Head, Strategic Police Matters Unit

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 Transnational Threats Department/Strategic Police Matters Unit (TNTD/SPMU) is the focal point for co-ordinating and facilitating the OSCE’s police-related activities. TNTD/SPMU contributes to the implementation of the OSCE’s police-related commitments by providing support to the Chairperson-in-Office, the Secretary General, the OSCE field operations and the participating States in two key domains. Firstly, it promotes police development and reform within the principles of democratic policing. Secondly, it provides capacity building support in countering organized crime, terrorism, trafficking in illicit drugs, small arms and light weapons and human beings, and cybercrime, while upholding the rule of law and ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. TNTD/SPMU works closely with external partners, including UN bodies and regional organizations working on police-related matters.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
The Head, Strategic Police Matters Unit leads and oversees the Unit’s work to promote implementation of the OSCE Strategic Framework for Police-Related Activities. She/He co-ordinates support to enhance effective, democratic policing throughout the OSCE area, and to develop effective responses to current and emerging threats posed by criminal activity, including transnational organized crime, trafficking, and cybercrime, while upholding the rule of law and ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. She/He also provides expert advice on policing and police-related activities to participating States and OSCE Executive Structures on request, including on strengthening law enforcement co-operation.
- Managing the planning and delivery of the SPMU Unified Budget cycle (work plan, monitoring reports, Programme Budget Performance Report, Programme Outline) and of the Unit’s extra-budgetary activities (fundraising, monitoring reports), and supervising the work of unit members in implementing these activities;
- Co-ordinating the conceptualization, drafting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SPMU’s programmatic projects and activities, ensuring co-operation with relevant stakeholders including participating States, national authorities, international organizations, OSCE Executive Structures and experts; providing expert input to project activities as required;
- Providing expert support and advice on police-related matters to the OSCE Chairpersonship-in Office, Secretary General, Co/TNT, OSCE Executive Structures and participating States, including in the preparation and organization of related events, and by providing briefings and input upon request;
- Promoting co-operation between law enforcement authorities in participating States by facilitating exchange of information and good practices on effective police development and reform and on preventing and countering transnational criminal threats, including in promoting and respecting human rights in policing;
- Acting as the focal point for police-related matters across the OSCE, including maintaining co-operation with OSCE Executive Structures and Field Operations, participating States and Partners for Co-operation, and other international and regional actors;
- Co-ordinating, under the guidance of the Office of the Secretary General, the preparation of the Secretary General’s Annual Report on Police-related Activities, and supervising activities to showcase the Unit’s work to key stakeholders;
- Performing other duties as assigned.

Necessary Qualifications:

- Second-level university degree from a university, Police Academy or an equivalent specialized higher education establishment in social or political science, law, public administration or a related field; a first-level university degree in combination with at least two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
- Additional professional training or certification in leadership, management, strategic studies or related field is an asset;