Vacancy Notice N° e104/2015
Human Rights Adviser (Grade A1/A2)
Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
Closing date:
07 October 2015
Location :
Strasbourg
Job mission
FIXED-TERM CONTRACT
Under the authority of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Director of the Office, the position-holder will assist both of them in their functions in accordance with guidelines and priorities and with a concern for quality, efficiency and accuracy.
Key activities
The incumbent performs the following key duties:
· is in charge of the preparation and organisation of visits of the Commissioner for Human Rights to member states. In this context :
- analyses reports of all relevant monitoring bodies pertaining to the countries in question;
- prepares briefing papers on the situation of human rights in the visited states;
- contacts the member states’ authorities, in Strasbourg and in the country, with a view to preparing the programme of the visit;
- contacts representatives of NGOs and of civil society in member states, as well as international NGOs, in order to organise meetings with the Commissioner;
· accompanies the Commissioner on visits, assists him during meetings, may travel without the Commissioner before or during the visit to collect useful information for drafting the visit report;
· drafts the visit report on the human rights situation and on specific issues in the country in question, under the supervision of the Head of Division, and submits it to the Commissioner and to the Director;
· maintains contacts with the authorities of member states, and with NGOs, in order to follow the human rights situation and to prepare the follow-up reports;
· prepares thematic reports and guidelines:
- researches the assigned themes for thematic reports and for positions by the Commissioner;
- drafts background documents, statements, speeches, guidelines and issue papers or other documents;
- prepares draft opinions and draft recommendations of the Commissioner;
- organises seminars, prepares the programme, targets participants, supervises administrative arrangements, assists the Commissioner during the seminar activities; drafts conclusions and supervises communication;
· conceives, implements and leads specific projects of the Office;
· represents the Commissioner and the Office of the Commissioner during conferences, seminars or meetings;
· supervises certain categories of staff and trainees in the Office.
Please note that the incumbent may be required to perform other duties not listed in the vacancy notice.
Eligibility Requirements
Only applicants who best meet the following criteria will be considered for shortlisting.
Qualifications: Higher education degree or qualification equivalent to a masters degree in law or political sciences (2nd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area).
Experience: at least 3 years of professional experience relating to human rights promotion and protection.
Language requirements: very good knowledge of English; can express oneself, present and draft clearly, concisely and convincingly in English; knowledge of French.
Nationality: nationality of one of the 47 Council of Europe member states.
Age: under 65 years of age at the closing date of the vacancy notice.
Employee Core Values
Competencies
Essential:
· Professional and technical expertise:
- proven experience in dealing with hard-core human rights issues in national and international contexts and in human rights monitoring work;
- good knowledge of the Council of Europe’s organs and institutions, conventions, standards;
- sound political judgment;
- capacity to organise seminars, draft thematic reports and country-monitoring reports.
· Organisational and contextual awareness.
· Analysis and problem-solving: ability to grasp and analyse complex human rights questions, issues or information. Ability to translate complex ideas and technical concepts into clear and concise language.
· Teamwork and co-operation.
· Drafting skills.
· Relationship building.
· Results orientation.
· Concern for quality.
Desirable:
· Communication.
· Adaptability.
· Influencing.
Additional information
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 7 October 2015 (midnight Central European Time).
The selection procedure consists of shortlisting, assessment(s), and a panel interview. Assessments may include one or more of the following: ability tests, behavioural questionnaires, job-related examinations, situational exercises, language tests, interviews and full assessment centres. At least one assessment will be eliminatory.
Depending on the number of applicants, the length of the required professional experience may be increased.
Candidates with the best results in the previous stages of the procedure (tests, exams, etc.) will, as a last stage of the procedure, be invited for an interview with a panel.
Following this competition, a reserve list of successful 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. It should be noted that placement on a reserve 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.
During the period of validity of the reserve list, candidates on the list may be offered employment on a fixed-term contract, which may be renewed one or several times. There is a statutory probationary period of two years.
The compulsory retirement age is 65.
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 15B of the Regulations on Appointments