Senior Science Policy Officer (P-4) Office of Strategy and Policy

About Us

The Office of Strategy and Policy develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and the Secretariat’s management, particularly relating to cross-cutting issues such as education and outreach, counter-terrorism, and science and technology.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P4
• 
  Total Salary (including post adjustment)
  USD 95,662
• Closing Date
  08/10/2019

Responsibilities

Job Summary

Are you an accomplished scientist? Are you a creative problem solver, who is unafraid to take on complex open ended issues? Can you effectively communicate to technical and non-technical audiences alike in a highly engaging manner? Do you thrive in intense multilateral working environments? Yes, yes, yes and yes?

Then this is the perfect job for you!

Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will take a leading role in the formulation of the Secretariat’s strategic planning. The role is centered on providing policy advice to the Director-General and senior management, and supporting the Secretariat’s Management Board in coordinating policy implementation – in particular on cross-cutting themes.

The work will also involve keeping abreast of developments both in science and technology and in arms-control policy, as well as analysing and communicating to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders the implications for Chemical Weapons Convention implementation.

To view the complete Job Outline, click here.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

You need to have a doctorate degree or equivalent in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field, preferably in the physical or life sciences.  

Knowledge and Experience

Make sure you have at least 7 years post-degree experience, of which a minimum of 3 years of providing science-based policy advice in the international context  either in the public or private sector.

Desirable:

• Experience in implementing, or analysing the implementation of, the Chemical Weapons Convention  or other science based international instruments.


• Active participant in networks of scientific societies and organisations.


• A track record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific and/or patent literature. Interdisciplinary technical publications are an asset.


• Post-doctoral research experience is an asset.

Skills and Competencies

To succeed in this role you will need the following skills and competencies:

• A strong understanding of scientific and technological principles and approaches across STEM disciplines and application sectors.


• Familiarity with driving forces and trends in scientific and technological change that can be drawn upon to develop related policy recommendations.


• Strong ability to frame technical questions in order to help solve policy problems.


• Advocate of scientific literacy to aid decision making processes.


• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including ability to deliver results through others and ability to deliver high-quality results under pressure.


• Thorough understanding of the complexities of working in an international environment (including the different points of view of a diverse membership).


• Exquisite communication skills – both oral and written – and ability to engage in effective dialogue with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.


• Excellent analytical skills (e.g. quickly identifying the essence of a complex issue).


• Ability to command the professional respect of scientists, and productively engage with and inform non-technical professionals.


• Innovative, resourceful and creative, but also having the ability to generate ideas that can be grounded in reality and implemented in practice.


• Strong sense of initiative, including ability to plan, conduct and report on activities independently.


• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning.

Languages

Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Information

This fixed-term appointment is for the duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.

The OPCW is a non-career organisation with limited staff tenure. The total length of service for Professional staff shall not exceed 7 years.

The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. Several vacancies may be filled.

Only applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered. Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.

Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions