Senior Democratization Officer (S2)

Background:

OSCE field operations are the front line of the OSCE’s engagement on the ground, supporting host authorities in fulfilling OSCE commitments and implementing a comprehensive approach to security. The OSCE Mission to Skopje is the Organization's longest-serving field operation working on social cohesion, fundamental rights, gender equality, the rule of law, good governance, integrity and anticorruption, criminal justice, and police reform.

General Minimum Requirements

• Excellent physical condition
• Possession of a valid automobile driving license and the ability to drive using a 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

• Work experience in either public administration, relevant international organizations, civic associations (including NGOs), political parties/affairs, or economic and political development
• Demonstrable organizational, communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills

Level of Professional Competence Requirements

Education: First-level university degree in political sciences, social sciences, international relations, public policy, law, or equivalent professional experience

Experience: Minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience

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 the application while simultaneously maintaining the citizenship or permanent residence status of the country where the duty station is located;
• Sound organizational skills, pro-activity, creativity, and resourcefulness to generate complex policy interventions involving different governmental and political stakeholders;
• Extensive work experience in the field of democratization, with a track record on social cohesion, community rights, education, youth, democratic institutions, good governance, or related areas;
• Sound knowledge of the political environment in the host country, the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) and social and political dynamics connected with it;
• Excellent communication and networking skills and proven ability to build constructive relations and co-ordinate co-operation with external interlocutors, including Government institutions, civil society organizations, donors, and other international organizations;
• Ability to identify priorities for the Mission’s work in key areas of democratization and intercommunity relations and analyze complex issues, identify key aspects, and present them in a clear and understandable manner;
• High degree of initiative and strong result-oriented work-style;
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work as a member of a team, with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and prioritize within limited time frames;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Professional fluency in the English language, both oral and written;
• Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of at least one of the local languages or most common lingua franca spoken in the mission area.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief of Democratization Unit, the Senior Democratization Officer is responsible for:

1. Assisting in the planning and implementation of the Democratization Unit programmatic activities, ensuring coherence with the Mission’s mandate and Strategy, and promoting cross-dimensionality across relevant thematic areas;
2. Compiling, updating, briefing, and following up on developments in the democratization field, identifying trends, and providing resources in terms of internationally recognized best practices;
3. Providing relevant analysis, background papers, research, and policy advice for internal and external use in response to the identified needs of the Unit and mandate mainstreaming;
4. Drafting speeches, talking points, status reports, and various routine and ad hoc documents in her/his area of responsibility;
5. Liaising and maintaining good relations with the relevant interlocutors, government officials at local and central levels, international organizations, civil society organizations, and relevant national agencies, fostering coordination and synergies across the Mission's thematic portfolios;
6. Supporting internal coordination mechanisms to ensure cross-dimensional cooperation and consistency in programmatic planning and implementation;
7. Performing other duties as assigned.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, please see https://skopje.osce.org/

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 Mission to Skopje
• Requisition ID: SKP000229
• Contract Type: International Secondment
• Grade: S2
• Job Level: Senior Professional
• Job Type: Seconded
• Number of posts: 1
• Location: SKP - OSCE Mission to Skopje, Skopje
• Issue Date: Mar 17, 2026
• Closing Date: Apr 14, 2026
• Employee Status: Fixed Term
• Schedule: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's Degree (First-level university degree or equivalent)
• Job Field: Democratization
• Target Start Date: As soon as possible