Director of Science and Technology
Duty Station: The Hague, Netherlands
Organization Profile
Around the world, the number of missing persons is rising, driven by conflict, climate-related and other disasters, organized crime and other causes. By some measures, the world has been experiencing more conflicts than at any time since 1946. Conflict and disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes and floods, have also contributed to displacement and migration.
People travelling along dangerous or irregular migration routes may face heightened risks of going missing, including as a result of human trafficking, smuggling, exploitation, violence, hazardous journeys and deaths in transit.
The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization, headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, that works with governments, civil society organizations, justice institutions and others throughout the world to address this growing global challenge. ICMP is seeking a dynamic and committed individual to join a highly motivated team. ICMP's overall strategy is grounded in upholding international law and securing the rights of families of the missing to truth, justice and reparations.
About this Position
The Director of Science and Technology provides strategic leadership for ICMP's global scientific and technical capabilities required to locate, recover, document, account for, and identify missing persons.
The Director ensures scientific excellence is central to ICMP's mandate to secure the rights of families of the missing to truth, justice and reparations. As a member of senior management, the Director leads the development, implementation and oversight of the Science and Technology Program and serves as a core component of ICMP's Standing Capacity for Crisis Response.
The Director ensures an integrated approach and world-leading scientific capabilities in forensic archaeology, forensic anthropology, DNA testing, kinship analysis and applied research, while ensuring scientific activities comply with international standards, ethical principles and accredited quality management systems.
Key Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director-General, the Director of Science and Technology's duties and responsibilities will include, but will not necessarily be limited to, the following:
- Provide strategic leadership for the Science and Technology Program and serve as the principal advisor on scientific and technical matters relating to missing persons.
- Develop and implement ICMP's scientific strategy and lead the Standing Capacity for Crisis Response.
- Provide strategic oversight of forensic archaeology and anthropology, DNA laboratories, scientific research and development, and scientific quality, ethics and compliance systems.
- Drive scientific innovation and continuous development, including the adoption of emerging technologies and advanced scientific methodologies.
- Lead scientific and technical assistance, capacity building and partnerships with governments, forensic institutions, academic and research organizations, and other stakeholders.
- Lead, supervise and mentor multidisciplinary scientific and technical professionals and represent ICMP in international scientific and technical forums.
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced university degree in a relevant scientific or forensic field, such as biological/forensic anthropology, biology, forensic science, pathology, genetics or archaeology.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience, including significant senior-level experience in scientific/forensic leadership and management.
- Extensive expertise in DNA science relating to human identification, with broad knowledge of forensic science disciplines and experience managing multidisciplinary scientific functions.
- Experience leading scientific teams and developing scientific methods and approaches.
- Knowledge of the role of forensic science in legal and investigative systems.
- Professional fluency in written and spoken English; proficiency in additional languages is desirable.
- Excellent communication, presentation and public-speaking skills.
Core Competencies
- Strategic scientific and technical leadership.
- Scientific excellence, innovation and ethical practice.
- Strong leadership, collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
Other Requirements
- Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Proven ability to interact positively with colleagues regardless of culture, nationality or gender.
- Ability to travel at short notice and to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings.
- Commitment to the underlying objective of helping authorities and families of missing persons to account for missing persons in an impartial and transparent manner.
Benefits
This is a full-time, Fixed Term professional staff position with a competitive base salary at the E8 grade on the ICMP Professional salary scale.
Benefits include generous paid leave, extensive health insurance benefits for the incumbent and any eligible dependent and expatriate allowances. For more details on the benefits, please see the ICMP website.
VN close date: 13-Nov-2026
Expected start date: to be discussed
ICMP is committed to maintaining an environment of mutual respect, where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants. ICMP believes that diversity and inclusion among our staff are critical to our success as a global organization, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented individuals from a thoroughly diverse range of candidates. ICMP is proud to be part of the International Gender Champions network.
ICMP may cancel this recruitment without notice or may decide to offer a position with different duties and/or contract length.
ICMP does not request payment during any stage of the selection process.
All applications must be submitted in English. ICMP does not accept applications in any other language.