International Consultant - Lead Expert

Background:

Please note that this is a consultancy assignment of a temporary nature, with an expected duration of approximately 60 working days over a 12-month period, beginning in January or February 2024. The final number of working days will be negotiated once a candidate is selected. Suitable candidates may be placed on a Roster for future opportunities.

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, and 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 Transnational Threats Department/Action against Terrorism Unit (TNTD/ATU) is the focal point for co-ordinating and facilitating OSCE anti-terrorism activities. The Department contributes to the implementation of the OSCE’s counter-terrorism commitments by providing support to the Chairperson-in-Office, the Secretary General and the participating States on anti-terrorism matters and by enhancing co-ordination within the OSCE on related issues. 

TNTD/ATU also assists participating States with implementing their relevant commitments in this area, as defined by relevant decisions, and acts on requests from participating States to assist in enhancing their capacities to respond to current and emerging terrorist threats. TNTD/ATU supports the work of relevant UN bodies and enhances co-operation with external partners and other regional organizations in preventing and count terrorism. 

Objective of Assignment: 

TNTD/ATU is currently seeking the services of a Lead Expert to lead the drafting of the OSCE Guide, “Project PROTECT: Physical Security Considerations for Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Terrorist Attacks”. 

This deliverable is part of the TNTD/ATU’s extra-budgetary project, “Project on the Protection of Vulnerable Targets from Terrorist Attacks (Project PROTECT, Phase I)”. Project PROTECT enhances national approaches across the OSCE area on the protection of vulnerable targets from terrorist threats and other hazards through the provision of specialized guidance, technical assistance and opportunities for regional co-operation and dialogue on effective security practices. Project PROTECT’s specialized guidance pillar is dedicated to consolidating and disseminating specialized guidance and good practices on the protection of critical infrastructure from across the OSCE area. The Guide is this pillar’s flagship deliverable for Phase I. It directly supports the OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight Against Terrorism:

“In support of the implementation of relevant OSCE commitments, at the request of the relevant participating States and within existing mandates, the Organization will pursue its activities to enhance co-operation and build capacity at the national, regional and subregional levels to prevent and combat terrorism, inter alia in the areas of criminal justice, law enforcement, and border security and management, within a framework based on the rule of law and respect for human rights, in order to:

Improve the security of international transportation and of other critical infrastructure”.

The Guide shall be designed to provide OSCE participating States with structured guidance on effective practices, principles, considerations which can enhance the physical security of critical infrastructure in order to prevent, better prepare for and/or mitigate terrorist attacks. Topics which may be covered in this Guide include but are not limited to: 

•    laws, strategies and/or policies which provide a framework for effective physical security for critical infrastructure, 
•    site- and/or sector-specific risk assessment practices, 
•    perimeter security considerations, 
•    target hardening considerations,
•    co-ordination and co-operation with private security, private industry and members of the public, where necessary,
•    other areas as deemed relevant by TNTD/ATU and the Lead Expert. 

The Guide can be developed from a range of sources including publicly-available publications, research, inputs from OSCE participating States, interviews and/or consultations. The objective of the Guide is to provide different approaches to enhance physical security. 

The Guide shall include components on human rights considerations when considering physical security, to be drafted by separate Consultant(s). There may be other components of this Guide which are authored by other experts. The Lead Expert will be responsible for consolidating these inputs and ensuring a consistency throughout the Guide. 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The Lead Expert will be expected to:
•    Conduct research, literature reviews and consultations independently;
•    Consolidate inputs from OSCE participating States, to be provided by TNTD/ATU;
•    Participate in biweekly coordination meetings with TNTD/ATU;
•    Design the Guide’s structure and chapters, in consultation with TNTD/ATU;
•    Draft complete technical sections of the Guide in English;
•    Contribute to the design of two Expert Advisory Group meetings, together with TNTD/ATU;
•    Lead substantive sessions of the Expert Advisory Group meetings; 
•    Work with TNTD/ATU, editors and translators to ensure the Guide is prepared within existing timelines;
•    Collaborate with additional consultants, TNTD/ATU and other experts from the OSCE and beyond;
•    Participate in and present at the Guide’s launch event, currently scheduled for 2025.

Deliverables:
For more detailed information on the structure and work of the  TNTD/ATU, please see: https://www.osce.org/

Indicative Timeline (subject to agreement between Lead Consultant and TNTD/ATU)
•    Months 1-2: Lead Expert prepares work plan together with TNTD/ATU, designs Guide structure and chapters, contributes to and participates in first Expert Advisory Group meeting (online). 
•    Months 3-7: Lead Expert prepares first draft of Guide, receives and consolidates inputs from OSCE participating States through TNTD/ATU, receives additional chapters/sections from other consultants, collaborates with additional consultants as needed.
•    Months 7-8: Lead Expert delivers first draft of Guide to TNTD/ATU, presents at second Expert Advisory Group meeting (online). 
•    Months 8-10: TNTD/ATU and Expert Advisory Group provide written feedback, revises Guide, provides revised draft to TNTD/ATU.
•    Months 10-12: Lead Expert makes minor revisions as required by external editor, TNTD/ATU prepares file for publication, Lead Expert participates in launch event in Vienna (2025). 

Necessary Qualifications:

•    University degree in counter-terrorism, security studies, risk management or a relevant field;
•    At least 10 years of work experience in the field of policing, military, protective security, critical infrastructure protection, security risk and resilience management, emergency management or a relevant field;
•    Demonstrable knowledge of terrorism, counter-terrorism, protective security, and/or physical security measures for installations and facilities; 
•    Professional fluency in English;
•    Demonstrable presentation and drafting skills in English;
•    Ability to consolidate large amounts of information;
•    Flexibility and ability to work under time pressure to meet tight deadlines.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will depend on agreed tasks and deliverables, and the selected consultant/expert’s qualifications and experience in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or 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.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

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 be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.