Under the authority of the Head of Office and the supervision of the Human Rights National Implementation Division, the Project Assistant will carry out multiple assignments to meet the overall and specific objectives of the Project on “Improving the operational capacities of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia” funded by the Human Rights Trust Fund of the Council of Europe.
Note: The incumbent may be required to travel extensively within Georgia.
Employment is limited to the duration of the project which is expected to end on 31 December 2016.

The Project Assistant shall perform the following tasks, in close co-operation with the Senior Project Officer and the Project Co-ordinator, and in accordance with the Organisation’s procedures, guidelines and priorities, with a concern for quality, efficiency, accuracy and confidentiality:

- assist the day-to-day implementation, preparation, organisation and follow-up of the activities of the Project, completing all necessary arrangements in advance and in a timely manner;
- follow up work or activities in progress and report to the supervisor, especially if and when problems occur;
- make practical arrangements connected to project activities (travel, visa requests, accommodation and meeting venue bookings, local transport arrangements, interpretation);
- draft and format correspondence, memos, documents, contract letters and financial arrangements in line with instructions and relevant procedures;
- prepare the submission of financial support documents for final payment and reimbursement of experts; provide and verify any other financial information and documentation as regards the activities implemented;
- assist in ensuring budgetary follow-up of the organisation of activities at every stage;
- organise and keep project documents and files up to date (activity planning, official reports, expertise and other documents, outgoing and incoming correspondence, contact lists);
- contribute to the efficient functioning of the Office, in collaboration with the Head of Office, the Deputy Head of Office and the direct project management;
- ensure the circulation of pertinent information and documents among the project team and the Office;
- carry out other tasks as may be required connected to the project implementation.
Please note that the incumbent may be required to perform other duties not listed in the vacancy notice.

The local recruitment procedure is open to candidates resident in Georgia.

Qualification: completed secondary education followed by a vocational qualification in secretarial/administrative studies or similar. 

Experience: at least two years’ relevant professional experience; experience of secretarial and administrative duties; experience in contributing to the implementation of international co-operation activities would be an advantage; planning and work organisation; ability to seek information; problem-solving; ability to work under pressure, deal with multiple tasks and respect deadlines.

Language requirements: excellent knowledge of Georgian (mother tongue level); ability to express oneself, present and draft clearly, concisely and convincingly in Georgian and English;

Nationality: the appointed candidate must be a national of a Council of Europe member State.

Age: under 65 years of age at the closing date of the vacancy notice.

Essential:
• Professional and technical competencies:
- experience in assisting with the implementation and the management of projects within international organisations;
- experience in administrative work, including preparation of documents of financial significance;
- experience in arranging travel and visas;
- general understanding of project management principles;
- experience in assisting in the organisation of training seminars, conferences, other events;
- excellent organisational skills.

• Communication and linguistic skills: listening and communication skills; very good knowledge of English and Georgian, ability to express oneself clearly, concisely and convincingly; good writing skills in English and Georgian. 
ICT skills: sound computer skills and experience using standard tools in office applications (word processing, presentations, spreadsheet, databases, outlook, internet publications).
Interpersonal skills: diplomacy; networking; adaptability; team work and co-operation, relationship-building.
Personal attitudes: initiative and responsibility; result orientation and sense of continuous improvement; concern for quality, efficiency and accuracy; self-management and development, organisational alignment; ability to work under pressure, deal with multiple tasks and respect deadlines.
Personal values: integrity, loyalty and conscience, discretion, independence and confidence, respect for diversity.

Desirable:
• Professional and technical competencies:
- experience of working in projects in the field of human rights or justice;
- ability to work in a team under great time pressure;
- knowledge of the processes, regulations, procedures, work methods and tools of the Council of Europe;
- knowledge of French and/or Russian.

The Organisation

The Council of Europe is a political organisation founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members. It now numbers 47 member States. The Organisation’s main aims are to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to develop common responses to political, social, cultural and legal challenges in its member States. Since 1989 it has integrated most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and supported them in their efforts to implement and consolidate their reforms.

The Council of Europe has its permanent headquarters in Strasbourg (France). By Statute, it has two constituent organs: the Committee of Ministers, composed of the member States’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs, and the Parliamentary Assembly, comprising delegations from the national parliaments. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe represents the entities of local and regional self-government within the member States. The European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body competent to adjudicate complaints brought against a state by individuals, associations or other contracting States on grounds of violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Council of Europe Offices (CoE Offices) are set up by decision of the Committee of Ministers. Their goals and way of functioning vary according to the specific mandate given to them. However, they all serve to facilitate, maintain and strengthen working relations between the Council of Europe and the national authorities (government and parliament), representatives of civil society, political parties, the media and members of the international community. Their activities allow the Council of Europe to influence legislative and other reforms, to provide expertise in the Organisation's fields of competence and to develop effective training programmes. The CoE Offices co-ordinate initiatives with the UN, the OSCE and EU.

