Working for peace: Perspectives from a chemical engineer working to rid the world of chemical weapons

OPCW is hiring inspectors!

If you have a background in chemistry and an international outlook, consider contributing to the OPCW's meaningful mission. The job of an OPCW inspector is challenging, but also highly rewarding. To get a better look into the life of an OPCW inspector, we sat down with two inspectors to find out what makes their job exciting and unique.  

For 25 years, analytical chemists, chemical production technologists and other experts have been working to uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty committed to eliminating chemical weapons from our world. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is the global chemical weapons watchdog, and oversees the treaty.

Based in The Hague, Netherlands, OPCW inspectors travel the globe to monitor the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and to ensure that toxic industrial chemicals are used only for peaceful purposes. Every year the OPCW conducts over 200 industry inspections in around 40 countries. On any given day, somewhere in the world, the chemical industry is likely being inspected by the OPCW. 

Why become an OPCW Inspector? 

After a decade working as a chemical engineer for a multinational company in the private sector, I learned about the OPCW's mandate, and began to think about how my skills could better contribute to the wellbeing of society. I was captivated by the mission, and the important role the OPCW plays within the context of international peace and security.  

I began to think about how my skills could better contribute to the wellbeing of society

Now that I’m here, I know I made the right decision. Working for a multilateral organisation, with colleagues from over 80 countries, has heightened my cross-cultural communications skills, which are so important for international collaboration. It’s a great contrast to my technical chemistry background. I’m also extremely proud of the fact that my work has a direct impact on the safety of families like my own, all around the world. 

No two days are the same  

As an inspector, you can be sent to almost any place in the world to conduct an inspection for OPCW. This means your day-to-day work changes based on where you’re going and the type of inspection you’ll be doing. While no two days are ever alike, there is a structure to our work. We prepare for each mission, deploy, and then finalise our mission report when we return to The Hague. 

If we’re deployed to an industrial chemical facility, the job might be to inspect the production of the chemicals as well as the production facility to verify the types and quantities of toxic chemicals against the declaration provided by the country undergoing inspection. Our inspections ensure that toxic industrial chemicals are being used exclusively for legitimate purposes, and the quantities produced can be fully accounted for. This is one way we can ensure that bad actors are denied access to chemicals that have the potential to be weaponised. 

If we’re deploying to a chemical weapons destruction facility, our duties might include taking an inventory of remaining chemical stockpiles and monitoring the destruction process. The OPCW keeps watch over the destruction of all remaining chemical weapons stockpiles, giving the international community confidence that chemical weapons are truly destroyed. 

Probably the biggest challenge an inspector might face is related to the potential case of non-compliance by a country. Before going on this type or inspection or a non-routine mission, we receive significant specialised training. Only specially trained inspectors who volunteer for these kinds of missions are given these kinds of assignments. 

International travel and the challenges of a life on-the-go 

Inspectors block time in their calendar for annual leave but can otherwise be scheduled for inspections around the globe. Since inspections usually are 8 to 12 days long, there can be challenges related to family and lifestyle. Sometimes you miss out on events like birthdays, and it may be a bit difficult to explain to children why you must be away. Often, we cross time zones and seasons, which can take a toll on the body, as you still need to produce quality work even if you’re jetlagged. In the end, however, the payoff – contributing to a meaningful mission, learning new skills, and providing a safer world for our children is worth it – and highly rewarding. 

Contributing to a meaningful mission, learning new skills, and providing a safer world for our children is worth it – and highly rewarding. 

Work safe, home safe  

The most frequent on-the-job risk is the intrinsic danger of being deployed to visit chemical facilities that handle toxic chemicals. Although safety is the number one priority, accidents can happen, even when all protective measures are in place.  

To help lower the risk factors, a solid health and safety plan is conducted prior to any deployment. This goes through multiple approvals and checks in the OPCW to ensure that if anything undesirable happens, the appropriate measures are in place to make sure we all get home safe to our families at the end of the day. 

What do your friends and family think about your job? 

I work for an international organisation that’s doing important work to keep the world safe from chemical weapons. My friends are impressed. My family also thinks what I do is interesting and important, but they see more some of the more challenging aspects — frequent travel, and sometimes missed birthdays. But behind every successful inspector, stands an encouraging family. Despite the concern over my frequent deployments, they know I’m doing an important job.   

this is a unique opportunity to contribute to something that makes the world safer for our children

Just knowing there are people out there working toward global peace and security, makes them feel safe. They understand this is a unique opportunity to contribute to something that makes the world safer for our children. And being able to see the world through my work is pretty awesome too. 

Attractive compensation 

The OPCW provides us with a generous tax-free salary, childcare and education grants, and six weeks of paid holidays, and other benefits in-line with the UN system. We work hard, but we’re well compensated.

A unique breed of professionals 

OPCW inspectors belong to a unique breed of professionals. We are people from around the globe working together at the intersection of chemical engineering, chemistry, health and safety, and chemical weapons disarmament.   

This means, that in addition to a background in chemistry, OPCW inspectors should be organised, and have exceptional planning capabilities to support the verification measures in the Chemical Weapons Convention. Inspectors need to also have critical thinking skills, to understand priorities on the ground and be able to manage time and resources effectively. Creativity and problem-solving are important, especially on non-routine missions. Thinking on your feet and being adaptable to rapidly changing situations is also a key part of the job.

Working across cultures 

OPCW inspectors must also have respect for diversity and global cultures. Our deployments put us in all corners of the world, so it’s important to understand that social or cultural practices that are acceptable in one part of the world, may be taboo in another. Even a small misstep could cause an issue when it comes to our interactions with the countries we inspect, so it’s important to always have a growth mindset, adjusting as we learn.  

Life in The Hague 

The Hague, Netherlands, is home to the OPCW. It is clean, safe, has excellent health care and plenty of education options for international families.   

While Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands, English is the working language at the OPCW. In fact English is also spoken throughout the Netherlands 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. 

The OPCW hires nationals from all 193 of its Member States — nearly every country in the world. The OPCW handles all the paperwork required to move to the Netherlands, and offers an attractive relocation and on-boarding package.

Making a difference around the world

We’re impartial international civil servants. And despite the challenges and risks that come with this job, it’s rewarding to know that you’re using your skills to make a difference in people’s lives around world.

it’s rewarding to know that you’re using your skills to make a difference in people’s lives around world

The OPCW’s mission is to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons. Knowing that as an OPCW inspector I’m contributing to this global effort motivates me to go the extra mile to ensure the world of our kids, and that of their kids, will be a better, safer place to live in.

The OPCW is currently hiring inspectors!

If you have an advanced university degree or equivalent in a STEM subject (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) such as chemistry, chemical engineering or analytical chemistry, or in paramedical sciences, apply before 1 May 2022.