About Us

The Inspectorate Division is responsible for the efficient and effective deployment of inspection teams to both military and commercial facilities around the world, as required by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The Division maintains readiness to conduct Challenge Inspections and Investigations of Alleged Use, and to deploy the Rapid Response and Assistance Mission (RRAM) to Member States, as needed, in the event of a chemical incident.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Professional
• Grade
  P4
• Total Estimated monthly remuneration depending on post adjustment and family status: USD
  9,962
• Closing Date
  26/08/2024

Responsibilities

Job Summary

We are looking for experienced inspectors to take up the challenge of leading inspection missions under the mandate of the Chemical Weapons Convention by working through an established organisational structure, with designated teams of inspectors and in accordance with the OPCW Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity/Gender Equality.

This vacancy notice is open to former staff members who have previously been designated as OPCW inspectors.

Main Responsibilities

In your role you will be responsible for:

A) Lead all relevant types of inspections under Articles IV, V, VI, IX and X of the CWC as well as other NRMs e.g. CI, IAU, TAV, etc.).
B) Manage Assigned P-3 Inspectors
C) Contribute Actively to Knowledge Management Initiatives.
D) Provide Technical Advice and Support to the Inspectorate and Other Units of the Technical Secretariat.
E) Undertake any Special Duties and Tasks as Directed by the DG.

To view the complete job outline, please click here.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

You should have a relevant advanced university degree in a STEM subject; a relevant first-level university degree in a STEM subject in combination with qualifying experience (minimum 9 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree; certified relevant training together with extensive relevant technical background and a minimum of 13 years’ experience may also be considered.

• Chemical Weapons-Munition Specialist (CW-MS): relevant degree would include chemical engineering, chemistry, engineering or closely related field; experience (CBRN, EOD) is deemed to be more relevant than educational qualifications; certified training would include e.g. military, police HAZMAT response together with an extensive technical background in the field of toxic chemicals, chemical weapons and/or munitions.
• Chemical Production Technologist (CPT): relevant degree would include chemical engineering or chemistry or closely related field.
• Analytical Chemist (AC): relevant degree would include chemistry.
• Health and Safety (H): relevant degree would include health sciences or closely related field.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• With an advanced degree: at least 7 years relevant experience
• With a university degree in a relevant field: at least 9 years relevant experience
• With certified relevant training: at least 13 years relevant experience
• A minimum of six years’ experience as former inspector in the Inspectorate Division (INS) or designated inspector in other TS divisions

Desirable:

• CW-MS: knowledge and experience with explosive safety, explosive ordnance disposal, explosive ordnance reconnaissance, chemical munitions design and improvised explosive device and HAZMAT response.
• AC: knowledge and experience of analysing chemical warfare agents.
• H&S: knowledge and experience with operating procedures in hazardous chemical and biological environments (in particular, chemical warfare agents).
• Experience in Knowledge Management and designing distance learning curricula.

Skills and Competencies

To succeed in this role you will need the following skills and competencies:

• Ability to plan and organise complex activities to achieve established goals
• Ability to analyse data and develop conclusions for implementation
• Team leadership skills
• Align work and priorities with broader team/organisational goals
• Ability to deal with complex inspection issues and interpret procedures and guidelines in order to adapt them to cover complex inspections
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with specific reference to the outcome of inspections and the required reporting
• Ability to deliver training as necessary and to prepare documents of a technical nature
• Ability to work in diverse inspection environments
• Demonstrable ability to work in a multi-cultural inspection environment
• Conflict management skills and well-developed negotiation experience.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in verbal and written English is essential, including ability to lecture at training courses and prepare documents requiring technical accuracy and high quality.

Good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Information

This fixed-term appointment is for a duration of two years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the relevant OPCW Staff Regulations, Interim Staff Rules and other internal legislation as applicable, and is in accordance with the decision C-24/DEC.10 of the Conference of States Parties.

This vacancy notice is open to former staff members who have previously been designated as OPCW inspectors.

Candidates must have had a break in service from the OPCW on the date of the commencement of their new contract as a rehired inspector.

Candidates must be fully fit to execute the duties of the post and will be fully cleared by the Health & Safety Branch in accordance with normal practice for inspectors.

Candidates must be able to serve as a rehired inspector for three years and must not stand to reach the OPCW’s mandatory age of retirement during this time.

The total term of service of a rehired inspector, under the Rehire Decision, shall be no more than three years irrespective of their previous length of service with the OPCW.

Rehired inspectors shall have specific responsibilities relating to knowledge transfer, coaching and learning, which will be reflected in their individual work plans.

The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. Several vacancies may be filled.

Only fully completed applications submitted before the closing date and through OPCW CandidateSpace will be considered. Only applicants under serious consideration for a post will be contacted.

Applications from qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions

Important notice for applicants who are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system

Although headquartered in the Netherlands, the OPCW is not a regular Dutch employer but a public international organisation with its own special status. Please be advised that if you are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system, you will be excluded from this system as a staff member of the OPCW. You will consequently be insured under the organisation’s system. The above also applies to your dependents unless they are employed by a regular Dutch employer, they are self-employed in the Netherlands, or are receiving Dutch social security payments.

Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for more information about the possible consequences for you and your dependents, such as exclusion from ‘AWBZ’ and ‘Zorgverzekeringswet’ coverage: ‘Werken bij een internationale organisatie’.