Applications

Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system. By connecting to our website http://www.coe-recruitment.com you can create and submit your on-line application. Applications must be submitted 11 May 2015 (midnight Central European time) at the latest.

Additional Information

Your application will be examined with regard to the requirements of this vacancy and you will be informed in due course of the outcome of your application. This may take some time after the closing date.

In accordance with the Staff Regulations of the Council of Europe, the compulsory retirement age is 65. We cannot therefore accept applications from persons over this age.

The conditions of recruitment and employment which apply are contained in Rule No. 1234 of 15 December 2005 laying down the conditions of recruitment and employment of locally recruited temporary staff members working in Council of Europe Duty Stations located outside of France apply (Link to Rule 1234).

The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

During the different stages of the recruitment procedure, specific measures may be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities.

L’Organisation

Le Conseil de l’Europe est une organisation politique qui a été créée en 1949 dans le but de réaliser une union plus étroite entre ses membres. Il compte aujourd’hui 47 Etats membres. Les principaux objectifs de l’Organisation sont la promotion de la démocratie, des droits de l’homme et de la prééminence du droit, ainsi que la recherche de solutions communes aux problèmes politiques, sociaux, culturels et juridiques de ses Etats membres. Depuis 1989, il a intégré la plupart des pays d’Europe centrale et orientale et les soutient dans leurs efforts pour mettre en œuvre et consolider leurs réformes.

Le siège permanent du Conseil de l’Europe est à Strasbourg (France). Le statut de l’Organisation prévoit deux organes principaux : le Comité des Ministres, composé des ministres des Affaires étrangères des Etats membres, et l’Assemblée parlementaire, formée de délégations des parlements nationaux. S’y ajoutent, entre autres, le Congrès des pouvoirs locaux et régionaux qui représente les collectivités territoriales des Etats membres, ainsi que la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme. Cette dernière est l’instance judiciaire compétente pour statuer sur les requêtes introduites contre un Etat par des particuliers, des associations ou d’autres Etats contractants pour violation de la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme.

Les Bureaux du Conseil de l’Europe (Bureaux extérieurs) sont créés sur décision du Comité des Ministres. Leurs objectifs et leur mode de fonctionnement varient en fonction du mandat qui leur est imparti. Mais tous facilitent, entretiennent et renforcent les relations de travail entre le Conseil de l’Europe et les autorités nationales (gouvernement et parlement), les représentants de la société civile, les partis politiques, les médias et les membres de la communauté internationale. Leurs activités permettent au Conseil de l’Europe d’influencer les réformes législatives et autres, de fournir une assistance spécialisée dans leurs domaines de compétence et de mettre en place des programmes de formation efficaces. Leurs initiatives sont coordonnées avec l’ONU, l’OSCE et l’Union européenne.

Les conditions de recrutement et d’emploi qui s’appliquent sont définies par l’arrêté n°1234 du 15 décembre 2005 définissant les conditions de recrutement et d’emploi du personnel temporaire recruté localement dans les bureaux d’informations et les bureaux extérieurs (lien vers l’arrêté 1234).

Candidatures

Les actes de candidature, rédigés en français ou en anglais, doivent être soumis par le biais du système de candidature en ligne du Conseil de l’Europe au plus tard le 11 May 2015 (minuit heure d’Europe centrale). En vous connectant à notre site http://coe-recruitment.com, vous pourrez créer et soumettre votre formulaire de candidature en ligne.

Informations complémentaires

Votre candidature sera examinée par rapport aux critères figurant dans le présent avis de vacance. Vous serez informé/e en temps utile de la suite qui lui sera donnée, sachant qu’un certain délai pourra s’écouler après la date de clôture du dépôt des candidatures.

Conformément au Statut du Personnel du Conseil de l’Europe, l’âge obligatoire de départ à la retraite est fixé à 65 ans. Nous ne pouvons donc accepter les candidatures de personnes ayant dépassé cet âge.

Les conditions de recrutement et d’emploi qui s’appliquent sont définies par l’arrêté n°1234 du 15 décembre 2005 définissant les conditions de recrutement et d’emploi du personnel temporaire recruté localement dans les bureaux d’informations et les bureaux extérieurs (lien vers l’arrêté 1234).

Le Conseil de l’Europe encourage à se porter candidate toute personne ayant les qualifications exigées, sans distinction de sexe, de handicap, de situation maritale ou parentale, d’origine raciale, ethnique ou sociale, de couleur, de religion, de convictions ou d’orientation sexuelle.

Au cours des différentes étapes de la procédure de recrutement, des mesures spécifiques peuvent être prises pour assurer l’égalité des chances des candidats handicapés.