Research and Information Officer – P01

In accordance with paragraph f. of Article 44 of the General Standards, the official languages of the Organization are English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.  No candidate for a position in the General Secretariat subject to the competition requirement shall be contracted until he/she has been administered language proficiency exams by the DHR in at least two of the official languages. Nevertheless:

(i) Any candidate, including a staff member, whose native language is one of those four languages shall only be required to demonstrate proficiency on an exam in one of the others; and

(ii) Persons applying for G-1 and G-2 positions at Headquarters and G-3 driver/clerk positions in those Offices of the General Secretariat in the Member States where the language requirement unduly restricts the recruitment of otherwise qualified staff shall be exempt from this language proficiency requirement for as long as they occupy those positions. Subsequently, in order to be eligible to compete for a higher-level position, any staff member who has benefited from this exemption must demonstrate proficiency in a second official language of the Organization; and

(iii) A person selected as the best candidate may receive a fixed-term contract, which will be considered to have lapsed in case the person does not pass the required language examination in a second official language within the 36 months following the appointment.
(iv) During all steps of the recruitment and selection process, a candidate for a position in the General Secretariat shall demonstrate proficiency in at least one official language of the Organization.

(v) During all steps of the recruitment and selection process, the application of language requirements shall be guided by the principles of merit, equitable geographic representation, proportionality, and non-discrimination. The lack of proficiency in a second language should not be grounds for elimination during the recruitment and selection process.

(vi) Persons applying for positions in the Offices of the General Secretariat in the Member States shall demonstrate proficiency in the official language(s) of the Member State.

(vii) When the native language of the candidate is not one of the four official languages of the Organization, the candidate shall be required to sit a proficiency examination administered by the DHR in at least two of the official languages.

The salary for this position corresponds to Grade P01, Step 1, in accordance with Staff Rule 103.3 Initial Salary:
(a) A staff member on initial appointment shall be placed in the first step of the grade of post, without exemption.
(b) This rule does not apply to a staff member who is already employed by the General Secretariat and is selected, promoted, demoted, reassigned, or otherwise transferred to a different post. In such cases, salary shall be determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of these Staff Rules.
            
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Chief Librarian, the Research and Information Officer performs entry-level professional functions, under guidance, across library and archives services, collections management, research assistance, digital resources, institutional outreach, and the implementation of programs and projects.

The Research and Information Officer is responsible for duties which include the following:

•    Conduct research and provide professional information services by assessing users’ needs, defining the scope of inquiries, developing effective search strategies, consulting print, electronic, and archival documents and sources, verifying and synthesizing findings, and preparing concise responses, bibliographies, research guides, finding aids, and briefing materials.

•    Support bibliographic and intellectual control of OAS official documents, publications, archival holdings, and special collections by creating and reviewing descriptive metadata, cataloging, classification, indexing, authority data, and collection inventories in accordance with applicable standards.

•    Monitor the completeness and accessibility of OAS documentation; identify gaps, coordinate with issuing areas to obtain missing materials, and support ISBN, cataloging-in-publication, depository, and related publication-control activities as assigned.

•    Participate in collection development and stewardship by evaluating resources, recommending acquisitions or withdrawals, arranging and describing archival materials, and preparing materials for preservation, binding, rehousing, digitization, or exhibition.

•    Organize and manage collection storage areas; maintain location and inventory controls, develop and carry out shelving and relocation plans, and ensure proper handling and movement of materials in accordance with preservation, space-management, and occupational-safety practices.

•    Develop and maintain digital resources by preparing and reviewing metadata, performing digital quality control, contributing content to the integrated library system, repositories, databases, and website, and evaluating information resources and technologies for potential use.

•    Contribute to institutional outreach by researching and selecting materials for exhibitions and events; drafting labels, fact sheets, web content, and other information products; and coordinating with relevant OAS areas, the diplomatic community, depository libraries, academic institutions, and partner organizations.

•    Support assigned programs and projects by preparing workplans and documentation, collecting and analyzing data, monitoring outputs, drafting progress reports and proposals, and coordinating defined activities with internal and external counterparts; perform other related duties as assigned.

•    Perform other related duties as assigned, including providing support to other dependencies of the OASG, replacing and backstopping for others.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:  
Essential:A first-level university degree in library or information science, archival studies, history, international relations, political science, information management, or a related field with 1 year of relevant professional experience including internships in a similar position at national and/or international level in international organizations or in public or private institutions.

Desirable:Experience or knowledge of the OAS mandate and priorities as related to the area of work and/or the dynamics of the Inter-American agenda and system.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Ability to effectively work using Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other applications such as Oracle, Visio, Access, Share Point) and software applicable to the area of work.

LANGUAGES:
Essential – Proficient in at least two of the following languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish (read, write and communicate). The selected candidate must satisfy the applicable language-proficiency examination requirements under Article 44(f) of the General Standards, including passing the required DHR-administered examination in a second official language within the applicable timeframe. The lack of proficiency in a second language should not be grounds for elimination during the recruitment and selection process.  

Desirable –  Working knowledge of other two OAS official languages.

PERSONAL COMPETENCIES: Client Orientation, Knowledge Sharing, Teamwork, Interpersonal Skills. Ability to clearly communicate in the languages required for the post.

The GS/OAS embraces equality, diversity and inclusion. Accordingly, in accordance with its rules and regulations, the GS/OAS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and achieving a diverse staff. In selecting candidates, it will take into account equitable geographic representation, as well as gender equity and equality.

Please note that the mandatory retirement age for staff members at the General Secretariat of the OAS is 65 years. 

Benefits:

- Compensation: 
Professional Category: Remuneration = Basic Salary + Post Adjustment 
Net of taxes for non-US citizens  

- US citizens tax reimbursement: US Citizens are reimbursed for most taxes paid on OAS remuneration.  

- Paid Annual Leave: 21 days from 1st year.  Increase to 30 days within 5 years.  

- Sick Leave and Parental Leave.

- Health Insurance: OAS pays 2/3 of premium.

- Pension and Savings Plans: In addition to salary, OAS contributes 14% of pensionable remuneration to a Retirement and Pension Plan. Staff contribute 7%.

- Additional benefits (dependent on contract type): Mobilization allowance, repatriation grant, home leave travel, dependency allowance, life insurance.