National Programme Officer (NP1)

Background:

Please note that this position is open to citizens and permanent residents of Montenegro only.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro (Mission) provides assistance to the host country to institute reforms, and in further strengthening democratic development in line with the OSCE’s commitments and principles. In line with its mandate, the Mission works with the national and local authorities, civil society and the media in the following areas: election administration reform, parliamentary reform, combatting corruption and organized crime, law enforcement and security sector reform, building media professionalism, promoting economic development and environmental protection.

The Media Programme of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro works in support of freedom of information, strengthening media professionalism by enhancing capacities of journalists and media institutions to produce quality and reliable media content, in line with national and international standards. It provides support for the development of the public service broadcaster, Radio Television Montenegro (RTCG). Furthermore, it supports the Ministry of Culture and Media in implementing media legislation and strategies in line with international standards, to promote an environment that enables independent and pluralistic media. The Mission works with the Agency for Electronic Media to increase knowledge on media and digital literacy and, in partnership with the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, work against discriminatory speech. The Mission supported the adoption of the Codex of Montenegrin Journalists in April 2016 and continues its efforts towards strengthening media self-regulation in Montenegro. 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of Media Programme Manager (S2) and second-level supervision of the Deputy Head of Mission/Programme Coordinator (DHoM), you will provide technical support to project planning, development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, with special attention to gender mainstreaming and gender equality aspects. In addition, you will synthesize and analyse information in order to advise Media Programme Manager and co-ordinate relevant activities focusing on the Programme’s core areas of fostering media development and providing tailored support to enhance media self-regulatory mechanisms, promote media literacy, prevention of hate speech, media professionalism and quality content, prioritize the safety of journalists with a focus on female and investigative journalists. Within the Media Programme, you are expected to act as a leader, sharing the knowledge and leading by example.

Internally, you will maintain regular contact with the Media Programme Mission Members, Office of Head of Mission, and Fund Administration Unit in order to provide or obtain information or status of project activities, project proposals, acceptance of pledges, management of projects and reporting on their implementation. Additionally, you will maintain regular contact with the office of OSCE Representative on the Freedom of the Media (RFoM), and/or other relevant departments of the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, as well as with the other OSCE field operations in South-Eastern Europe. Externally, you will maintain contact with relevant senior and mid-level government officials, Ministry of Culture and Media, Ministry of Education, Agency for Electronic Media, Protector for Human Rights and Freedoms, Office of the Supreme State Prosecutor, International Federation of Journalists, international and non-governmental organizations, implementing partners, relevant Experts/Consultants, for the purpose of the project development and implementation.

More specifically, you will be tasked with the following:

1. Developing, drafting and implementing activities of the Media Programme’s unified budget projects and possible extra budgetary projects, focusing on the Programmes’s core areas, by proactively anticipating needs, identifying opportunities, and taking initiative before being asked, making sure that all project activities are adapted to local conditions with a coherent approach to the geographical area, according to established performance indicators and time-frames, thus achieving accountability for project results and long-term sustainability, provides regular written and verbal feedback, in particular written progress reports during the implementation phase of the assigned activities and contributes to the preparation of the final self-evaluation reports at the conclusion of the projects. 
2. Conducting research on topics/issues related to the portfolio of Media Programme, particularly those impacting Montenegro and the South-Eastern Europe region, by collecting relevant data in order to compile background information for the project activities and writing summaries of latest trends pertaining to respective areas of Programme’s focus. 
3. Drafting policy papers, summaries, and recommendations or conclusions derived from international and local reports and recommendations/results from past Media Programme’s projects, furthermore derived from its project activities and outcomes.
4. Preparing periodic Analyses and Reports related to Media Affairs in general, including: provision of inputs for the Mission’s Monthly Activity Report,  drafting, screening and /or reviewing interim and final narrative reports on project implementation as well as financial expenditure reports, providing input and drafting the annual Reports, drafting and maintaining official correspondence in both English and the local language, drafting briefing notes, inputs to various Mission’s tasks and compiling the summaries of meetings and project activities.
5. Establishing and maintaining communication with internal (RFoM, other OSCE field operations in South-Eastern Europe) and/or external contacts to receive and/or share the information, in order to expand project ideas and to formulate projects.
6. Arranging coordination meetings, workshops, training, discussion fora, sessions, briefings, visits, publications, and related activities for visitors, missions, and counterparts, including providing guidance and arrangements on related administrative matters.

For more detailed information on the structure and work  of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, please see: https://www.osce.org/mission-to-montenegro

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in journalism, media studies, communications, political or social sciences, international affairs or another related.
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in project management, specifically managing and implementing projects related to media affairs, including initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as reporting on the project performance, preferably in an international organization.
• Proven experience in the area of Freedom of Media.
• Demonstrated planning, analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English and local languages.
• Strong communication, presentation, public speaking and drafting skills including the ability to draft concise reports.
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS), Integrated Resource Management Application System, or similar.
• Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of relationship building and fostering co-ordination among stakeholders.
• 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.
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions, is EUR 2,200.50. Social benefits will include participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund.

Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. At the discretion of the appointing authority a higher step may be approved up to a maximum of step 3 subject to specific conditions.

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.

This position is open to citizens and permanent residents of Montenegro only.

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.

Please note that for this position the OSCE does not reimburse expenses such as travel in connection with interviews, tests, visas and relocation.

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

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 63 years at the time of appointment as the incumbent selected is normally expected to carry out the contractual obligation of two years.