Vacancies

Description

for the position of

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

at the

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (ISTC), KAZAKHSTAN

 The Governing Board of the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) in Astana, Kazakhstan has invited the European Commission to nominate the Executive Director of the Centre on the basis of the job profile as described below. The appointment of the Executive Director is the responsibility of the Board.

Applications are solicited from qualified candidates to fill the position of ISTC Executive Director in Astana to start on 1 April 2024. The ISTC is an intergovernmental organisation based on an international agreement. Currently the members are: Armenia, the European Union, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, the Kyrgyz Republic, Norway, Tajikistan and the United States of America. The Headquarters are in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The ISTC’s  Mission is to create peaceful multilateral Science and Technology (S&T) collaboration for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world, and its Strategic Vision is to be the partner of choice in creating, facilitating, and expediting impactful world-class, peaceful multilateral S&T collaboration aimed at making the world safer, more secure, and more sustainable.

Driven by this vision, the ISTC will focus on three Operational Objectives as it meets its mission requirements:

  1. Support peaceful and safe S&T partnerships to prevent global and [trans]regional Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation and encourage scientific collaboration consistent with ISTC Strategic Priorities
  2. Serve as the leading intergovernmental platform to coordinate, promote and exchange best practices, and implement solutions for global non-proliferation and security issues
  3. Enhance the visibility of the ISTC’s accomplishments

The Executive Director is appointed by the Governing Board of ISTC. He/She has the overall responsibility for the international organisation and in particular ensures the daily management of the Centre and is responsible for implementing the policies and decisions of the Governing Board (policy, staffing, programming, support measures, budget, monitoring and evaluation) as well as the interaction with the Parties to the ISTC Continuation Agreement[1] especially with the Host Government, other governments and international organisations, with research and development organisations as well as with commercial partners. An adequate information and dissemination policy is to be promoted by the Executive Director. He/She will also be the Secretary of the Governing Board.

The expansion of the activities of the Centre on the basis of the new ISTC Continuation Agreement including the attraction of new members, the development of innovative programmes addressing emerging and existing global security threats as well as the assurance of sound and effective human and financial management are among the first priorities of the Centre.

The professional qualifications and experience sought for this post are the following:

  • Excellent knowledge of the EU and international policies and legislation relevant for the activities of ISTC;
  • Excellent knowledge of research and international cooperation preferably related to security issues, and the scientific community in the partner countries;
  • University degree/Master/PhD in sciences, technology, medicine or engineering or any other disciplines relevant to this assignment
  • At least 15 years of professional experience including at least 5 years of management experience of an organization of a similar size;
  • Ability to lead and motivate a team in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual context;
  • Experience in carrying out negotiations at an international level, and in co-operation with EU Member-States authorities, international organisations, universities and research centres;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Fluency in English;
  • Knowledge of the Russian or any other language spoken in Central Asia language is preferred.

Only EU Nationals are eligible to apply for this position.

The position is based in Astana, Kazakhstan, however, a flexible working arrangement can be discussed.  The Executive Director is to remain at the post for a minimum period of two years including a probation period of 6 month.                                                                                                                                                                     

The selected person will work fulltime from Astana and should be ready to travel frequently mostly in Central Asia, Europe and United States.

The salary and allowances will be based on the EU AD salary grid.

Interested candidates should send their CV and a short motivation letter (max. 1 page) as follows:

To:                  FPI-1@ec.europa.eu

Subject:           Application for ISTC Executive Director

Deadline for application: 10 November  2023 @ 16:00 (Brussels time).

Selected candidates will be invited for a panel interview.   

In order to assess candidate’s management experience, every candidate should give details on (1) title and role of management positions held, (2) numbers of staff overseen in these positions, (3) the size of budgets managed and (4) place in the overall hierarchy of the organisation (numbers of layers etc.)

For further questions in relation to this position please contact Sorin Popa (European Commission, FPI.1, sorin.popa@ec.europa.eu )

 

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:22017A0214(01)&from=HR