FIXED-TERM CONTRACT
Under the authority of the Secretary General and the direct supervision of the Director of the Private Office of the Secretary General, the incumbent will guide the strategic orientations and provide leadership to the Council of Europe actions promoting the inclusion of Roma and Travellers*, advise on and push forward the strategy for the inclusion of Roma and Travellers based on the priorities and modalities set out in the “Strasbourg Declaration on Roma” (2010), and oversee the efficient management of the activities of the Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG).
The incumbent performs the following key duties:
› secures and coordinates the implementation of relevant Council of Europe actions;
› establishes and maintains contacts with counterparts in national authorities, international organisations, partners in civil society and other relevant bodies and institutions; ensures complementarity of the work of the Council of Europe with these partners;
› builds allliances and networks with Roma and Travellers communities in Europe;
› ensures a transversal approach within the Secretariat with the active participation of staff from relevant sectors of the Council of Europe;
› provides leadership and direction to the staff of his Team and carries out the relevant management tasks;
› promotes Council of Europe values internally and externally.
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. Exceptionally, the degree or qualification requirement may be waived if the candidate has equivalent professional experience.
Experience:
› extensive experience in the area of Roma and Travellers inclusion; relevant international experience;
› experience in managing human and financial resources.
Language requirements:
› Very good knowledge of one of the official languages (English or French) and knowledge of the other.
› Knowledge of other European languages desirable, in particular knowledge of Romani.
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.
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 1 December 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.
Candidates of self-declared Roma and Traveller origin are particularly encouraged to apply.
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.