Poland: Head, Human Rights Department

Organization: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Country: Poland
Closing date: 18 Jan 2015

Background:

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. 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 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 overall authority of the Director and the direct supervision of the First Deputy Director of ODIHR, the Head of Human Rights Department is responsible for performing the following functions:

• Formulating ODIHR's human rights strategies; continuously developing and refining the vision and direction for the work of the Human Rights Department and creating conditions for implementing that vision or direction;
• Formulating the programme of work, budget and work plan of the Department and participate in the overall formulation and approval of the programme of work of the ODIHR.
• Managing, co-ordinating and supervising the staff and financial resources of the Human Rights Department;
• Advising ODIHR’s Director and First Deputy Director and other Departments on human rights matters;
• Developing and maintaining relations with the OSCE Secretariat, other Institutions and Field operations, international organisations, academic institutions, experts and NGOs on human rights issues on co-ordination and human rights policy matters;
• Developing and maintaining relations with permanent delegations of OSCE participating States and officials at high levels of governments and advising them on human rights issues and policies;
• Performing other related duties as required.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in human rights, political science, law or related field;
• Ten to twelve years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, preferably in an international environment;
• Management experience is essential;
• Field experience and work in international organisations would be desirable;
• Demonstrated experience in project management;
• Knowledge of and experience in human right issues in the OSCE area;
• Excellent knowledge of English with excellent writing skills is required; knowledge of Russian is desirable; knowledge of other OSCE working languages would be an asset;
• Excellent drafting, editing and presentation skills;
• 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;
• Ability and willingness to deploy to the field, sometimes on short notice, for different types of monitoring missions.

Remuneration:
Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions as well as monthly changes of the post adjustment multiplier and exchange rate, is approximately EUR 7,200 (single rate) and approximately EUR 7,750 (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.

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. Deadline for submitting applications: 18 January 2015.

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/83

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 5 years.