Poland: Human Rights Adviser, Capacity Building Co-ordinator

Organization: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Country: Poland
Closing date: 06 Nov 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.

In accordance with the ODIHR’s 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; addressing the relationship between human rights, gender and the security sector; and promoting freedom of religion or belief.

The Human Rights Education and Capacity Building Team is one of the five teams which are part of the ODIHR Human Rights Department. The Team designs, implements and monitors programmatic activities on human rights education and capacity building for government authorities, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), civil society in OSCE participating States, as well as OSCE staff.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head, Human Rights Department, the successful candidate will be tasked with:

• Identifying, developing and implementing capacity building programmatic activities and projects on key human rights areas of concern for/with government authorities, NHRIs, non-governmental organizations and OSCE structures and missions;
• Ensuring contact and co-operation with, and providing advice to, government officials and institutions of participating States, OSCE field presences, international organizations, international and national NGOs and independent experts, specifically in reference to capacity building programme activities and NHRIs;
• Monitoring and analyzing the implementation of OSCE Human Dimension commitments related to human rights and fundamental freedoms with a view to identify key areas of concern;
• Providing advice and recommendations, and preparing general and issue-specific reports and/or other background materials, for the ODIHR management on incidents, priority issues and situations related to human rights;
• Responding to requests to the ODIHR on information regarding the implementation of OSCE Human Dimension commitments, particularly those related to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE region;
• Participating in human rights field assessment missions, including in situations of heightened risk, as required;
• Performing other related duties as required.

Necessary Qualifications:

* University degree in law, political science, international relations, or social sciences, with a specialization in human rights; possession of an advanced university degree in a related field is desirable;

• A minimum of six years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of human rights, including experience at the international level and preferably in an advisory function;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing capacity building activities, including experience in designing and implementing projects;
• Solid knowledge of and/or experience in working with national human rights institutions is desirable; excellent knowledge of UN, Council of Europe and OSCE human rights standards;
• Experience in human rights training and education;
• In-depth knowledge of human rights monitoring, reporting methodology and practice; ability and willingness to deploy to the field, sometimes on short notice, for different types of monitoring missions;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of Russian is desirable;
• 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 4,950 (single rate) and approximately EUR 5,300 (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 under http://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 short-listed candidates 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.