FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

Strasbourg or any other Council of Europe location*

Under the authority of the Head of Division, the incumbent will assist in the design, coordination and implementation of various projects.

The projects cover support in the three main pillars of the Council of Europe: human rights, rule of law and democracy. The current geographical focus is mostly on Southern and Eastern areas of Europe, the South Caucasus and the Council of Europe neighbourhood.

The incumbent performs the following key duties: 

›          organises, co-ordinates and implements project activities in accordance with a project work plan and its calendar of activities;

›          organises and participates in project meetings and events, and undertakes follow-up action as required;

›          may supervise, coach team members and co-ordinate, if applicable, the work of a project team in the field;

›          prepares reports and other documents related to the project objectives;

›          prepares and ensures control  and follow-up on budgetary and financial issues related to the project activities;

›          evaluates projects to identify appropriate adjustments;

›          ensures project reporting, including financial reporting;

›          liaises with stakeholders, project consultants (partners) and beneficiaries (partners/donors) as regards the implementation of project activities;

›          contributes to raising the visibility of the project by disseminating information to those concerned and ensures adequate information flow within the project stakeholders and relevant partners and experts;

›          contributes to the design of future related projects and to the development of procedures and tools;

›          carries out allocated assignments for other activities organised by the relevant Division/Department;

›          is able to travel in relation to project activities.

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

Council of Europe staff members adhere to the values Professionalism, Integrity and Respect.

Information about project areas and sectors

The projects cover support in a wide range of areas and sectors, such as judicial, prison and criminal justice reform; human rights implementation; support for national human rights structures; ethics and the fight against corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing, cybercrime and organised crime; good governance; freedom of expression and freedom of the media and Internet; trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children; gender equality; violence against women including domestic violence; education; culture; media; sport; youth; democracy and political affairs.

Applications

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 18 November 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