Under the authority of the Head of Office and the supervision of the Head of the Criminal Law Cooperation Unit, Directorate of Information Society and Action against Crime, Directorate General I: Human Rights and Rule of Law, the Senior Project Officer will carry out multiple assignments to help meet the overall and specific objectives for the implementation of a project under the Tri-Annual Plan of Action (TAPA) for Albania “Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in line with Council of Europe and European Committee for Prevention of Torture (CPT) standards” under the European Union/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Employment is limited to the duration of the Project. The expected start date of the Project is 1 October 2016.

The Senior Project Officer performs the following key duties in accordance with the Council of Europe’s procedures, guidelines and priorities with a concern for quality, efficiency, accuracy and confidentiality:

• Plan, organise and follow up on project activities (seminars, round-tables, conferences, expert meetings, etc.) in accordance with the project work plan, its calendar of activities and in close co-operation with headquarters and counterparts;
• Ensure quality and relevance of programmes for activities, secure local and international speakers, prepare documentation and oversee the preparation by local partners;
• Serve as country Tri-Annual Plan of Action (TAPA) theme advisor;
• Assist CoE experts to ‘translate’ standards into the domestic context;
• Provide substance input on specific activities (providing regular advice to Headquarters about national developments in the thematic area, prepare by-monthly reporting);
• Provides substance theme/legal research regarding TAPA interventions;
• Co-lead the national Steering Committee Meetings;
• Participate in meetings between CoE experts and national authorities to increase the capacity in the country;
• Ensure strategic decisions are carried out;
• Provide effective assessment of results and achievements and regular advice to the Programme Manager about problems encountered; suggests priorities and adjustments as necessary;
• Provide technical and substance briefings to short-term experts prior and during their missions;
• Draft terms of reference for different contractual engagements that are aimed at implementing each project activity;
• Select local service providers and negotiate contracts in consultation with headquarters;
• Monitor and follow up on purchase orders, contracts and mission orders, travel and accommodation;
• Ensure close budgetary follow-up of all project expenditures, in accordance with CoE regulations and procedures and donor requirements;
• Provide and draft reports on the project;
• Prepare relevant meetings and draft meeting minutes and lists of decisions;
• Prepare mission reports related to programme activities;
• Draft briefing notes, speeches, speaking points, official correspondence and other contributions;
• Contribute to raising the visibility of the project by providing substantial input for HF Newsletter, website and social media;
• Inform regularly the Head of the Council of Europe Office about the implementation of the project and co-ordinates his/her work within the broader framework of the overall action of the Office;
  • 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 in headquarters;
• Undertake official journeys in connection with the activities described above.

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

This local recruitment procedure is open to applicants already present in Albania.

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

Qualifications:

• Completed full course of general secondary education and appropriate professional qualifications.
• A University degree in law, international relations, social sciences, political science or related fields would be an advantage.

Experience:

• At least three years of relevant professional experience contributing to the implementation of assistance and co-operation projects.

Language requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of Albanian (mother tongue level).
• Very good knowledge of one of the official languages (English).

Nationality:

• Nationality of host country or one of the 47 Council of Europe member states.

Age:

• Under 65 years of age at the closing date of the vacancy notice.

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

Essential:

• Professional and technical expertise

• Proven experience in project management and implementation of technical co-operation or policy-oriented projects;
• Very good knowledge of the political and legal situation in Albania;
• Experience with assistance and co-operation projects in the criminal justice field;
• Good knowledge of Council of Europe standards, notably Council of Europe Committee of Ministers recommendations in penitentiary field and the European Committee for Prevention of Torture (CPT) standards and the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights, would be an advantage;
• Sound computer skills of standard tools in office applications (word processing, presentation software, outlook, internet/intranet publications);
• Availability to travel, mostly in

• Planning and work organisation
• Analysis and problem solving
• Drafting skills
• Teamwork and co-operation

• Results orientation
• Communication

• Resilience

For more information, please refer to the Competency Framework 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 28 July 2016 (midnight Central European Time).

Applications will be examined with regard to the requirements of this vacancy and applicants will be informed in due course of the outcome of your application. This may take some time after the closing date. Preselected candidates may be invited to take written tests before an interview. Written tests may be eliminatory.

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.

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.