Head of The Council of Europe Office in Geneva

**General Information**:
**Vacancy number**
- 958/2025

**Recruitment type**
- Secondment

**Posted date**
- 27-Feb-2025

**Deadline to apply**
- 20-Mar-2025

**Duty station**
- Geneva

**Grade**
- A4

**Entity**
- Directorate of Political Affairs and External Relations (DPAER)

**Description & Requirements**:
**Your Team**

The Council of Europe Office in Geneva is in charge of liaison with United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva. It acts as the Council of Europe focal point for co-operation with the United Nations and maintains and develops relations with the United Nations. It is composed of a Head of Office, a Deputy Head of Office and an assistant.
- The Office reports to the Directorate of Political Affairs and External Relations (DPAER), which_ _has the overall mandate to_ _assist and advise the Secretariat of the Council of Europe on relevant matters affecting, on the one hand, member and applicant states, and, on the other hand, relations with non-member states, as well as Council of Europe relations with other international organisations and institutions, in particular the EU, the OSCE and the UN. DPAER promotes co-operation and partnerships, increases synergies and enhances external visibility, and co-ordinates the relevant activities in terms of external representation of the Organisation).

**Your Role**

As Head of Office in Geneva, you will report and advise on matters which affect the Council of Europe’s relations with the United Nations.

To this end, you will:

- represent the Secretary General of the Council of Europe vis-à-vis the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Human Rights Council and related bodies, the governing bodies of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the International Labour Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, where appropriate, as well as other relevant international organisations and institutions in Geneva;
- follow the activities carried out by the UNOG, the OHCHR, the Human Rights Council and related bodies, the governing bodies of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the International Labour Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, where appropriate, as well as other relevant international organisations and institutions in Geneva and report on developments relevant to Council of Europe activities and policies;
- contribute to developing and intensifying relations with the United Nations in Geneva;
- provide support for the preparation, organisation and follow-up of Council of Europe events in Geneva;
- identify opportunities for joint activities and provide advice and support in the planning, negotiation, implementation and reporting on these activities;
- promote diplomatic relations and conduct a proactive media, academic and civil society policy;
- raise the visibility of the Council of Europe by promoting greater awareness and understanding of its principles, standards and activities;
- prepare high-level Council of Europe visits and provide guidance and support for visits of various Council of Europe institutions;
- manage the Office by allocating roles and responsibilities, setting objectives and evaluating performance; foster co-operation, team spirit and a harmonious working environment with a view to increasing efficiency;
- in close co-operation with the headquarters, deal with administrative, logístical, budgetary and human resources aspects of the Office, including accreditation, privileges and immunities, customs exemption in relation to the host country and international intergovernmental organisations and institutions to which you will be accredited;

**Requirements to apply**

You must:

- have the support of the member State seconding you to the Council of Europe;
- hold a higher education degree or qualification equivalent to a master’s degree (2nd cycle of the **Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education**) in a relevant field (preferably in political sciences, law, international relations, economics or similar);
- have a long and substantial professional experience, including at senior management level, in diplomacy or in an international context;have a very good knowledge of one of the two Council of Europe’s official languages (English or French) and a good knowledge of the other; knowledge of other languages a distinct advantage;-
be a citizen of one of the member States of the Council of Europe.**Key competencies**
- Managerial - Vision and Strategic Insight
- Managerial - Leadership
- Operational - Analysis and problem solving
- Interpersonal - Relationship building
- Interpersonal - Negotiating
- Professional and technical expertise:

- Vision on international affairs, namely knowledge of the international political, economic, social and cultural co