International Consultant - AI Data Analyst/Expert (SSAs)

Background:

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) adopts a comprehensive approach to security, that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, 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 OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC) supports and co-ordinates the OSCE's activities in the field, providing analysis and policy advice to the Secretary General and the Chairpersonship, leading work on all aspects of the conflict cycle, and supporting the various formats dealing with protracted conflicts. The CPC also serves as the focal point in the Secretariat for co-ordinating and developing the OSCE's role in the politico-military dimension.

Within the CPC, the FSC and Operations Support Service covers a broad variety of tasks, including operational planning for the set-up, reorganization and closure of field operations; analysis related to early warning, early action, conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution, post-conflict rehabilitation and peacebuilding; identification of lessons and best practices; mediation support; operational liaison with other international organizations; and maintaining a Situation/Communications Room (SitRoom).

The Operations Support Unit in CPC provides strategic and operational advice and analysis related to the conflict cycle, as well as planning and support on operational issues, with a special focus on field operations and field-based crisis response efforts. It identifies lessons and best practices to strengthen and innovate operational capacities and to preserve institutional memory in this area.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Secretariat, please see: http://www.osce.org/secretariat

Objective of Assignment:

The OSCE is seeking an AI-Data Analyst to analyze whether historical patterns in open-source datasets available in the SitRoom database can be used for systematic, data-driven early warning. The CPC SitRoom database includes nearly one million curated open-source news articles and their potential for systematic conflict trend analysis remains unexplored.

Duration of Assignment:

The initial duration of the assignment is until 31 March 2027. Further extensions will be subject to financial and operational requirements.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Operations Support Unit, the consultant will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Ingest, profile and process the full SitRoom open-source news database made available by the OSCE, ensuring that the full archive can be transformed into analysis-ready daily feature tables suitable for early-warning analysis;

2. Apply and refine Machine Learning algorithms on the full SitRoom open-source dataset;

3. Develop and test the case-specific indicator generation method, using pre-defined periods and/or rolling prominence analysis to identify terms, actors, places, themes or narratives that become unusually prominent in a given case;

4. Re-run historical validation and back-testing on selected OSCE-relevant cases, subject to data availability, and document the performance, limitations and transferability of the model;

5. Develop a working prototype application that can generate analyst-facing outputs, including a summary report or exportable results;

6. Prepare user documentation, technical documentation and handover materials enabling OSCE staff to understand, test and further develop the prototype;

7. Develop a forecasting model for early warning trend analysis based on the SitRoom OSINT database.

Deliverables:

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Secretariat, please see: http://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• First-level university degree in business analytics, data science, statistics, computer science, economics, political science, international relations, security studies, conflict studies or another relevant field;

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• Demonstrated experience applying data analytics, statistical modelling and/or machine-learning methods to complex real-world datasets;

• Demonstrated experience with Python-based data analysis, including data processing, feature engineering, model development and visualization;

• Practical experience with Natural Language Processing (NLP) or text analytics, including one or more of the following: keyword-based feature extraction, topic modelling, sentiment analysis, named-entity recognition or document classification;

• Experience developing, testing or documenting analytical models using methods such as logistic regression, random forest, support vector machines, anomaly detection or related supervised/unsupervised techniques;

• Ability to translate technical model outputs into clear, interpretable findings for non-technical users;

• Strong analytical writing skills and ability to prepare concise technical and policy-facing documentation in English;

• Ability to work independently and deliver outputs within tight timelines;

• Computer literacy and practical experience with Microsoft Office applications.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and 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.