Senior Protocol Officer

Background:
This is a temporary position with the start date of as soon as possible and the initial duration of 5 months and 29 days with possibility of an extension.

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 Office of the Secretary General (OSG) plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes primarily assisting the Secretary General in his/her activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, and co-ordinating tasks across the Secretariat. It groups horizontal services such as Executive Management, Communications and Media Relations, Legal Services, External Co-operation, Security Management, Gender Issues, Conference and Language Services, Central Records Management, and oversees the OSCE Documentation Centre in Prague (DCiP). The OSG ensures effective co-ordination of policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship, and management decisions taken by the Secretary General.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
The Senior Protocol Officer reports to the Director of the Office of the Secretary General and the Secretary General acts as the second-level supervisor. The Senior Protocol Officer supervises general service staff and/or interns that may be assigned to the function, distributing workload, managing performance and guiding development.
- Providing protocol and liaison services in relation to high-level visits to the OSCE Secretariat, presentation of credentials and signing ceremonies; ensuring advance liaison and co-ordination with delegations and/or representatives of participating States and VIPs; ensuring meeting room setup (including providing flags, protocol advice on top table and seating arrangements); receiving and accompanying visitors in line with the protocol; liaising with Security Management, Executive Management, Communications Unit, as well as the Conference and Language Services at the OSCE premises in Hofburg, when required; making arrangements for the exchange of appropriate gifts (e.g. for bilateral meetings and special occasions);
- Planning, co-ordinating and organizing the process of official correspondence of a protocol nature;
- Maintaining an overview of all protocol tasks, fostering co-operation between different Secretariat units, identifying opportunities for further efficiencies and making effective use of relevant technologies and tools and assisting the protocol function in development, acquisition and promotion of their utilization;
- Drafting policies, manuals and standard operating procedures across a full range of protocol functions, in consultation as appropriate with other Secretariat units and external stakeholders, and, in relation to other OSCE executive structures, with OSCE Institutions and field operations;
- Promoting the role of the protocol functions across the OSCE, in collaboration with the OSCE Institutions and field operations, ensuring knowledge management and organizational learning and development in this area; mobilizing and guiding cross-organizational teams; and providing protocol advice and training to staff of the OSCE Secretariat, Institutions and field operations;
- Supervising the work of any assigned general services staff and/or interns;
- Performing other relevant duties as assigned.

Necessary Qualifications:

- Second-level university degree in international relations, political science, public administration, law or a related field;
- A protocol function certification or formal training would be an asset;
- A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in protocol, external relations or a related area is required;
- Experience in planning and organizing meetings, conferences or events;
- Experience in an international organization and/or the United Nations system is desirable;
- Work experience in the area of protocol or event management in a multilateral and bilateral protocol setting is desirable;
- Professional fluency in