Information Officer, B4. Council of Europe, Luxembourg. Open until 3 November 2017

Vacancy Notice N° o35/2017
Information Officer (Grade B4)
Directorate General of Democracy (DG II)

Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes
Closing date: 03 November 2017
Location : Luxembourg

Job mission

Under the authority of the Head of the Directorate of Democratic Citizenship and Participation and of the Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA), based in Luxembourg at the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR), the position-holder will carry out the activities included in the Council of Europe’s 2017-2020 Grant Agreement with the European Commission (Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy – DG REGIO), “Fostering regional development through transnational cultural routes, heritage policies and practices” .

For this purpose, the Information Officer will ensure regular communication with the project’s stakeholders and the general public, producing, managing and disseminating all kinds of documentation and information, according to the specific project’s objectives and in accordance with its communication strategy. In close cooperation with the Senior project officer, he/she will update the various project information tools and channels, especially for online communication (EPA website, EICR website, social networks and future digital platform(s)) and printed materials where applicable. The information officer will be responsible for the design of the project communication strategy and the gathering of information related to the project’s results and EU Macro-Region related fields of activity.

The duration of the project is of 12 months (part time 80%) and is subject to the signing of the Grant Agreement with the European Commission. The position might be prolonged according to the progress of implementation of the Grant Agreement and for a maximum duration not exceeding the end date of the Grant Agreement.

Key activities

The incumbent performs the following key duties:
screens and analyses all kinds of sources of information (internet, media, publications, documentation, files, and databases) concerning allocated field of work;
carries out documentary, database or electronic (internet) research on specific topics, systematically or on request;
manages the Grant Agreement dedicated website, ensuring the publication of regular content and its dissemination to project stakeholders and general audiences;
summarises the results of the research, prepares information documents and reports;
provides information for ‘background papers’ for workgroups or programme officers;
ensures appropriate dissemination of information both internally and externally, in accordance with communication policy, through online (websites, social media) and printed information channels;
processes internal and external requests for information and documentation;
maintains archives and documents according to the needs of the field of competence, in line with the COE's archive policy;
contributes to the development of ‘a documentation centre’ and keeps it up-to-date;
registers and classifies documentation and publications received (electronic and printed);
keeps databases up-to-date;
works with other directorates and external documentation and information centres to obtain required information, documentation or publications, particularly in connection with special events;
works in close contact with others to ensure the co-ordination of activities;
reports to manager on the status and progress of activities and if problems occur;
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.

Eligibility Requirements

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

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

Qualifications:
Completed full course of general secondary education followed by an appropriate professional qualification: a university degree in cultural heritage management or similar would be an advantage.

Experience:

• Practical knowledge of document management and carrying out documentary research;
• Understands specific needs of allocated field of competence;

Language requirements:

• Very good knowledge of one of the official languages (English or French) and good knowledge of the other. Knowledge of other European languages, in particular those of the member countries of the EPA, would be an advantage.

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.

Employee Core Values

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

Competencies

Essential:

• Professional and technical expertise

• very good knowledge of the Council of Europe;
• very good knowledge of Cultural Routes programme. A field experience in one or more Cultural Routes certified network will be an advantage;
• sound computer skills (processing electronic information and database inquiry); uses specific documentation management software.
  • Organisational and contextual awareness
  • Analysis and problem solving
  • Service orientation
  • Teamwork and co-operation
  • Planning and work organisation
  • Concern for quality
  • Communication

Desirable:

• Drafting skills
• Results orientation
• Relationship building
• Learning and development

For more information, please refer to the Competency Framework of the Council of Europe.

Additional information

Launched in 1987, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme demonstrate, by means of a journey through space and time, how the heritage of Europe's different countries and cultures contribute to a shared and living cultural heritage. According to the Council of Europe a Cultural Route is a cultural, educational heritage and tourism co-operation project aiming at the development and promotion of an itinerary or a series of itineraries based on a historic route, a cultural concept, figure or phenomenon with a transnational importance and significance for the understanding and respect of common European values.

The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme is supported by the European Institute of Cultural Routes, set up in 1998 as part of a political agreement between the Council of Europe and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research). Upon the entry into force of the Council of Europe Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) in 2010, an agreement establishing the seat of the EPA at the Institute in Luxembourg was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and the Council of Europe. The Institute carries out regular evaluations of the compliance of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe with the criteria of the statutory Resolution (CM/RES(2013)67) on Cultural Routes adopted by the Committee of Ministers, gives advice to new applicants for certification and houses the extensive information and documentary resources of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme. It provides advice and assistance to routes networks and hosts visits by project managers, researchers and students.

The European Commission is a key partner of the EPA and provides support to its work. The overall objective of the forthcoming DG REGIO’s grant agreement 2017-2020 “Fostering regional development through transnational cultural routes, heritage policies and practices” is to strengthen sustainable regional development in the 4 EU Macro-regions (Baltic Sea Region, Danube Region, Adriatic and Ionian Region, Alpine Region) through cultural heritage policies, practices and services as recognised by the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage (Faro Convention) through the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme which underscores, like the Convention, the importance of local people and their affinity with their region as essential to understanding and rediscovering the cultural identity of the sites and to attracting new activities, encouraging the tourism sector and sustainable local development of rural areas and less-known destinations.

For more information about the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme, visit www.coe.int/routes or www.culture-routes.net

Applications

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 03 November 2017 (midnight Paris 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 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.