Poland: Associate Officer on Freedom of Religion and Belief

Organization: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Country: Poland
Closing date: 28 Oct 2014

Background:

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. The ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. ODIHR’s assistance projects and other activities are implemented in participating States in accordance with ODIHR’s mandate.

In accordance with the ODIHR mandate, the Human Rights Department (HRD) assists participating States in fulfilling their obligations to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. Areas of work covered by the Department include monitoring and analysis of human rights developments in the OSCE area and the provision of expertise and technical assistance to enhance compliance with human dimension commitments; supporting the development of effective human rights education and capacity building; enhancing the protection of human rights while countering terrorism; and addressing the relationship between human rights, gender and the security sector.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion and Belief, the successful candidate will be tasked with:

• Contributing to the development and regular review of the Freedom of Religion or Belief portfolio; researching, analysing and monitoring the developments relevant to Freedom of Religion or Belief Unit;
• Providing substantive advice and identifying new key areas of concerns through the monitoring of developments in law, policy and practice, in collaboration with the Senior Advisor on Freedom of Religion and Belief;
• Identifying priority areas, target groups, partners and most effective means and associated budgets for addressing key Freedom of Religion or Belief issues;
• Conducting assessment visits and consultations with relevant institutions and OSCE field missions; planning workshops, developing evaluation mechanisms, and drafting donor reports;
• Supporting the co-ordination of the work of the ODIHR Advisory Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and contributing to the organization of all meetings of the Advisory Panel;
• Analysing and monitoring public policy, legislation, state practices and OSCE documentation affecting areas related to freedom of religion or belief and related human rights; providing advice and recommendations to the Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion and Belief and the ODIHR management;
• Participating in relevant meetings and representing the ODIHR Freedom of Religion or Belief portfolio at conferences, meetings and events as appropriate;
• Deploying to human rights monitoring missions and performing other related duties as required.

Necessary Qualifications:

* University degree in social sciences, law, or another related field, with specialization in the field of human rights; possession of an advanced degree in a related field is desirable;

• A minimum of four years of relevant professional experience, with at least two years of work experience in an international organization;
• Excellent knowledge of human rights issues and relevant international mechanisms and instruments;
• Strong project management and implementation experience in relation to human rights programmes;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of at least one additional OSCE working language, especially Russian, is desirable;
• Ability and willingness to deploy to the field, sometimes on short notice, for different types of monitoring missions;
• Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religions and cultural backgrounds;
• 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 as well as monthly changes of the post adjustment multiplier and exchange rate, is approximately EUR 4,100 (single rate) and approximately EUR 4,400 (dependency rate). OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland.

Social security will include participation in the Vanbreda International medical insurance scheme and OSCE Provident Fund maintained by the OSCE. The Organization contributes an amount equivalent to 15% of the employee's salary to this Fund and the employee contributes 7.5%. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

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.

How to apply:

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found underhttp://www.osce.org/employment.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise 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 shortlisted applicants will be contacted.Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see http://www.osce.org/who/108218.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation, therefore the maximum period of service in this post is 7 years.Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.