Vacancy Announcement for the post of Professional Secretary

 (HELCOM MONAS / HELCOM HABITAT)

The post of Professional Secretary for the MONAS/HABITAT Groups 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 advanced university degree in environmental science or corresponding education and a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience at the national level. 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 (MONAS / HABITAT)

The Professional Secretary shall undertake the tasks connected with and be responsible for the overall co-ordination, implementation and further development of matters related to environmental monitoring and assessment and nature protection and biodiversity.

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

a)     provide service and technical support inter-sessionally and to the meetings of the Monitoring and Assessment Group (HELCOM MONAS) and the Nature Protection and Biodiversity Group (HELCOM HABITAT)

b)     provide guidance and supervision of the daily implementation of the activities under her/his responsibility. This includes overseeing ongoing contracts and projects with institutions/consultants, answering mails etc.

c)     provide support to enhancement and development of the HELCOM databases on monitoring and assessment connected with the COMBINE programme as well as with nature protection and biodiversity

d)     provide advice and guidance on directions and approaches to take regarding activities within the area of coastal and marine planning and management.

e)     assist in the strengthening of communication and management capabilities regarding conservation and protection of Baltic Sea Protected Areas, endangered species and biotopes.

f)       follow up the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, HELCOM Recommendations connected with monitoring and assessment and nature protection and biodiversity and, as appropriate, promote their harmonization with EU Directives and other international regulations

g)     identify and co-ordinate emerging issues within her/his field of responsibility.

Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in environmental science 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: