Operational Support Officer

Background:
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 Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) plays a key role in supporting and co-ordinating the OSCE's activities in the field, in providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairpersonship, in leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and in 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.

Within the CPC, the Operations Service covers a broad variety of tasks such as operational planning for the set-up, reorganization, and closure of field operations. It provides strategic advice and analysis on conflict cycle issues, including early warning across all three dimensions, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, and peacebuilding. It also contributes to the preservation of key institutional memory through the development and exchange of lessons learned and best practices. It also maintains a 24/7 Situation/Communications Room. In its efforts, it ensures operational liaison with other international organizations.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
As Operational Support Officer, you will work 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.

Internally, you will co-operate closely with the departments, sections and units of the Secretariat as well as with OSCE field operations to co-ordinate operational planning activities and their implementation, to develop and run crisis response simulations, to facilitate the development and exchange of operational lessons/best practices, and to provide strategic advice and assistance on conflict cycle-related activities. You will liaise with OSCE institutions to exchange information in developing strategic advice and assistance on conflict cycle-related activities.

Externally, you will interact with the Chairpersonship and delegations of participating States to provide analysis, advice, and support related to operational planning and implementation, on conflict cycle issues, in the organization of relevant events, and to provide briefings, as required, as well as in the conduct of crisis response simulations for the incoming Chairpersonship and field operations. You will interact with international and national stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions working in similar areas of expertise to exchange information, lessons, and best practices as well as to an identify possible areas of co-operation and to create synergies.

More specifically, you will be tasked with the following:

- Under the guidance of the Senior Operational Adviser, providing support in conducting and co-ordinating operational planning activities with departments, sections and units of the Secretariat and with OSCE field operations and institutions, and other international/regional organizations, as necessary, for crisis response activities and/or the deployment of new OSCE field operations/activities, as well as the enhancement, restructuring, downsizing and closure of existing field operations. Deploying to crisis areas, as required and for limited periods, in support of crisis response efforts;
- Reviewing and updating existing guidelines, generic operational planning templates, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other operational planning documents related to OSCE activities in the field; Develops new such guidelines, SOPs, and planning documents related to field-oriented OSCE activities, as required;
- Supporting in developing and running crisis response simulations for field operations and the OSCE Chairpersonship to enhance their crisis response preparedness;
- Analysing OSCE operational activities, including by conducting after-action reviews, and international practices to identify lessons and/or best practices on operational issues. Monitoring, analysing, and reporting on changes in the field-related policies and procedures of other relevant organizations. Exchanging lessons with relevant international partners and identifies areas of co-operation;
- Preparing briefs, sp