About Us

The OPCW’s mission is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention to achieve our vision of a world free of chemical weapons in which chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity, and to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament, and global economic development.

The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

General Information

• Contract Type
  Fixed-term Director
• Grade
  D2
• Total Estimated monthly remuneration depending on post adjustment and family status: USD
  15,952
• Closing Date
  22/02/2026

Responsibilities

Job Summary

The Office of the Legal Adviser (LAO) provides centralised legal service to the Director-General, the Secretariat and Member States facilitating the effective functioning of OPCW in accordance in full compliance with the legal framework established under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the internal regulations of the OPCW, and international law; maximisation of the protection of the legal interests of the OPCW and its Secretariat and the minimisation of legal risks and liabilities.

Under the supervision of the Director-General, the Legal Adviser (Director) is responsible for providing legal advice and expertise to the Director-General on the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules, OPCW Financial Regulations and Rules, Administrative Directives, privileges and immunities, facility agreements, relationship agreements with other international organisations, and technical cooperation. The Legal Adviser (Director), provides leadership, guidance and direction, both on legal and policy related matters, to the LAO staff.

Responsibilities:

1) Strategic Legal Advice:

• Serve as the principal legal adviser to senior management, providing authoritative legal counsel on governance, institutional policy, complex legal risk and compliance matters;
• Oversee the provision of comprehensive legal services to the Director-General, Technical Secretariat and the Executive Council on a broad range of legal matters, proposing solutions or amendments bearing in mind long-term risk mitigation;
• Provide strategic legal advice on complex policy, programme or sensitive matters and ensure consistent application of legal instruments as well as adherence to data protection requirements;
• Advise management on confidential and time-sensitive legal matters, including advising on long term implications relating to the functions, structures and activities of the Organisation.

2) Executive Leadership:

• Lead the strategic direction, management and performance of the Office, including staff, programme delivery and budget execution, ensuring results-based implementation aligned with organisational priorities;
• Provide authoritative oversight of data protection, information governance and compliance with internal governance and applicable international standards, ensuring mitigation of legal, operational and reputational risks;
• Guide the drafting of legal related instruments, such as contracts and agreements, rules and regulations and other legislative documents.

3) Representation:

• Represent and advocate for the Organisation in litigation proceedings, administrative tribunals and other judicial or quasi-judicial bodies;
• Take part in official visits to Member States, meeting with Government Officials and representatives of the National Governments;
• Represent the Office at meetings of the Executive Council, informal consultations with delegations, the Management Board and other committees or boards;
• Engage in discussion with the host country, advocating for the Technical Secretariat and advising the Director-General on policy and operational issues impacting on the Organisation and its workforce;
• Represent the Organisation in high-level inter-agency, Member State and external partner engagement, leading legal negotiations and articulating the Organisation’s legal positions and interests.

4) Perform other duties as requested.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in International or Administrative Law;
• A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience (Minimum 17 years) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in providing leadership, direction and advice at the national or international levels dealing with extensive legal issues, a substantial part of which should be at the senior level in the private or public sector or in international organisations.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to think strategically and achieve results
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills in analysing and interpreting legal matters, formulating options, assessing implications and possible risks, proposing and implementing solutions
• Excellent and proven planning, organisational, coordination, negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Ability to exhibit strong leadership, excellent judgement and organisation skills. Well-developed diplomatic and policy skills, and ability to communicate effectively both in writing and orally
• Proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment with people of different cultural and national backgrounds, including ability to effectively supervise, mentor, train, develop and evaluate staff
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to apply tact and accuracy and to present information clearly and logically both in writing and verbally
• Proven ability to ensure an effective work structure to maximise productivity and achieve objectives
• Ability to coordinate the work of others, work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent conflicting activities assuring required results are achieved
• Proven ability to generate a strategic plan that integrates numerous organisational issues, functions and resources for effective action
• Creates partnerships and collaborative endeavours within the division or between divisions

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

This fixed-term appointment is for the duration of three years with a six-month probationary period, and is subject to the OPCW Staff Regulations and Interim Staff Rules.

The OPCW is a non-career organisation with limited staff tenure. The total length of service for Professional staff shall not exceed 7 years.

The mandatory age of separation at the OPCW is 65 years.

The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. Several vacancies may be filled.

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.

According to article 8 paragraph 44 of the Chemical Weapons Convention the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

OPCW is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. OPCW recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

OPCW General Terms and Conditions

Important notice for applicants who are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system

Although headquartered in the Netherlands, the OPCW is not a regular Dutch employer but a public international organisation with its own special status. Please be advised that if you are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system, you will be excluded from this system as a staff member of the OPCW. You will consequently be insured under the organisation’s system. The above also applies to your dependents unless they are employed by a regular Dutch employer, they are self-employed in the Netherlands, or are receiving Dutch social security payments.

Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for more information about the possible consequences for you and your dependents, such as exclusion from ‘AWBZ’ and ‘Zorgverzekeringswet’ coverage: ‘Werken bij een internationale organisatie’.