Council of Europe is hiring Senior Project Officer

The Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the prison and probation reforms, provision of health care and the treatment of patients in closed institutions in the Republic of Moldova” is hiring a Senior Project Officer.

Your role
As a Senior Project Officer, you will:

• Plan, co-ordinate, and implement project activities in line with the Council of Europe’s procedures and Project Management Methodology (PMM), with a concern for quality, efficiency, accuracy, and confidentiality;
• Assist in designing project activities and financial work plans and ensures close monitoring and follow-up of expenditures in accordance with the Council of Europe regulations and procedures;
• Ensure the implementation of project related procurement procedures and verify the purchase files, draft contracts, deliverables, and payment documents;
• Assist and organise the work of short-term consultants, including ensuring follow-up and quality of progress and final submissions;
• Contribute to the preparation and drafting of documents in line with quality and style requirements of the Council of Europe (e.g., progress, annual, mission reports, terms of reference for different contractual engagements; briefings, speaking notes, official speeches, relevant meeting documentation and minutes etc;), including editing documents prepared by non-native speakers (in English / Romanian);
• Assist in preparing the files and information for the internal and external evaluations and audit;
• Contribute to raising the visibility of the project by drafting web news items and press releases and by disseminating information;
• Establish and maintain close working contacts with relevant project partners and local stakeholders, international organisations and NGOs working in the field of criminal justice and penitentiary sector;
• Undertake official journeys in connection with project activities and participate in meetings, seminars, working groups etc. related to the project activities;
• Assist to drafting new project proposals and activities;
• Contribute to the efficient functioning of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau and regularly inform the Head of the Office and Deputy Head of Office about the implementation of the project and co-ordinate his/her work within the broader framework of the overall activities of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau;
• Follow-up on developments at national level (legal, policy, institutional levels) in areas covered by the project and regularly inform the Programme Manager, the Head of Office, the Deputy Head of Office and the project management in headquarters, including on project results, on further needs, and on risks and opportunities for further interventions;
• Promote Council of Europe values internally and externally;
• Carry out other tasks as required in connected to the efficient project implementation.

What we are looking for
You must:

• hold a completed full course of general secondary education and appropriate professional qualifications for the position;
• have a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience at a national or international level in project management and experience in providing technical assistance on issues related to human rights and rule of law;
•  have an excellent knowledge of Romanian (mother tongue level) and an excellent knowledge of one of the two Council of Europe’s official languages (English);
• be a citizen of the host country or one of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe and fulfil the conditions for appointment to the civil service of that state;
• have discharged any obligation concerning national service (military, civil or comparable);
• not be the parent, child, stepchild or grandchild of a serving staff member of the Council of Europe;
• be under the age of 65 years.

Demonstrate to us that you have the following competencies:
 Professional and technical expertise:

• knowledge and understanding of the human rights instruments and in particular, the Council of Europe principles and work in the criminal justice and penitentiary fields;
• proven experience in project management and implementation of technical co-operation or policy-oriented projects;
• knowledge of project management tools (Project Management Methodology, logframes, etc.);
• experience in working with governmental institutions, or the justice sector stakeholders, or civil society on projects and programmes related to justice sector reform, or human rights or related fields;
• knowledge of the overall political and social situation in Europe, in particular in the Republic of Moldova;
• sound computer skills and experience in using standard tools in office applications (word processing, presentations, outlook, spreadsheet, databases, internet publications).

Planning and work organisation
 Analysis and problem solving
 Teamwork and co-operation
 Results orientation
 Concern for quality
 Drafting skills
 Communication

These would be an asset:
 Professional and technical expertise:

• a further university degree in a relevant subject, such as a university degree in law, international relations, political sciences or in the field of social science, human rights;
• professional exposure to/experience in the areas of justice, criminal justice, execution of criminal sanctions and/or work with places of deprivation of liberty in the Republic of Moldova;
• previous professional experience in an international environment;
• knowledge of Russian language.

 Resilience
 Adaptability
 Learning and development

What we offer

If successful, you may be offered employment based on temporary contracts at grade B5. Employment is limited to 31 December 2024 and may be extended. You will receive a basic monthly gross salary of €2 124.59 which is exempt from national income tax. This salary may be supplemented by other allowances depending on your personal situation. You will be affiliated to a pension scheme and social and medical insurance. You will also benefit from 32 working days leave per year and other advantages (including flexible working hours, training and development, possibility of teleworking, etc.).

Applications and selection procedure
Deadline for applications is 15 July 2024 (midnight Central European Time). You can apply in English or French using the Council of Europe online application system on: www.coe.int/jobs. Please fill out the form providing all requested details and explain how your competencies make you the best candidate for this role. It usually takes a few hours to fill it in, so please take this information into consideration while applying.

Only applications that best meet the abovementioned criteria, and that demonstrate the best profile in terms of qualifications, experience, and motivation, shall be considered for the next stages of the recruitment evaluation process, which may consist of different types of assessment. Further information on the assessment process will be provided to the selected people in due course.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of sex, gender, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion or belief. Under its equal opportunities policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve parity in staff employed in each category and grade. At the time of appointment, preference between suitable people shall be given to the person of the gender which is under-represented in the relevant grades within the category to which the vacancy belongs. During the different stages of the recruitment procedure, specific measures shall be taken to facilitate access for people with disabilities.