Head of Democratization Department (S3)

General Minimum Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working with the OSCE are:

• Excellent physical condition
• Possession of a valid automobile driving license and ability to drive using manual transmission
• Ability to cope with physical hardship and willingness to work extra hours and in an environment with limited infrastructure

Field of Expertise Requirements

The general minimum requirements for working in this field of expertise are:

• Work experience in either public administration, relevant international organisations, civic associations (including CSOs), media, political parties/affairs or political development
• Demonstrable organisational, communication, analytical and interpersonal skills.

Level of Professional Competence Requirements

Furthermore, this level of responsibility requires the following:

Education:

Second-level university education in political sciences, social sciences, international relations, public policy, law, media or equivalent; a first-level university degree in the relevant fields in combination with two additional years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of the second-level university degree;

Experience:

Minimum 6 years of relevant, diversified and progressively responsible professional experience including at least 3 years at the management level relevant to the actual position

Mission Specific Requirements

Additionally, this particular post has specific requirements:

Mandatory:

• International mission members in the OSCE are internationally recruited. For the purposes of OSCE Missions (Field Operations) this means that they are hired to work in a duty station outside of their home country or country of permanent residence. As a result, nationals and permanent residents of the duty station are not eligible for international mission member positions. In the case of individuals with multiple nationalities, candidates are still ineligible for consideration even if using another citizenship for application while simultaneously maintaining the citizenship or permanent residence status of the country where the duty station is located;
• Extensive knowledge and experience on senior level in democracy issues such as support to civil society organizations, women and youth, electoral reform, media and freedom of expression;
• Extensive experience in development work with national and local institutions and media in transition countries;
• Experience in programme management i.e. developing and implementing capacity-building/reform programmes;
• Excellent knowledge of relevant OSCE and international principles, standards and commitments on democratic governance and legislative and professional standards for media;
• Proven ability to lead a team, preferably in a multi-cultural environment;
• Oral and written fluency in English and excellent communication skills;
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to draft reports, work under pressure, manage multiple tasks and process large amounts of information within short deadlines;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Negotiation and diplomatic skills and experience;
• Computer literacy with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

Desirable:

• Familiarity and experience with South-Eastern Europe, especially Albania;
• International field mission experience;
• Working experience in international organizations or relevant institutions in the field of democratic governance or media development.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Presence and the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of Presence, the Head of the Democratization Department is responsible for overseeing and leading the team responsible for implementing a programme of capacity building and support for the further development of democratic society in Albania. In particular, the incumbent:

1. Providing strategic direction for democratization initiatives, including capacity building for democratic governance institutions and media. Advising senior management on thematic issues relevant to the work of the department. Ensures the quality of all briefing and reports produced by the department;
2. Managing the programme cycle of the department based on the national context, international standards and best practices, OSCE commitments and senior management guidance. Overseeing the development and management of extra-budgetary projects to supplement annual project work, and assists in attracting the necessary funding from OSCE participating States and other donors;
3. Directly managing the media development portfolio, including the development and management of unified budget and extra-budgetary projects and the supervision of relevant extra-budgetary staff;
4. Managing the department's human resources with direct supervisory responsibilities for currently four staff and overall management responsibility for the performance and development all the departmental staff. Supports senior management and other colleagues in maintaining institutional health and an environment of professionalism, respect and equality;
5. Developing and maintaining close relations with key national and international stakeholders on the ground as well as with relevant OSCE colleagues at the Secretariat and other Executive Structures. Representing the department and the Presence, as appropriate or delegated, in national and/or international meetings;
6. Performing other duties as required.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. Please note that nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are not eligible to apply.

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.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts open for secondment, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

The OSCE is a non-career organization committed to the principle of staff rotation; therefore, the maximum period of service in this post or in the same Mission is seven 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.

Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered.

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.

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 Presence in Albania
• Requisition ID: ALB000188
• Contract Type: International Secondment
• Grade: S3
• Job Level: Middle Management
• Job Type: Seconded
• Number of posts: 1
• Location: ALB - OSCE Presence in Albania, Tirana
• Issue Date: May 29, 2026
• Closing Date: Jul 10, 2026
• Employee Status: Fixed Term
• Schedule: Full-time
• Education Level: Master's Degree (Second-level university degree or equivalent)
• Job Field: Democratization
• Target Start Date: 01 November 2026