Head of Programme Co-ordination (S3)

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: 

- Demonstrable organizational skills
- Proven ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills and documented experience in negotiations
- Negotiating experience, preferably in the area of monitoring operations and/or related activities

Level of Professional Competence Requirements

Furthermore, this level of responsibility requires the following:

Education: Second-level university degree in international relations, political science, law, business administration, human resources or another relevant field. Equivalent professional experience can exceptionally substitute for formal educational degrees.

Experience: Minimum 6 years of 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:

• International mission members in the OSCE are internationally recruited. For the purposes of OSCE Missions (Field Operations) this means that they are hired to work in a duty station outside of their home country or country of permanent residence. As a result, nationals and permanent residents of the duty station are not eligible for international mission member positions. In the case of individuals with multiple nationalities, candidates are still ineligible for consideration even if using another citizenship for application while simultaneously maintaining the citizenship or permanent residence status of the country where the duty station is located;

- Significant programme and project management experience with full project cycle management including monitoring and reporting;

- Work experience in public administration, relevant international organizations, civic  associations (including NGOs), or relevant business, economic or political entities;

- Proven organizational, communication, analytical and interpersonal skills;

- Professional Fluency in English, both oral and written, including excellent drafting skills;

- Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and within limited time frames;

- Demonstrated 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;
 

Desirable:

- Previous international work experience and/or experience in field missions;
- Experience and/or knowledge of the region, especially of Albania;
- Familiarity and/or experience working with the OSCE;
- Experience of fund-raising and/or donor relations;

Tasks and Responsibilities

The Programme Co-ordination Unit (PCU) is part of the Office of the Head of Presence. The PCU works across the OSCE Presence in Albania (the Presence) to co-ordinate programmes and projects  according to the OSCE planning and budgeting cycle. It reviews documents to ensure quality, alignment with the mandate and coherence with wider programming and project work. It actively advises the Head  and Deputy Head of Presence and all staff on the development, design and implementation of all  programming. It leads the Presence’s programme and project monitoring and evaluation. It also  develops and maintains contacts with the international and donor community in Albania.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, and working closely  with the Head of Presence, the Head of Programme Co-ordination, together with their team, is  responsible for all Programme and Project Co-ordination work across the Presence. In particular, s/he:

1. Works across the Presence to co-ordinate programmes according to the OSCE planning and  budgeting cycle, ensuring alignment with the mandate and coherence with wider programming and  project work; Helps design and implement extra-budgetary projects based upon the Mandate;

2. Advises senior management on principles and standards of programme and project design and  management and advises staff actively on the development, designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all programming;

3. Oversees the implementation of OSCE standards of project design and project management and  reviews all draft project documents to ensure quality, including through a proper focus on indicators,  monitoring and evaluation, information-sharing and reporting; Co-ordinates programmatic inputs to all 
relevant documents;

4. Leads the Presence's project monitoring and evaluation and identifying and systematizing best practices directly linked to project goals and activities;

5. Devises and leads activities to improve creativity, coherence, effectiveness and efficiency in programmes and projects; continues to seek innovation and improvement in project design and project management and developing relevant training to support this;

6. Co-ordinates and maintains regular contacts with the donor community and current and potential donors

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Presence in Albania, please see: https://www.osce.org/presence-in-albania

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.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

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

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. 

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.