Adviser on Gender Issues (S)

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.

The duties and requirements of this seconded (S) position correspond to a P3-level role in the UN common system. Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Please note that 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 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 Document 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.

The Gender Issues Programme (GIP) supports the efforts of the OSCE Secretary General to ensure a continuous and sustainable gender mainstreaming process across the Organization. It supports the full implementation of the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, as well as other gender-related commitments undertaken by the OSCE participating States. It assists and advises the OSCE Chair in Office and the OSCE Structures in the implementation of the Action Plan by providing technical assistance for the mainstreaming of gender in all activities, policies, programmes and projects. The GIP/OSG also designs and implements projects and activities that are strategically important for advancing the implementation of the OSCE commitments in the field of gender equality.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, the selected candidate will provide programmatic expertise and follow-up in the thematic area of mainstreaming gender in OSCE programmes, projects, and activities, in particular those dedicated to economic and environmental security. Particularly, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Providing knowledge and expertise to departments at the OSCE Secretariat, Institutions and field operations on the development of a consistent and systematic approach to integrating a gender perspective in their programmes and projects, especially in the second dimension (economic and environmental affairs) of the OSCE’s comprehensive security work, in line with the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality (MC.DEC/14/04) and relevant Ministerial Council’s decisions;
2. Providing technical expertise and inputs on priority issues of gender mainstreaming, including to senior management, with focus on economic and environmental issues and liaising, consulting and co-operating with the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA);
3. Drafting briefings, proposals and reports, including inputs to the OSCE Annual Progress Report on gender equality, related to the promotion of gender equality in the second dimension, while collaborating with all relevant Secretariat departments, Institutions and Field Operations;
4. Drafting talking points for OSCE senior management and statements/speeches for the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues with a focus on gender in economic and environmental issues and representing the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues in meetings and conferences, as required;
5. Advising OSCE Secretariat departments, field operations, and Institutions in designing and implementing projects and promoting the inclusion of a gender perspective in comprehensive security, with focus on economic and environmental activities; monitoring their implementation within the framework of OSCE standards and the framework of the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality and relevant Ministerial Decisions;
6. Performing other related duties as assigned.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see: https://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• A second-level university degree in gender studies, international relations, political sciences, economics, environmental sciences or other relevant field; a first-level university degree in the said fields in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;
• A minimum of five years (seven years with a relevant first-level university degree) of professional experience in gender issues, human rights, economic or environmental issues;
• Solid experience in programme management in bi- or multi-lateral development organizations, including field operations;
• Solid knowledge and awareness of international texts and conventions related to gender equality, especially the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and concepts of technical co-operation in this field;
• Knowledge of the OSCE related economic and environmental commitments and fields of expertise would be an asset;
• Proven ability to analyse and evaluate critical matters in the field of gender equality, preferably in economic and environmental issues, and to design strategies to address them;
• Excellent drafting skills in English;
• Professional fluency in English with excellent communication (both oral and written) skills; knowledge of other OSCE working languages, especially Russian, is an asset;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literacy with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

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: SEC000943
• Contract Type: International Secondment
• Grade: S
• Job Type: Seconded
• Number of posts: 1
• Location: SEC - OSCE Secretariat, Vienna
• Issue Date: Jan 23, 2026
• Closing Date: Jul 16, 2026
• Employee Status: Fixed Term
• Schedule: Full-time
• Education Level: Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent)
• Job Field: Human Rights
• Target Start Date: As soon as possible