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.
Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization.
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 Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) supports and co-ordinates the OSCEโs activities in the field, providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General (SG) and the Chairpersonship, leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and supporting the various formats dealing with protracted conflicts. The CPC also serves as the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCEโs role in the politico-military dimension.
The post is located in the Planning and Analysis Team (PAT) within the OSCE Secretariatโs CPC/Operations Service. Within the CPC, the Operations Service covers a broad variety of tasks, such as operational planning for the set-up, reorganization, and closure of field operations; analysis related to early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution, post-conflict rehabilitation and peacebuilding; the identification of lessons and best practices; mediation support; operational liaison with other international organizations; and maintaining a 24/7 Situation/Communications Room.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
As Analyst/Researcher, you will contribute to strategic advice for the Chairpersonship and Secretariat senior management on conflict cycle related activities (early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding, and cross-cutting issues) by analysing geo-political trends and developments, recommending responses, conducting research, and developing proposals to enhance OSCE capacities related to the conflict cycle.
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Operational Adviser and under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre for Operations Service, the Analyst/Researcher will be tasked with the following:
Analysing critical geo-political trends and developments, and recommending appropriate responses thereto, in order to contribute to CPC advice provided to the Chairpersonship and Secretariat senior management; Conducting research, preparing background material, and drafting briefs, speeches and speaking points on relevant concepts to address the various phases of the conflict cycle (early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, post-conflict rehabilitation, peacebuilding, and cross-cutting issues); developing proposals to operationalize those concepts in the OSCE context and to enhance OSCE capacities related to the conflict cycle; Identifying and analysing OSCE lessons and best practices by debriefing departing senior officials from OSCE field operations, the Secretary General, the OSCE Chairpersonship, and other relevant staff; preparing related reports, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the OSCEโs approach, policies and programmes; preparing periodic/thematic lessons learned reports; exchanging lessons and best practices with internal OSCE stakeholders and relevant international and national partners; Organising, attending, and following up to conflict cycle-related meetings, workshops and conferences; identifying the main issues of importance and drafting accurate and concise meeting reports; Conducting operational planning and after-action reviews in close collaboration with other members of PAT, as required.For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat.
Necessary Qualifications:
If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. If your participating State does not provide the option to apply online for seconded positions, you are kindly requested to submit your offline application form available at https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form to the respective OSCE delegation whose address can be found at https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.
Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.
Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.
The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post is 10 years.
Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.
Please apply to your relevant authorities well in advance of the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. The OSCE can only process Secondment applications that have been nominated by participating States. For queries relating to your application, please refer to the respective delegation as listed here: https://www.osce.org/contacts/delegations.
Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Additional Information
Issued by: OSCE Secretariat Requisition ID: SEC000853 Contract Type: International Secondment Grade: S Job Level: Professional Job Type: Seconded Number of posts: 1 Location: SEC - OSCE Secretariat, Vienna Issue Date: Aug 14, 2025 Closing Date: Sep 11, 2025 Employee Status: Fixed Term Schedule: Full-time Education Level: Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent) Job Field: Political Affairs Target Start Date: As soon as possible