Informal Resolution Officer (S)

Background:

*The job title is pending the approval of the OSCE 2022 Unified Budget.

This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to an assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities. 

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization. 

With 57 participating States in North America, Europe and Asia, the OSCE – the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – is the world’s largest regional security organization. The OSCE works for stability, peace and democracy for more than a billion people, through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work that aims to make a lasting difference.

The OSCE is a forum for political dialogue on a wide range of security issues and a platform for joint action to improve the lives of individuals and communities. The Organization uses a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions. 

Under the direction of the Secretary General, the OSCE Secretariat, based in Vienna, provides operational support to the Organization. The Secretariat consists of administrative and programmatic departments and units focused on conflict prevention, economic and environmental activities, co-operation with Partner countries and organizations, gender equality, anti-trafficking, as well as transnational threats, including anti-terrorism, border management and policing reform. They monitor trends, provide expert analysis and implement projects in the field.

The Secretariat assists the OSCE Chairmanship, supports OSCE field activities, maintains contacts with international and non-governmental organizations, and provides conference, language, administrative, financial, personnel and information technology services.

The integrated Ethics and Informal Resolution function (“the Function”) is located within the Department of Human Resources, and is under the overall responsibility of the OSCE Ethics Co-ordinator, who reports to the Secretary General. The Function undertakes a range of activities aimed at fostering a positive workplace culture, in which OSCE officials and non-OSCE staff exhibit the highest ethical standards, and where workplace conflicts are addressed and resolved early and informally wherever possible and appropriate.
 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the administrative and substantive supervision of the OSCE Ethics Co-ordinator, the Informal Resolution Officers will be expected to work with a high-degree of autonomy in performing the following duties and responsibilities: 

1. Providing a confidential, independent, neutral and impartial service for all OSCE officials and eligible non-OSCE staff who are willing to address workplace conflict situations informally; 
2. Conducting mediations, facilitated dialogues and other forms of recognized informal conflict resolution with the aim of finding amicable and mutually agreeable solutions to a given situation; 
3. Undertaking field activities of the Function, including to conduct workplace mediations as required;
4. Strengthening the existing informal resolution capacities within the Organization, recognizing that not all conflicts and concerns will require mediation and might be resolved through other efforts, including dialogue either directly with the individual involved or with the support of a manager, third party or HR official. Collaborating with other key stakeholders in this regard, in particular HR officials across the Organization;
5. Participating in internal and external working groups, meetings and other initiatives relevant to the Function;
6. Assisting the OSCE Ethics Co-ordinator in performing various activities relevant to the integrated Function. This includes communicating on the Function, its mandate and its available services to the Organization, and developing and delivering training and outreach sessions, modules and materials for OSCE officials and non-OSCE staff on OSCE’s ethical framework, e.g. OSCE Code of Conduct, Staff Instruction No. 21 “OSCE Policy on the Professional Working Environment” and Staff Instruction No. 32 “Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”;
7. Updating and maintaining the intranet / website of the Function; and
8. Performing other duties as required.

For more detailed information on the work of the Secretariat, please see: www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in conflict resolution or prevention, ethics, employee relations, law, psychology, management or a related field;
• Formal training or accreditation in mediation or willingness to undergo the same;
• A minimum of six years of appropriate professional experience in a relevant area, such as mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution, ethics, employment law, employee relations, conflict prevention or a related area, is required;
• Experience working in an international or multicultural setting;
• Experience delivering training and presentations (in-person / virtual / blended);
• Experience approaching difficult situations with empathy, patience and neutrality;
• Proven experience in the management of sensitive information, whilst displaying confidentiality, integrity and discretion;
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English;
• Working knowledge of other OSCE official languages is highly desirable;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of a team, with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, of different genders, and with diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Knowledge and understanding of topics relating to Diversity and Inclusion, including intercultural competence, inclusive leadership, unconscious bias, equity, allyship, belonging, etc.;  
• Computer literacy with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

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

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

 
Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.

Please apply to your relevant authorities well in advance of the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. The OSCE can only process Secondment applications that have been nominated by participating States. For queries relating to your application, please refer to the respective delegation as listed here: https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.