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Poland Project Officer, BPRI

This is an extra-budgetary position. The initial contract will be for one year, renewable until the project ends on 30 November 2013. The selected candidate should commit to being available for the duration of the project.

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.

The Project Co-ordination Unit in close co-operation with the thematic departments of ODIHR manages a number of large-scale, multi-million euro, extra-budgetary projects. Those projects often require a team of designated project staff to plan and implement project activities.

We are currently creating such a team for the Best Practices for Roma Integration (BPRI) Project, which aims to contribute to the integration of minorities and, more specifically, to improve the quality of life and access to rights of the Roma communities in the Western Balkans. With a 3 mil Euro funding from the European Commission and an additional ten percent of the own co-funding, OSCE/ODIHR will implement the Project in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo under UNSCR N° 1244, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in close cooperation with OSCE field operations where applicable.

The incumbent of this post will be engaged in the planning and implementation of the project, which is expected to bring five main results: (1) to strengthen and apply in practice the region’s good practices in multi-sector municipal collaboration, Roma involvement in decision-making and participation of Roma in political life; (2) to increase Roma people’s interest in and possibilities to access civil registration and legal aid services; (3) to empower Roma people to advocate and have greater opportunities to benefit from mechanisms and initiatives for legalization and improvements of their settlements; (4) to enhance possibilities for Roma participation in public life through anti-discriminatory policies and practice and increased public awareness about Roma rights to be included and not to be discriminated against, and; (5) to enhance possibilities for Roma participation in Government-led national and regional co-ordination and other compatible cross-border initiatives in and outside of the Western Balkans. The project will target primarily governments at national and local levels and mainstream and Roma public servants, and its secondary target groups include mainstream and Roma municipal employees and civil society groups.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Officer is a member of such a team providing programme support services to the extra-budgetary project in the administrative areas of project management.

The incumbent, supported by a Budget Assistant, has responsibility for all financial and contractual aspects of the project, which involves OSCE Field Operations in the region, partner international organizations, and national authorities. In particular the incumbent will be: 1) monitoring the roll-out of the project, proactively co-ordinating all persons implicated in administrative decision making and ensuring good communication with them; 2) ensuring compliance with all contractual obligations towards the donor and with the OSCE common regulatory framework; 3) monitoring implementation of agreements with implementing partners from an administrative and financial perspective; 4) managing and monitoring the use of project resources, including financial reporting to the donor (ensuring coherence with narrative reports); 5) providing support to the project’s field staff on administrative aspects of the project as required.

Necessary Qualifications:

• University Degree in business administration or equivalent in the field of international development is required. • At least five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of project management for development assistance; preferably prior experience in dealing with EU-funded projects. • Proven track record dealing with major international institutional donors and monitoring the implementation of donor agreements for multi-million euro projects. • Excellent knowledge of EC or another major international institution’s contracting procedures; knowledge of the OSCE common regulatory framework and procedures would be a significant advantage. • Prior experience of co-operation with international organizations at the field and headquarters level. • Understanding of the political sensitivities in dealing with high level diplomatic staff of international organizations and of specific programmatic issues. • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. • Knowledge of language(s) spoken in the project’s geographical area or that of a group of people that the project is desirable. • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. • Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities.

Remuneration:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions as well as monthly changes of the post adjustment multiplier and exchange rate, is approximately EUR 3,870 (single rate) and approximately EUR 4,130 (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 Organisation 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.

How to apply:

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

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 achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.