Project Assistant (G5)

Background:

The post is located in the Economic and Environmental Department within the OSCE Programme Office in Bishhkek. It is an extra-budgetary (ExB) post within the project “Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia. Phase III” that is currently envisaged to last two years. This ExB project is managed by the OSCE Office Coordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). The project will concentrate on engaging, capacity-building, and raising awareness among local stakeholders in participating countries for uranium legacy sites remediation and improved socio-economic conditions in target communities driven by local participatory planning, gender-sensitive solutions, business development, and strengthened regional cooperation. In addition to this post, the project also comprises the following ExB posts: Project Officer (P2) and 3 Project Assistants (G5) based in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

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 concerns can contribute to peace, security and stability. The OCEEA’s role is to monitor economic and environmental developments among participating States, and alert them to any threat of conflict, and to facilitate the formulation of economic and environmental policies and initiatives among participating States, to promote peace and security.

Main Purpose

To provide administrative and, where relevant, substantive support in implementing project activities, including organizing awareness-raising and capacity-building events, supporting process delivery, the development and maintenance of databases of information, and providing project administration support.

Working under general supervision, the Project Assistant provides technical support and facilitates process delivery in project administration by performing tasks of substantial variety and complexity that require the selection, interpretation and assembly of information and data from several sources in examining problems for which several possible solutions exist but which are normally covered by general practice. S/he serves as a resource to other project staff in project administration matters.

Work Relationships

The Project Assistant reports to Project Officer (P2), while Head of EED acts as the second-level supervisor. 

Internal contacts are mainly with National Environmental Officer (NP1) to receive required guidelines on the daily work related to the project implementation, other teams within EED (social economic and good governance) and Fund Administration Unit (FAU) to obtain and clarify information related to project administration and to obtain approval of project documents, correspondence and expenditure, as well as to make administrative arrangements for the implementation of project activities. External contacts are mainly with the relevant state and international partners, such as the Ministry of Emergency Situation, Ministry of Environment and non-state partners, such as the United Nations Development Programme, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Union Delegation, Aarhus Centres, OSCE Field operations and OCEEA to answer queries to project activities and to make administrative arrangements for the implementation of project activities. 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the OCEEA Project Officer and the overall guidance of the Head of the Economic and Environmental Department in OSCE POiB. Daily work coordination is done by the National Environmental Officer. The incumbent is tasked with the following:

1.    Supporting project implementation “Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia. Phase III” through all steps of the project cycle, by assisting in needs analysis and formulation of project outcomes, outputs and activities, including forecasting of budgets, implementing project activities through participation in the selection and oversight of consultants, implementing partners and vendors.
2.    Assisting in conducting research, collating, synthesizing and presenting data and information in a required format from readily available sources on radioactive safety, stakeholder’s engagement for an assigned sector, area or country; designing and drafting supporting flow charts, schedules, graphs and tables; co-ordinating the collection and verification of documents, actions and data with substantive or support units assembling and editing basic data required for planning and negotiation, in format dictated by agenda or supervisor’s instructions checking project documents for clarity, consistency and completeness.
3.    Undertaking computer-based searches; collating, selecting and interpreting information necessary for the development of project activities and events; assisting in the preparation of papers and presentations by extracting/summarizing statistics. Drafting working documents and background material pertaining to issues addressed through project outcomes and outputs, including spot reports, talking points, concept notes, agendas, summaries, and providing substantive input to project progress, implementation and evaluation reports.
4.    Describing and presenting progress of ongoing project activities, investigating designated project outputs, discussing findings with supervisor to identify implications for the work of the unit, discussing rationale and context of project activities, considering the alternative methods for project design, management, problem identification and problem resolution; maintaining institutional memory or other documentation systems to record programme and project history and ongoing activities.
5.    Performing all administrative tasks  related to meetings, workshops, training, discussion fora, sessions, briefings, visits, publications and related activities for visitors, missions and counterparts, including budget follow ups and logistical  matters. Using ERP, initiating and following up on actions related to requisitions, recruitment of consultants, training and study tours, purchase of services and goods, payments, travel authorizations requests/claims and dealing with all related inquiries.
6.    Assists in establishing and maintaining relations with stakeholders; ensuring co-ordination of planning and conduct of the project with key partners inside and outside the Organization, project beneficiaries and donors.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, please see: https://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-bishkek.

Necessary Qualifications:

•    Completed secondary education, supplemented by specialized training or formal studies in  Environment, Economics, Social Science, International Relations or related field; 
•    A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience (four years with relevant first-level university degree or 3 years with relevant second-level university degree) in environment and security projects, increasing post remediation growth, stakeholder’s engagement, industrial development activities and/ or other related fields;
•    Experience in project planning, implementation and reporting;
•    Good knowledge of the post uranium legacy sites rehabilitation process with the focus on social-economic and environmental development including stakeholder’s engagement; 
•    Established knowledge and understanding of the developments in national and regional context and programme matters in regard to radioactive safety, hazard waste management, stakeholder’s engagement processes, post-remediation processes of the uranium legacy sites; 
•    Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet;
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.  Working knowledge of Russian or Kyrgyz languages is necessary. 

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions is 899.67 Euro/month. Social benefits will include Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale.

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.

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 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.