with regional and local OSCE executive structures and other international actors, and to substantially contribute to technical and policy advice and capacity-building workshops and events.

Working with minimum supervision, the Environmental Affairs Adviser provides expert advice on project implementation modalities and on the planning and conduct of programmatic activities in the field of environmental security, particularly water management. This includes guiding project design in line with OSCE standards, advising on partnerships and coordination mechanisms with OSCE structures and participating States, identifying priorities and opportunities for joint action, ensuring coherence with national and regional policies, and supporting effective delivery, reporting and visibility of programme activities.

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Senior Environmental Affairs Adviser while the Deputy Co-ordinator/Head, Environmental Activities acts as the second level supervisor.

More specifically, the Environmental Affairs Adviser performs the following tasks:
 

1. Developing, implementing and co-ordinating environmental projects, particularly in water management, in line with OSCE project management standards and in consultation with OSCE structures, delegations, field operations, experts and partners;

2. Identifying needs and priorities, ensuring alignment with national and regional policies, and adjusts project outputs to maximize OSCE added value and impact;

3. 3.    Organizing meetings, technical events, trainings and conferences, particularly on water security, ensuring partner co-ordination, logistical arrangements and substantive contributions;

4. Establishing and maintaining target-oriented working relations with international and regional organizations, initiatives, business partners and NGOs to enhance synergies and monitor environmental trends; 

5. Representing OCEEA at relevant meetings and events, analysing environmental developments, including water-related issues and policies, to inform participating States and OSCE structures; 

6. Identifying opportunities for joint activities, supports co-ordinated programme development and sharing project results across partners and stakeholders; 

7. Contributing to OCEEA policy and dialogue processes, including EEF, EEDIM and EEC, by preparing inputs, drafting speeches, statements, presentations and briefing materials; 

8. Collecting and analysing environmental and social data and preparing reports, papers and other written outputs;

9. Promoting synergies with OCEEA’s other programmes and liaising with the secretariat’s other departments and OSCE structures to enhance impacts;

10. Mobilizing and maintaining funding for environmental activities, preparing concept notes, proposals and donor reports in co-ordination with relevant OSCE departments;

11. Enhancing visibility of OCEEA activities by preparing outreach materials and supporting events that communicate project results and engage funding partners.   

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

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level university degree in Environmental Science, Economics, International Relations or Political Sciences, with a focus on environmental security issues. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree; 
• Recognized project management certification would be an asset; 
• A minimum of five years (seven years with a relevant first-level degree) of professional experience, preferably at the international/multilateral level;
• Working experience in diplomatic service and in an international organization would be an important asset;
• Familiarity with the OSCE regions, in particular Central Asia, South Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe or South Caucasus, would be an important asset;
• Familiarity with a broad spectrum of security-related environmental issues;
• Analytical skills and experience in performing research;
• Professional fluency in English, with excellent communication and drafting skills; knowledge of another OSCE language, in particular Russian, would be an important asset;
• Demonstrated gender and diversity awareness and sensitivity, and ability to integrate a gender and diversity perspective in the workplace;
• Ability to establish and maintain external partnerships as well as effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst remaining impartial and objective;
• Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft applications.
   

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.

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.

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 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 https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

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. 

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.