About Us

The OPCW internship programme is aimed at motivated students with an interest in gaining experience in international organisations. The programme normally provides work placements in the Technical Secretariat for a three to six month period. The objective of the internship is to provide you with first-hand experience in the day-to-day working environment of an international organisation. You will work with our international experts towards the OPCW mission to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons.

As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to our analytical work as well as the organisational policy of the OPCW.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Intern
• Remuneration
  450 EUR
• Closing Date
  19/11/2023

Responsibilities

Job Summary

You will receive hands-on experience with real-world application. You will stretch yourself and engage in challenging work. You will work as part of a team and contribute to the OPCW’s mission.

The General Support Services Section is responsible for the planning, management, maintenance, operation, and improvement of building infrastructure and installations at the OPCW Headquarters and the OPCW ChemTech Centre. It also assists with matters related to travel, asset and property management, transportation and removal, conference and meeting infrastructure support, insurance, hospitality, and mail.

Main Responsibilities

You will work on carrying out a post-pandemic inventory of the use of office space at the HQ in The Hague and explore and investigate options to optimize space use, in close collaboration with the Head, General Services Section and Head, Facilities Management Section.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

To be eligible for the OPCW internship programme, you must be:

Essential:

• enrolled in and have completed at least one year of a degree programme in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or; in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher) or;
• have graduated from a university or a graduate school within a year prior to the commencement of the internship and;
• be a citizen of an OPCW Member State.

Desirable:

• Bachelor or Masters degree in Facility Management or similar field;
• 3D drawings programs (e.g.: AutoCAD or similar).

Skills and Competencies

• Teamwork – We work collectively towards the common goal of eliminating chemical weapons. As a team member, you are expected to listen to and value people’s ideas and expertise, and be willing to learn from others;
• Commitment to Continuous Learning – The OPCW is committed to a process of continuous learning;
• Technological Awareness – To keep up with the fast pace of technological change, but the Organisation offers training as well as support to keep ahead of developments in technology;
• Language requirements – Be fluent in both written and spoken English.

Languages

Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Information

Acceptance for the programme shall not carry with it any expectation of employment with the OPCW. Interns may not apply for, or be appointed to, any posts or positions at the OPCW within six months of the internship agreement end date. The internship programme is run in accordance with the applicable internal rules and where applicable the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.

1. Participants in the Internship Programme receive no financial remuneration from the OPCW for expenses that they incur in relation to the programme. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, taxes, accommodation, living expenses and repatriation, etc. are the responsibility of the intern. The intern has to enter and exit the country in accordance with the applicable immigration procedures in The Netherlands.
2. Participants will be asked to provide proof that they have sufficient financial means for living expenses for the period of their internship.
3. Interns will work with the normal working pattern of the OPCW which will amount to no more than 40 hours a week.
4. Participants who are citizens of non-EU countries should agree not to undertake other work in the Netherlands during their internship other than as an intern at the OPCW, notwithstanding whether such other work is compatible with the discharge of their functions with the OPCW.

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