Vacancy Announcement for the post of Professional Secretary

(HELCOM LAND)

The post of Professional Secretary for the HELCOM LAND Group will fall vacant 1 January 2008 in the international Secretariat of the Helsinki Commission. The common requirements and duties for the Professional Secretaries as well as the post description of the vacancy are attached herewith. Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates.

The Helsinki Commission is an inter-governmental organization established for the purposes of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1992, signed by the coastal states of the Baltic Sea and the European Community. The aim of the Convention is restore the ecosystems of the Baltic Sea Area and preserve its ecological balance by preventing pollution from all sources reaching the Baltic Sea Area and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources within the Baltic Sea Area. The Commission is administered by its international Secretariat based in Helsinki, Finland. The Commission works in English. 

The person to be appointed should have attained an educational standard equivalent to a good university degree, preferably in environmental engineering and/or environment protection science, have knowledge and experience in environmental technologies of municipal and industrial sectors, agricultural practices and of the protection of the Baltic Sea. A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience at the national level is required. Professional experience at international level is an asset and proven organizational and administrative skills an advantage.

To be able to successfully carry out the duties of Professional Secretary the applicant should have current knowledge of word processing and office suite software. A thorough knowledge of the English language as well as the ability to draft quickly and concisely in English is essential.

The salary, which is related to the appropriate United Nations grade (P-4), shall be set out in the contract of employment. The salaries paid by the Commission are exempt from Finnish income tax. In addition, certain allowances may be payable depending on personal circumstances.

The initial appointment is for three years, the first six months of which shall be a probationary period, with the possibility of a prolongation, after a new, competitive recruitment process, for another period not exceeding three years (3+3 years, maximum 6 consecutive years altogether). The successful candidate will be invited to take up his/her post 2 January 2008.

Applications for the post should be sent to:

Anne Christine Brusendorff

Executive Secretary

Helsinki Commission

Katajanokanlaituri 6 B

FI-00160 Helsinki, Finland

e-mail: anne.christine.brusendorff@helcom.fi

fax: + 358 (0)207 412 639

not later than 11 May  2007 by noon. Applications sent by fax/e-mail should also be sent by post.

Shortlisting and call for interviews will take place the second half of June  2007.

COMMON REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SECRETARIES

OF THE HELSINKI COMMISSION

The professional secretaries shall assist the Executive Secretary in performing functions conferred on the Executive Secretary, inter alia, by paragraph 5 of Article 21 of the 1992 Helsinki Convention and additionally by the 1992 Baltic Environment Declaration.

The Secretaries shall, under the direction of the Executive Secretary, inter alia,

1. Make necessary arrangements for the meetings of the subsidiary bodies, and their sub-groups, inter alia:

a)    prepare invitations, provisional agendas, secretariat documents and reports pertaining to such meetings;

b)    present matters for consideration at such meetings;

c)    act as Secretaries at such meetings; and

d)    communicate documents relating to such meetings,

in so far as responsibility for this work or part of it is not assumed, by special arrangement, by a Contracting Party to the Helsinki Convention, an observer of the Commission.

2. In addition the Secretaries shall, as directed by the Executive Secretary:

a)    respond to requests from Governments, international organizations, NGOs, institutions and individuals;

b)    represent HELCOM at meetings related to HELCOM's field of responsibility; and

c)    undertake such other tasks as may be assigned to her/him in the field of her/his competence.

3. The Secretaries shall compile, analyze and assess information related to their area of competence and draw the appropriate conclusions.

4. The Secretariat of HELCOM is understood as a team and each Secretary shall, under the supervision of the Executive Secretary, closely cooperate with the other Secretaries and the Administrative Officer as well as take due account of the work carried out within the subsidiary bodies of HELCOM.

POST DESCRIPTION FOR A PROFESSIONAL SECRETARY (HELCOM LAND)

OF THE HELSINKI COMMISSION

The Professional Secretary shall co-ordinate the activities to prevent and eliminate pollution from the land-based pollution sources in close co-operation with the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention.

To this end the Professional Secretary shall, under the direction of the Executive Secretary, inter alia:

Provide guidance to and supervise the daily implementation of the activities under his/her responsibility as indicated in the Terms of Reference for the Land-based Pollution Group (HELCOM LAND), including:

a)      assist in the preparation of the reports and assessments concerning pollution prevention and control measures, in particular concerning Best Available Technology/Best Environmental Practice (BAT/PEP);

b)      provide support for elaboration of reduction targets for specific sources for promoting BAT and BEP including development and use of environmentally sound processes and products;

c)      follow up the harmonization of existing and planned HELCOM Recommendations in the field of land-based pollution with EU Directives, Recommendations and Decisions within OSPAR and other relevant international organizations;

d)      monitor and assess the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan;

e)      provide support to review in coordination with other organizations instruments, experiences and guidelines for Trans-boundary River Basin Management including assistance for establishment of management strategies;

f)       advise in relation to HELCOM requirements on the results of investments in point- and non-point source Hot Spots and in relation to evaluation of Hot Spots proposed to be removed from the list.

Provide guidance to and supervise the daily implementation of the activities under his/her responsibility as indicated in the Terms of Reference for the Monitoring and Assessment Group (HELCOM MONAS) Paragraphs a) ii), I), ii) and v)), including:

a)      co-ordinate and keep under review the monitoring programmes for waterborne and airborne inputs (PLC-water, PLC-air); and

b)      provide support to compile periodically emission inventories in co-operation with relevant modelling centres;

c)      provide support to enhancement and development of the HELCOM data base on PLC WATER and PLC AIR programmes.

Qualifications:      University degree in environment technology or corresponding education. A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience at the national level. Professional experience at international level is an asset. Computer literacy is essential.

Language requirements:       Excellent knowledge of English.

Application form: