Milieuloket:
CORRIGENDUM - Political Advisor

Job Mission

Fixed-term contract (The total length of employment under fixed-term contrats will not exceed five years)

Under the authority of the Director of Political Advice, the incumbent provides political advice and proposal for action on specific activities of the Council of Europe as well as on core issues in general, in compliance with general guidelines and priorities and with a concern for quality, efficiency and accuracy.

Key Activities

The incumbent carries out the following specific activities:

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  assists in providing political advice to the Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers;
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  drafts different types of documents for the Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers such as briefing notes, summary, information, monitoring and stock-taking reports, drafts replies to Recommendations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, drafts letters, speaking points, elements for speeches, press-releases, interviews and statements;
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  provides political analysis, political briefs and proposals for action concerning the specific role of the Council of Europe in assigned countries;
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  liaises with the Offices of the Council of Europe in the assigned countries and with the relevant Major Administrative Entities on political issues.

Competencies

Essential competencies

§ Vision on international affairs: excellent awareness of the international political, economic, social and cultural context; organisational awareness.

§ Professional and technical competencies: profound knowledge and experience in the political field.

§ Communication and linguistic skills: communication, very good writing and presentation skills, has very good knowledge and command of one of the official languages (English or French) and good knowledge of the other; can express oneself, present and draft clearly, concisely and convincingly in English or French.

Other competencies

§ Managerial skills: coaching of others; influence and authority.

§ Professional and technical competencies:

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  knowledge of the Council of Europe’s activities and programmes would be an advantage;
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  ICT skills: can use current ICT tools;
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  planning and work organisation;
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  information-seeking;
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  analytical-thinking, problem-solving and judgement skills;
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  conceptual thinking and creativity.

§ Communication and linguistic skills: knowledge of other European languages would be an advantage.

§ Interpersonal skills: service and client orientation; teamworking; relationship-building and networking; advising and diplomacy.

§ Personal attitudes: initiative and responsibility; result orientation and sense of continuous improvement; concern for quality and efficiency; adaptability; self-management and development; organisational alignment.

§ Personal values: integrity; loyalty and conscience; discretion; independence and confidence; respect for diversity.

Additional Information

The Organisation

The Council of Europe is a political organisation founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members. It now numbers 47 member States. The Organisation’s main aims are to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to develop common responses to political, social, cultural and legal challenges in its member States. Since 1989 it has integrated most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and supported them in their efforts to implement and consolidate their reforms. The Council of Europe has its permanent headquarters in Strasbourg (France). By Statute, it 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 European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body competent to adjudicate complaints brought against a state by individuals, associations or other contracting states on grounds of violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Applications

Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system. By connecting to our website http://www.coe-recruitment.com you can create and submit your on-line application. Applications must be submitted by 2 March 2012 (midnight Central European Time) at the latest.

Additional Information

The recruitment procedure consists of the following stages: preliminary selection, if necessary job-related tests, and an interview.

Depending on the number of applicants, the length of the required professional experience may be increased.

The successful candidate will be appointed on an initial fixed term contract, at grade A1 or A2, depending on the professional experience of the candidate. The first year of employment will constitute a probationary period. Provided the staff members’ work is considered satisfactory, he/she may be offered contracts 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, nor for secondment. The compulsory retirement age is 65.

For the moment, this position is limited until 31 December 2013, and may be prolonged.

Following this competition, a list of eligible candidates, in order of merit, for posts or positions with identical duties and qualification requirements may be established. It will be notified to the applicants concerned. 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, should an identical permanent post or a fixed-term position become vacant. It should be noted that placement on this list does not give candidates the right to an appointment within the Council of Europe.

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 (at the time of the appointments Board making its recommendation).

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.