Overview
The Director, Verification is responsible for the supervision of verification activities, planning and the management of resources and technical support, reviewing the outcome of verification and subsequent follow-up actions. The role provides strategic direction to the OPCW Laboratory and collaborates with other Directors.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic planning, policy advice and support to the Director-General, Deputy Director-General, other Directors, Executive Council, and States Parties regarding verification regimes.
- Serve as a technical expert and advise States Parties concerning declaration, destruction and verification of facilities/items and monitoring of destroyed or converted facilities, storage sites or destruction sites.
- Guide the coordination and analysis of States Parties’ declarations, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Advise on policy and operational issues impacting the administration of the Organisation.
- Manage confidential material, including security of declarations and information from States Parties.
- Provide strategic oversight of the assessment of inspection results, their evaluation of risk, and follow-on actions.
- Oversee and validate the identification of declared facilities and items to be inspected.
- Direct the work of the Verification Division by establishing policy and providing guidance.
- Lead planning for possible future operational requirements, such as evolution of Article VI verification regime and use of AI and data management tools.
- Lead development of the OPCW Laboratory’s operational capabilities and research concerning verification process, and expansion of the global Designated Laboratory network.
- Oversee development and maintenance of specialist Divisional IT applications relevant to the verification process.
- Manage Divisional staffing and budgetary resources, and risks to the operations of the Division.
- Provide leadership and accountability for the division’s performance in achieving objectives and KPIs.
- Take part in official visits to States Parties.
- Represent the Secretariat at international seminars, conferences and meetings on verification issues.
- Represent the Division at meetings of the Executive Council, informal consultations with delegations, the Management Board and other committees or boards.
- Perform other duties as required.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in chemical demilitarisation, in chemical or similar industry, foreign and security policy, or international relations including disarmament regimes.
- Substantial part of experience should be at the senior level in the private or public (e.g. diplomatic sector, in international organisations) sectors.
- Proven track record of excellence, leadership, delivery, representation, and human and financial resource management.
- Knowledge or experience working with the CWC and member states is desirable.
- Work experience in the UN Common System is also desirable.
Qualifications
- Advanced University degree in a relevant scientific discipline, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Business Administration or International Relations, from an accredited college or university.
- A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (Minimum 17 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
