The incumbent performs the following duties:

-        plans, prepares and implements intercultural, non-formal education and training activities in the European Youth Centres and in  member states, such as study sessions, training courses, consultative meetings, symposia and seminars ;

-        plans, prepares and  implements multi-annual projects in the programme of the Youth Department and cooperation activities in cooperation with the Education Department and other Council of Europe sectors, external partners or donors, e.g. youth organisations, governmental entities, international organisations and networks ;

-        evaluates and ensures quality development of activities and projects in terms of educational content, methodology and impact according to the expected results in the biennial programme of activities and the quality criteria in place ;

-        assures administrative follow-up, monitoring and reporting of activities ;

-        produces and edits publications and texts for online publishing and visibility of activities and projects,  facilitates e-learning modules,  notably in the areas of human rights education, youth work and non-formal education, social inclusion, peace-building, antidiscrimination and intercultural dialogue.

The Youth Department cooperates extensively with civil society organisations and partners in the 50 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention and beyond, thus the duties involve frequent travel and work at week-ends and evenings.

Please note that the incumbent may be required to perform other duties not listed in the vacancy notice.

Only applicants who best meet the following criteria will be considered for shortlisting.

·         Qualifications: Higher education degree or qualification equivalent to a masters degree (2^nd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area), preferably in education, youth or community work, other social sciences or humanities.

·         Experience: minimum 3 years proven professional experience in planning, implementation and evaluation of non-formal education and training programmes or similar activities in youth work, educational and cultural youth exchanges with a youth and international and intercultural dimension.

·         Language requirements: very good knowledge of English. 

·         Nationality: nationality of one of the 47 Council of Europe member states. 

·         Age: under 35 years at the closing date of the vacancy notice. 

·         Admissibility: candidates must be eligible for employment on this type of profile (see Turnover Profile section).

Essential:

·         Professional and technical competencies:

-        ability to generate and implement imaginative, innovative and creative approaches;

-        proficient use of ICT tools for office applications, Moodle-based e-learning and basic Internet publishing;

-        coaching and facilitation of international and multicultural teams of colleagues, trainers and learners;

-        ability to prepare and present ideas, concepts and projects in activities and online using modern presentation tools and techniques.

·         Interpersonal skills: team working, relationship building and networking, advising. 

·         Communication and linguistic skills: can express oneself, present and draft clearly, concisely and convincingly in English. 

·        Personal attitudes: initiative and responsibility, result orientation and sense of continuous improvement, concern for quality and efficiency.

·         Personal values: integrity, loyalty and conscience, discretion, independence and confidence, respect for diversity. 

Desirable:

·         Communication and linguistic skills: knowledge of French and other European languages. 

For more information, please refer to the competency inventory of the Council of Europe.

Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system.  By connecting to our website www.coe.int/jobs you can create and submit your on-line application.  Applications must be submitted at the latest 30 July 2015 (midnight Central European Time).  

The selection procedure consists of a shortlisting based on candidates’ applications and may include ability tests, behavioural questionnaires, a job related written exam, situational exercises, language tests, interviews and full assessment centres.

Only candidates who best match the requirements of the job vacancy will be shortlisted and invited to test or a written exam. Tests or written exams may be eliminatory, in which case only candidates who succeed in the tests will be invited for interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the length of the professional experience considered for shortlisting may be increased from that indicated in the vacancy notice.  

Following this competition, a list of eligible candidates, in order of merit, may be established. This list will be valid for two years with the possibility of extending it to a maximum of four years. During the period of validity of the list, candidates on the list may be offered employment of fixed term duration. It should be noted that placement on this list does not give candidates the right to an appointment within the Council of Europe. The choice of candidates from a reserve list is not made solely according to the order of merit, but also takes into account the requirements of the position to be filled and the qualifications of the candidates.

The selected candidates will be recruited on the basis of an initial contract of 1 or 2 years which may be extended for a further period of up to 3 years.

The first two years of employment will constitute a probationary period. Provided the staff members’ work is considered satisfactory, he/she may be offered a contract of fixed term duration. However, the total length of employment will not exceed five years. The staff member so recruited shall not be eligible for any subsequent internal competition, promotion or transfer to a post, or for secondment.

Details on conditions of employment including salaries, allowances, pension scheme and social insurance can be consulted on our recruitment website. 

Under its equal opportunities policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve parity in the number of women and men employed in each category and grade. In the event of equal merit, preference will therefore be given to the applicant belonging to the under-represented sex. 

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. 

The Organisation 

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading organisation in the protection of human rights, democracy and rule of law. It was founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members  and  now includes 47 member states, all having signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights.

By Statute, the Council of Europe 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 Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent and impartial institution within the Council of Europe mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human rights in member states.

The European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body which oversees the implementation of the Convention in the member states. Individuals can bring complaints of human rights violations to the Strasbourg Court once all possibilities of appeal have been exhausted in the member state concerned.

The Council of Europe has its permanent headquarters in Strasbourg (France) and in addition it maintains external presence in more than twenty countries. More information about Council of Europe external presence.

External recruitment procedure organised in accordance with Article 16 of the Regulations on Appointments