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
  540 EUR
• Closing Date
  09/08/2024

Responsibilities

Job Summary

The Political Affairs and Protocol Branch advises senior management on current and emerging issues, devises and implements strategies for achieving universality of the Convention, and liaises with States Parties. The Branch supports the Director-General and Deputy Director-General by preparing speeches, statements, and briefing notes; and manages all issues related to protocol, OPCW’s Host Country, and privileges and immunities.

The intern will help facilitate protocol activities and support political affairs tasks of the Political Affairs and Protocol Branch, assisting with protocol events and activities, undertaking research and analytical tasks for preparation of engagements of senior management, providing logistical assistance as required, and tasks related to privileges and immunities when required.

The intern will become acquainted with the Chemical Weapons Convention and the workflow, functions, and structure of the OPCW, the External Relations Division, and the Political Affairs and Protocol Branch, as well as gain a familiarity with the political environment of the OPCW and the arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation architecture as a whole.

Starting date: September 2024

Main Responsibilities

The Political Affairs and Protocol Branch intern will participate in and work on:

1. Assistance for planning and conduct of official events taking place at OPCW Headquarters and elsewhere;
2. Assistance for planning, conduct, and coverage of the sessions and meetings of the Executive Council and Conference of the States Parties;
3. Preparation of background materials on a variety of political issues in support of the engagements by senior management;
4. Research and analysis of global trends and issues that may impact the work of the OPCW;
5. Monitoring of and reporting on political events and developments of relevance to the OPCW; Support for the privileges and immunities services and tasks overseen by the Branch; and
6. Provision of general logistical assistance for Branch activities.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

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 and fluent in both written and spoken English.

Desirable:

• A background in International Relations or related areas at a Bachelor/Masters level.

Skills and Competencies

High proficiency in English language (speaking and writing).

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