Operational Support Officer

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.

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 OSCE’s 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.

The post is located in the Planning and Analysis Team (PAT) within the OSCE Secretariat’s Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC)/Operations Service (OS). Within the CPC, the Operations Service covers a broad variety of tasks, such as operational planning for the set-up, restructuring, and closure of field operations; analysis in the fields of early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution, post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding and issues that cut across the conflict cycle; the identification of lessons and best practices; operational liaison with other international organizations; and maintaining a 24/7 Situation/Communications Room.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
The Operational Support Officer will support in providing operational and methodological guidance on conflict cycle issues. This will include the development of concepts and plans to operationalize the various phases of the conflict cycle and acting as the OS focal point for co-ordinating the OSCE-wide Network of Early Warning Focal Points. She/he will work to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of OSCE conflict cycle tools, developing with other relevant staff in-depth analyses of geo-political developments/trends and recommend appropriate responses thereto.

Working with moderate autonomy, the Operational Support Officer’s main responsibilities lie in providing analytical and operational support to Secretariat senior management and the Chairpersonship in the fields of early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding, cross-cutting issues, confidence-building measures and other OSCE tools, mechanisms and procedures. Additionally, he/she will collect and analyse OSCE lessons by conducting end-of-assignment debriefings for senior OSCE officials and the Chairpersonship, and by preparing lessons learned/best practice reports. She/he will also support the Chairpersonship in the organization of and follow up to the Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC).

The Operational Support Officer works under the direct supervision of the Senior Operational Adviser and under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre for Operations Service.

Specifically, the Operational Support Officer will be tasked with the following:

- Supporting in addressing the various phases of the conflict cycle (early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding, and cross-cutting issues) and developing/contributing to operational, and methodological advice related to the conflict cycle, confidence-building measures and other OSCE tools, mechanisms and procedures. This work includes contributing to operational planning and support, including the development or update of operational guidelines, templates, standard operating procedures, and other planning documents related to OSCE field activities, and crisis response preparedness activities, as required;
- Serving as the OS focal point for early warning; co-ordinating the OSCE-wide Network of Early Warning Focal Points; providing methodological guidance/support on early warning processes and conflict analysis tools; analysing critical geo-political developments/trends and recommending appropriate responses thereto, contributing to CPC advice for Secretariat senior management and the Chairpersonship;
- Drafting briefs, speeches, speaking points and concepts on operational and conflict cycle issues; developing proposals to operationalize those concepts in the