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Secondment Programme
Objectives
The Secondment Programme (SP) is a capacity-building initiative targeted at providing participants with a unique career development opportunity for a maximum duration of one year. The Programme is open to applicants from all nationalities, with preference given to OPEC Member Country nationals.
Applicants must be nominated by their respective OPEC Governor or employer.
Professional Benefits to SP Participants
Participants in the SP benefit from being in the programme through:
- Involvement and close participation in the daily activities, research programmes and studies of the OPEC Secretariat.
- Contributing to ongoing projects in the Secretariat and strengthening of networks with Member Country professionals.
- Gaining experience at the Secretariat, deepening knowledge of OPEC and understanding of its goals, priorities, and activities.
- Opportunities to be involved in cutting-edge research and hands-on experience regarding climate change policy issues and a range of energy and various technical- and administration-related topics.
- Enhancing professional experience via practical work assignments.
- Exposure to a rich international environment and interaction with researchers from OPEC Members and other countries.
- Broadening of career possibilities as a result of the experience and insights gained at OPEC.
General Eligibility Requirements
- The programme is open to applicants from all nationalities, with preference given to OPEC Member Country nationals.
- Applicants must be nominated and supported by their respective OPEC Governors or employer.
- Applicants should be professionals with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience.
- Applicants must meet assignment requirements for desired projects as set forth by the relevant Department/Office/Unit at the OPEC Secretariat.
- Applicants must be familiar with research methodology and should have a proven record of equivalent or related experience as required in the chosen position.
- Participants are expected to be able to undertake the programme in English, the working language of the Secretariat.
Expected Outcome/Deliverables
- Participants will be directly involved in a Department/Office/Unit at the Secretariat and will contribute to it.
- Participants are required to deliver a report to the Secretariat on the findings of their research projects.
- Participants are required to make a presentation at the end of their assignment and discuss their findings with members of the Secretariat.
- All intellectual property arising from the secondment period by participants belongs to the Secretariat.
- An intellectual property and confidentiality agreement will be signed before a successful participant is formally accepted into the programme.
Duration & Working Hours
The duration of the programme will be a maximum of 12 months. SP participants are expected to observe and adhere to the official working hours of the Secretariat and/or any other rules and procedures applicable at the Secretariat.
Allowances, Accommodation, Travel, and Insurance
- Participants are required to have full paid employment in their own seconding Member Country, or an employer, and be able to fully support themselves financially while staying in Vienna. They must provide adequate evidence of this before being admitted into the programme.
- Participants must arrange their own health/sickness insurance and provide evidence that they possess adequate health coverage before arriving in Vienna. The Secretariat will not be responsible for any health or sickness claims stemming from the secondment period.
- The Secretariat will enrol participants in its accident insurance scheme for the duration of their stay in the programme at the Secretariat.
Application Evaluation Criterion
Candidates' professional merit and potential for successful research and/or related working experience will be the main consideration when evaluating applicants.
Application Procedure
Applicants are required to submit the following:
- Nomination letter from OPEC Governor or employer
- Complete application form
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Short research/project proposal
- Other supporting documents (if applicable)
The aforementioned documents should be sent through OPEC Governors or employers according to a deadline established by the Secretariat.
For more details of vacancies, please download the document “Secondment Programme 2025”.
