Background:
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.
The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.
The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.
The CPC supports and co-ordinates the OSCEโs activities in the field, providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairpersonship, leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and supporting the various formats dealing with protracted conflicts. The CPC also serves as the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCE's role in the politico-military dimension.
Following the adoption of Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/11, a systematic mediation-support capacity โ the Mediation Support Team โ was developed within the CPC to maximize the continuity, consistency and effectiveness of OSCE engagement in conflict mediation and to strengthen the role of OSCE mediators. The Mediation Support Team serves as the OSCE-wide focal point for mediation, mediation-support and dialogue facilitating, implementing its work in four main pillars: (1) training and capacity-building, (2) knowledge management and operational guidance, (3) outreach, networking, co-operation and co-ordination, and (4) operational support.
The post is located in the Mediation Support Team (MST) within the OSCE Secretariatโs Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC).
Tasks and Responsibilities:
As mandated by MC Decision No. 3/11, as Mediation Support Officer (MSO), you will work to enhance OSCE mediation-support capacities by providing mediation and dialogue facilitation advice, expertise, and strategic, operational and analytical support to OSCE mediators at all levels, including the OSCE Chair, Special/Personal Representatives of the Chairperson-in Office (CiO), heads of field operation, the SG, the Director of the CPC and staff of OSCE executive structures; by building their mediation, mediation support, and dialogue facilitation capacities; and by improving knowledge management related to OSCE mediation efforts.
You will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Mediation Support Officer and under the overall supervision of the assigned Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre.
More specifically, you will be tasked with the following:
Analysing mediation and dialogue facilitation processes and providing advice and operational support, including on mediation and dialogue facilitation strategy, process design, and possible steps to be taken by OSCE mediators to increase the effectiveness of mediation and dialogue processes, upon request; designing appropriate methods to strengthen analytical, strategic, and conceptual thinking on mediation and dialogue processes; facilitating related discussions in the form of briefings, handover meetings, co-ordination retreats, strategy meetings โ including with and between high-level mediators; supporting the current and incoming OSCE CiO and Chair in implementing their priorities with regard to mediation and dialogue facilitation, e.g., by conceptualizing and conducting high-level events; Observing high-level mediation processes, drafting reports, and providing advice and support to high-level OSCE mediators to improve their tactics or strategies, upon request; Providing advice on mediation and dialogue facilitation to field operations, in co-ordination with CPC's geographical desks, to increase the effectiveness of mediation and dialogue facilitation processes; Developing, designing, and implementing training and capacity-building on mediation and dialogue facilitation, by (1) developing related curricula for training and capacity building and delivering training, (2) designing and providing tailor-made coachings and thematic workshops for high-level OSCE mediators and field operations, (3) advising field operations on an integrated training and mediation and dialogue facilitation capacity-building strategy; Improving knowledge management and providing operational guidance with regard to mediation, mediation-support and dialogue facilitation, by (1) conceptualizing and facilitating debriefings of OSCE mediators to identify lessons toward enhancing the effectiveness and impact of OSCE mediation activities, (2) developing and maintaining a central depository for documents, lessons learned, and best practices related to OSCE mediation activities to preserve institutional memory, (3) developing knowledge products related to conflicts and mediation contexts, in co-ordination with relevant units within the Secretariat, (4) conducting research on topics related to mediation, dialogue facilitation, and mediation support, and (5) devising and publishing operational guidance on relevant topics in the field of mediation; Contributing to briefs, speeches, and speaking points on issues related to mediation and dialogue facilitation for the Chair and senior management of the Secretariat; representing the OSCE in meetings, conferences, and workshops on mediation support topics, including as a speaker; contributing to the visibility and relevance of OSCE mediation and dialogue facilitation processes; establishing and maintaining working contacts with relevant international, governmental, non-governmental, and academic organizations and institutions, as well as with prominent research centres; Deploying temporarily to crisis areas in support of conflict resolution/crisis response efforts, as required; Supporting project management of the Mediation Support ExB project, as required, including project budgeting, reporting, and donor relations; Performing other duties as assigned.For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat
Necessary Qualifications:
Second-level university degree in mediation, political science, international relations or related field; a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree; Successful completion of a nationally certified mediation training would be desirable; A minimum of five years (seven years with a relevant first-level degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in mediation, mediation support, and/or dialogue facilitation with a government agency, a national or international organization or a non-governmental organization; A minimum of three years of practical experience in mediation and/or dialogue facilitation processes; Previous field experience in mediation, mediation support, and/or dialogue facilitation would be desirable; Thematic expertise and familiarity with the relevant international efforts on mediation and dialogue facilitation; Demonstrated knowledge of mediation, process design and conflict analysis; Excellent research and analytical skills; Demonstrated political acumen; Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; Knowledge of another official OSCE language would be desirable; Experience in project management in an international environment would be desirable; Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities; Ability to work in a team and establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst maintaining impartiality and objectivity; Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications.
If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. If your participating State does not provide the option to apply online for seconded positions, you are kindly requested to submit your offline application form available at https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form to the respective OSCE delegation whose address can be found at https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.
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.
The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post is 10 years.
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 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.
Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Additional Information
Issued by: OSCE Secretariat Requisition ID: SEC000737 Contract Type: International Secondment Grade: S Job Type: Seconded Number of posts: 1 Location: SEC - OSCE Secretariat, Vienna Issue Date: Apr 3, 2025 Closing Date: May 2, 2025 Employee Status: Fixed Term Schedule: Full-time Education Level: Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent) Job Field: Political Affairs Target Start Date: As soon as possible