There are nearly 500 reasons to work at OPCW. You could be one of them.
Our mission for a world free of chemical weapons makes people’s lives better. Our team takes pride in helping the world become a better place for all.
Who we recruit today defines our culture tomorrow
“Our motto, working together for a world free of chemical weapons, can only be realised when we engage all of the world’s citizens in this challenging endeavour.
The toughest problems require the best people and making use of 100% of the talent pool. We celebrate diversity in all of its forms.”
– Fernando Arias, OPCW Director-General
We do our best for your personal and professional growth
Coming-On-Board Package
We offer an attractive relocation package to international recruits to cover costs of travel and removal of household effects, and additional costs as a result of relocation of staff members and their eligible dependents.
Tax-Free Salary
The OPCW pays salaries according to UN salary scales, and staff salaries and benefits are normally exempt from national income tax. Salaries are subject to the OPCW staff assessment.
Child Care and Education Grants
We provide fixed-term staff members with financial assistance for childcare (including after-school care) until the age of 12. Eligible staff members also can receive an education grant, paid in line with the UN common system, to ensure children receive a high quality education.
Global Insurance Coverage
We offer a comprehensive medical insurance package to staff members and their eligible dependents, which covers medical and dental expenditures globally.
6 Weeks of Holidays
Having time to recharge is important. Fixed-term staff benefit from 30 days of annual leave per year.
Provident Fund
Fixed-term staff members participate in the OPCW provident fund. A monthly staff contribution is met with a doubled amount by the OPCW to ensure separating staff have the capital necessary to move on to new challenges.
Everyone knows the Netherlands is a great place to visit. It’s an even better place to live.
Education, health care, and social services set the bar for many other countries. And the Dutch take great pride in the beauty of their clean, safe, progressive country.
The International City of Peace and Justice
The seaside city of Den Haag is home to embassies, museums, green boulevards, a lively city centre, a large international community, and the headquarters of the OPCW.
Festive weekends
From culinary festivals and outdoor concerts to fireworks shows and antique markets, The Hague is home to year-round festivals. There’s something here for everyone!
Welkom!
While Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands, English is the working language at the OPCW. In fact English is also spoken by the majority of the population at a high level. But learning a few Dutch phrases is always a “goed idee” and will go a long way in showing the locals that you respect their culture.
From city to coast
The historic city centre has kept its character with cobblestone streets. Shops in the city centre are open seven days a week. And just 15 minutes from the city centre, the seaside suburb of Scheveningen offers long sandy beaches and a wide prominade for a unique combination of city life and beach life.
Onboarding is our first thought, not an after thought.
Congratulations on being selected to be part of the OPCW team! Ensuring that we have the best people for the job doesn’t stop at recruitment. As part of coming on board, we want to ensure that you have the right knowledge and tools to do your best work from day one.
Never stop learning
The OPCW is committed to professional development through training programmes that build skills and empower you to be the best in your field. In addition to in-house trainings to help you with your new responsibilities, staff have access to on-demand e-learning solutions to help you gain new skills and build new knowledge at your own pace and at your convenience.
Webinar: How we hire at OPCW
Watch a webinar on how to prepare a successful job application and how to navigate the OPCW’s selection process. You’ll learn:
- What the OPCW generally looks for when hiring
- The OPCW application form
- Assessment tools we use, including written tests and pre-recorded video interviews
- The job interview
- The importance of diversity and inclusion in our mission and while hiring
Current Opportunities
Important notice for applicants who are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system
Although headquartered in the Netherlands, the OPCW is not a regular Dutch employer but a public international organisation with its own special status. Please be advised that if you are currently insured under the Dutch Social Security system, you will be excluded from this system as a staff member of the OPCW. You will consequently be insured under the organisation’s system. The above also applies to your dependents unless they are employed by a regular Dutch employer, they are self-employed in the Netherlands, or are receiving Dutch social security payments.
Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment for more information about the possible consequences for you and your dependents, such as exclusion from ‘AWBZ’ and ‘Zorgverzekeringswet’ coverage: ‘Werken bij een internationale organisatie’.