Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Internship 2024: (Deadline Varies)

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
  A monthly stipend of €450 (four hundred fifty euro)
• Closing Date
  20/12/2023

Responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The Office of Strategy and Policy develops the Technical Secretariat’s strategic planning and provides policy advice to the Director-General and the Secretariat’s management, particularly relating to cross-cutting issues such as incidents of chemical weapons use, non-routine missions, chemical security, engagement with international organisations and chemical industry, education and outreach, counter-terrorism, and science and technology. In addition, the Office contributes to programme and budget planning and the organisational governance of the Secretariat in areas such as knowledge management, results-based management, and risk management.

Intern/s will learn to identify effective ways to engage stakeholders from diverse parts of the United Nations system and other international organisations as well as how to manage multi-stakeholder projects. Interns will learn how to prepare statements and presentations, as well as note-taking and formal report-writing skills.

Intern/s will learn to view the larger picture and consider the multiple and diverse dimensions that inputs required for decision making come from. This will give the intern a perspective on how policy in areas such as counter terrorism and chemical safety and security is formed.

Intern/s will learn to recognize and evaluate the relationship between science and technology and policy, particularly in the area of countering chemical terrorism. This will be complemented by learning to implement and make use of electronic tools for communication and information sharing.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The intern will work on some or all of the following projects and tasks:

• Support for follow up to the inter-agency Project on Ensuring Effective Inter-Agency Interoperability and Coordinated Communication in Case of Chemical and / or Biological Attacks. This includes supporting meetings as well as preparation of reports;
• Support to the Secretary of the Open-Ended Working Group on Terrorism. This includes support for meeting planning and follow up, research activities, and taking forward the outcomes of the table-top exercise conducted in November 2023;
• Support to the Secretary of the Advisory Board for Education and Outreach. This includes support for meeting planning and follow up as well as research 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.

Desirable:

• A university level education in international relations, public policy, law, or any field of science or engineering is preferred. Candidates with experience in multistakeholder activities and project management programming will also be considered.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Teamwork – We work collectively towards the common goal of eliminating chemical weapons. As a team member, you are expected to listen to and value people’s ideas and expertise, and be willing to learn from others;
• Commitment to Continuous Learning – The OPCW is committed to a process of continuous learning;
• Technological Awareness – To keep up with the fast pace of technological change, but the Organisation offers training as well as support to keep ahead of developments in technology;
• Language requirements – Be fluent in both written and spoken English;

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