ORGANISATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS
(OPCW)
Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, The Netherlands
VACANCY NOTICE
Post Title:
Senior Verification Coordination
Officer
Date:
19 May 2015
Post Level:
P-4
Closing
Date:
2 July 2015
Vacancy Ref:
Division:
E-VER/SVCO/F0204/ P-4/17/04-15
Branch:
Office of the Director
Verification
This fixed-term appointment is for a duration of three years with a sixmonth probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff
Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, as applicable. 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 DirectorGeneral retains the discretion not to 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.
Principal Functions
Requirements
Under the general supervision of the Director,Verification, and in accordance
with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for
Diversity/Gender Equality, the incumbent performs the following duties:
Education (Qualifications):
1.
Coordinate transverse activities within verification:
a)
Coordinate and align the input from the Heads of Branches.
b)
Analyse issues and risks that may affect overall implementation of
division objectives and identify possible remedies.
c)
Prepare sensitive correspondence on behalf of the Director of
Verification.
d)
Coordinate the division’s answers to other TS stakeholders (OIO,
Quality management RBM).
e)
Coordinates divisional knowledge management strategies.
f)
Act as the division’s RBM focal point.
2.
Manage the division’s budget:
a)
In close consultation with the Budget and Planning Control Branch,
act as the divisional focal point for all budgetary questions.
b)
Coordinate and contribute to the elaboration of the KPIs and RBM
for the division.
c)
Assume the lead role in drafting and preparing the division’s annual
budget and programme of work through consulting with the heads of branches
in the division.
d)
Monitor overall budget compliance of the division and prepare
reports, as required, to various executive bodies.
3.
Coordinate reporting on verification activities:
a)
Manage the preparation of the annual Verification Implementation
Report (VIR) of the Secretariat including proposals on the themes, focus,
structure and content and for the coordination and harmonization of the
contributions to the VIR from other units.
b)
Check factual content of the VIR and its consistency with
established policies and positions of the Secretariat with all the branches of the
Verification Division and the Inspectorate Division as well as with the Legal
Office and the Office of the Deputy Director-General.
c)
Produce a monthly summary of verification activities through the
Verification at a Glance (VAG).
d)
Organise the preparation of the verification part of the Annual
Report of the Organization.
e)
Manage the preparation of the annual unclassified verification
summary.
f)
Coordinate the preparation of briefings on verification activities for
the use by Management.
4.
Assess and provide advice, as required, on the implementation
of the verification regime, including any topic related to Articles III, IV,
V and VI of the CWC:
a)
Participate in briefings and de-briefings of inspection teams to
provide advice for the review of final inspection reports
b)
Prepare / propose quality assurances and control procedures changes
Essential: Advanced university degree in a relevant field, e.g.:
international relations/studies, disarmament/military, law, natural
science or engineering (ideally chemistry), management, business
administration. Other subjects may be accepted provided the majority
of work experience is highly relevant to the post.
A first level university degree in combination with qualifying
experience (minimum 9 years) may be accepted in lieu of the
advanced university degree.
Equivalent or specialized training in combination with at least 13
years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a
university degree.
Skills and Abilities (key competencies):
 Excellent strategic thinking skills.
 Excellent analytical skills (e.g. quickly identifying the essence
of a complex issue) and ability to initiate and implement
necessary action that is proportionate to the issue at hand.

Innovative and creative, but with the ability to generate ideas
that can be grounded in reality and implemented in practice.

Excellent communication skills – both oral and written – and
excellent stakeholder management skills, including strong
ability to deliver results through others.

High-level political acumen.

Strong sense of initiative, including ability to plan, conduct
and report on projects independently.

Flexibility (working simultaneously on two or more topics
and supporting colleagues in a matrix-style team) and ability
to work under pressure.
 Good understanding of knowledge management principles
 Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to work in teams and in
multi-cultural environments.
 Computer literate (MS Office applications).
Experience:
Essential: At least 7 years of professional experience in a relevant field
(or at least 9 years with only a first level degree, or at least 13 years with
equivalent or specialized training).

Expert knowledge of analysis/review – primarily related to
international treaty obligations or technical (ideally chemical)
industry.

Experience in developing guidelines and effectively
communicating such guidelines to those who will implement
them.

Experience in managing a budget.

Experience in coordinating with others (sometimes more
based on assessment of inspections
c)
Propose measures for the optimization of the utilization of resources
for verification and participate in their implementation and assessment
d)
Draft papers to the Policy Making Organs on behalf of the
Secretariat on issues related to the implementation of the verification regime
of the Convention.
e)
Prepare documents for use during consultations amongst Member
States on specific issues.
f)
Draft correspondence to Member States related to the
implementation of the verification regime of the Convention in general terms
and as related to specific cases.
5.
Working with the Director of Verification in developing and
implementing the mission of the division and ensuring that major
program objectives are met:
a)
Coordinate the workflow and oversee the activities of the branches,
ensuring that the division’s objectives are met within required timelines.
b)
Ensure that the effective direction and integrated management of the
division’s and branches’ activities are in line with the strategic vision and
guidance of the Director.
c)
Provide support to the heads of branches on the implementation of
the Director’s strategy.
d)
Draft presentations, speeches, correspondence and concept papers
for the Director on both management-related and substantive issues.
6.
Performs other duties, as required.
Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before
medical insurance and provident fund deductions) in US$ and a post
adjustment. The post adjustment (cost of living allowance) is variable and
subject to change without notice in accordance with the rates as set within the
UN Common System for salaries and allowances. The figure quoted on the
right, is based on the April 2015 rate of 31.3%.
senior staff members) and effectively coaching/supporting
such ‘implementers’.
Desirable:

Experience in disarmament, arms control and/or nonproliferation.

Knowledge of chemical disarmament and/or the chemical
industry.

Experience in international organisations, government, or notfor-profit sector.

Experience of successfully implementing knowledge
management initiatives and strategies.

Practical work experience of implementing knowledge
management within a complex organisation. Demonstrable
working experience with best practices in knowledge
management as well as how to establish and implement a
knowledge management strategy.
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.
With
Dependants
No Dependants
Annual Salary
$ 73,338
$ 68,294
(US dollars)
Post Adjustment
$ 22,954
$ 21,376
Total Salary
$ 96,292
$ 89,670
CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO USE ONLY THE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM.
Interested applicants who are unable to submit an application online at www.opcw.org, due to technical problems, are requested to send an e- mail to
[email protected] explaining the problem.
Only applications received before the closing date will be considered. Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.
Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.
There are job advertisements and offers that falsely state that they are from the OPCW.
April 2015/mb