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 Professional
• Grade
  P3
• Total Estimated monthly remuneration depending on post adjustment and family status: USD
  8,714
• Closing Date
  03/07/2026

Responsibilities

Job Summary

The Office of the Legal Adviser (LAO) provides legal advice to the Director-General, the divisions and branches of the Secretariat, and States Parties. This advice pertains to a wide range of legal issues and is intended to assist in ensuring that the Organisation’s activities are conducted in accordance with the Convention and relevant rules, policies, and agreements. The primary responsibility of the LAO is to assist in the interpretation and implementation of the Convention, the decisions and rules of procedure of the policy-making organs, the internal legislation of the Organisation, and various sources of public international law. The Office advises on commercial matters, the development of new internal administrative policies and procedures, and personnel- related administrative issues. Its legal services include assistance in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide array of international agreements and interpretation of the Headquarters Agreement between the OPCW and the Host Country.

Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Officer, the Legal Officer provides legal advice and support on matters arising under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and on a range of administrative law and institutional matters. The incumbent conducts legal analysis, drafts legal opinion, memoranda, agreements, and policy instruments; and contributes to the development, interpretation, and application of the organisation’s regulatory framework.

The duration of this contract is for a period of 1 year. Any further contract extensions are subject to availability of funding, operational needs as well successful performance and conduct.

Main Responsibilities:

1) Legal Aspects of the CWC and OPCW Policy-Making Organs:

• Provide legal advice on the interpretation and implementation of the CWC and relevant decisions adopted by the policy-making organs, in particular in the field of Verification (Articles III, IV, V, VI and the Verification Annex of the CWC);
• As part of a multidisciplinary team, take part in the drafting, review, interpretation and negotiation of Facility Agreements concluded with States Parties pursuant to the Verification Annex of the CWC;
• Provide legal advice on the interpretation and implementation of the Rules of Procedure of the OPCW Policy-making organs (Conference of States Parties and Executive Council);
• Represent LAO in OPCW training courses or lectures to the public, delivering presentations on legal aspects of the CWC.

2) OPCW Agreements and Contracts:

• Assist in the drafting, review, interpretation and negotiation of different forms of agreement to be entered into by the Technical Secretariat, including bilateral agreements with States Parties such as voluntary contribution agreements and agreements concerning the Privileges and Immunities of the Organisation entered into pursuant to Article VIII of the CWC, including the Organisation’s Headquarters Agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
• Review and draft contracts for the purchase of goods and/or services to be concluded between OPCW and its vendors (for example, insurance policies, license agreements, maintenance contracts, lease agreements) and draft the Legal Adviser's comments on them;
• Provide legal advice on procurement matters.

3) Administrative Law of the Organisation:

• Draft legal memoranda and legal opinions on the interpretation of internal rules and procedures, such as the Financial Regulations and Rules, the Staff Regulations and Rules, relevant decisions of the Policy-Making Organs and other internal legislation of the OPCW;
• Draft the Organisation’s submissions on cases before the Organisation’s internal administrative and disciplinary bodies as well as before the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILOAT);
• Review or draft administrative directives (ADM, FIN or PER), information circulars and other internal administrative issuances;
• Provide legal advice on matters pertaining to the protection of personal data; support the performance of the Data Protection function situated in the Office of the Legal Adviser.

4) Delivery of Legal Services:

• Conduct research and provide general legal advice as necessary on diverse legal issues;
• Draft reports and correspondence of a legal nature;
• Support/provide legal input to general administrative and operational activities of the Office of the Legal Adviser, as required;
• Represent the Legal Adviser, and/or serve as a member upon appointment by the Director-General, on various internal advisory bodies, such as the Committee on Contracts and the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims; and provide legal advice to such bodies;
• Supervise and provide guidance to interns, and manage intern recruitment, as needed; may supervise individuals employed on Special Services Agreements (SSAs) and/or act as first appraising officer for a P-2 or JPO, as required.

5) Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in law;
• A first level university degree in law with at least seven years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in the practice of law either in an international organisation, government department or law firm, or similar environment, with a focus on international, disarmament, administrative, and/or commercial legal matters.

Desirable:

• Experience providing in-house counsel services in international organisations, including in the UN Common System;
• Experience working as a legal officer in field locations, in particular, in conflict zones;
• Experience with the legal and administrative aspects relating to the set-up and operation of field offices.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in legal research with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex legal issues; and a good understanding of the relation between legal issues and policy initiatives;
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks;
• Excellent writing skills, a well-developed sense of judgement, and ability to work under pressure of time and urgent deadlines;
• Excellent communication skills, including proven negotiation skills;
• Flexibility and problem-solving skills;
• Discretion, tact, accuracy, and ability to work as a team with other colleagues in the Office of the Legal Adviser;
• Good computer skills;
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural work environment;
• Ability to coordinate the work of others, work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities.

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

Please note that all vacancies will close at 22:00 The Netherlands local time on their respective closing day. Thereafter, the vacancy announcements will no longer appear in the Candidate Portal and you will no longer be able to submit your application. We recommend that you apply well in advance of the deadline.

This fixed-term appointment is for the duration of one year 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’.