Senior Policy Support Assistant

The Policy Support Service (PSS) serves as the Organization’s primary point of contact on all matters concerning field operations; it monitors the implementation of the mandates of the individual field operations and advises the SG and the Chairpersonship on related policy and operational issues. It also analyses early-warning signals regarding the situation in the field and recommends the implementation of relevant preventive or reactive action. Support provided to the SG and the Chairpersonship includes background information, policy support and advice, input to speeches and travel files as well as drafting summary records. PSS facilitates the co-ordination of programmes and activities among field operations and with those of OSCE specialized units within the Secretariat and institutions and assists field operations with their input to the budget cycle process. PSS also provides support for the Chairperson-in-Office’s representatives dealing with protracted conflicts and related formats.

The PSS is composed of four regional desks covering Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

You will be one of three Senior Policy Support Assistants. Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director for Policy Support Service, you will be responsible for providing substantive assistance to the regional desks on a range of matters.

More specifically, you will perform the following tasks:

• Ensuring the effective flow of information between headquarters and the field;
• Formatting, proof-reading and providing comments on final drafts of English-language reports of field operations before processing them for distribution to delegations;
• Attending Permanent Council meetings and other ad hoc meetings related to assigned field operations and writing summaries, notes and reports for distribution;
• Proofreading various English-language documents, including reports, speaking points and background, for senior management and the Chairpersonship;
• Assisting Policy Support Officers in the review process of extra-budgetary projects;
• Preparing administrative and logistical aspects of visits of senior officials to Mission areas;
• Assisting regional desks with the organization of Regional Meetings of Heads of Field Operations, participating in such meetings and contributing to related reports;
• Assisting with preparations for the Annual Meeting of the Chairpersonship  and the Secretariat with the Heads of Field Operations and Institutions, and drafting reports on certain sessions;
• Conducting research on OSCE-related topics and compiling and co-ordinating input to various OSCE documents;
• Maintaining various databases and updating OSCE reference documents and numerous email lists on a regular basis;
• Contributing to other CPC-related tasks, or projects, as required, and performing other related duties, such as participating in CPC-related events.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Completed secondary education supplemented by post-secondary education or training in the field of administration, political science, international affairs, history, or a related field; a first-level university degree is desirable;
• At least six years of relevant work experience in an international environment; a university degree in a relevant field may be considered as a substitute for up to two years of working experience;
• Professional fluency in English, including excellent oral and written communication skills; knowledge of other OSCE working languages is an asset;
• Outstanding co-ordination and organizational skills;
• Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and under time pressure;
• Ability to work under minimal supervision;
• Demonstrated experience in writing and editing reports or publications is desirable;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to work in a team and establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate, including the ability to operate Microsoft applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint and email.

Source: https://vacancies.osce.org/jobs/senior-policy-support-assistant-g6-3615