The incumbent performs the following key duties:

-       in case of an evaluation conducted by an external evaluator, manages the entire process of an evaluation activity: drafting terms of reference, announcement of call for tenders, selection of consultants, preparation of selection dossier for the tenders board, preparation of contracts, liaising with project managers and stakeholders, advising and facilitating the access to information of external consultants and checking the validity and quality of evaluation reports in accordance with recognised evaluation standards and good practices;

-       conducts evaluations on the basis of evaluation guidelines and formulates recommendations;

-       monitors the implementation of recommendations and management responses related to a specific evaluation activity and develop lessons learnt;

-       provides ad-hoc advice to the MAEs on evaluation-related matters;

-       participates in the preparation and review of evaluation standards, methodology, guidelines, manuals and tools to facilitate the coherent implementation of in-house evaluation-related practices;

-       assesses evaluation-related training needs of the Council of Europe staff and participates in the preparation and review of the training programmes;

-       represents the Division in meetings;

-       keeps abreast with developments in the field of evaluation and continuously updrades his/her evaluation skills through training;

-       contributes to the implementation of the Division's other objectives.

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

Only applicants who best meet the following criteria will be considered for shortlisting. Criteria marked with an asterisk (*) are statutory requirements.

·         Qualifications*: a higher education degree or qualification equivalent to a masters degree (2^nd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area), preferably in evaluation, international relations, project management, sociology, political science, law and/or economy. 

·         Experience: at least six years of professional experience in managing and conducting evaluations and projects, at least one of which is in in the area of evaluation, and preferably in the Council of Europe’s fields of expertise. 

·         Language requirements: a very good knowledge of one of the official languages (English or French) and good knowledge of the other. 

·         Nationality*: nationality of one of the 47 Council of Europe member states. 

·         Age*: under 65 years of age at the closing date of the vacancy notice. 

Essential:

·         Professional and technical competencies:

o   Has good knowledge of project and programme evaluation and management methodology, as well as recognised evaluation standards, techniques (including for conducting interviews and establishing samples and surveys), procedures and reporting, in particular for projects funded by extra-budgetary resources;

o   Planning and work organisation;

o   Analytical thinking, problem solving and judgement skills.

·         Interpersonal skills: relationship-building and networking; advising. 

·         Communication and linguistic skills: communication, listening and writing skills; can express him/herself and draft clearly, concisely and convincingly in English or French. 

·         Personal attitudes: result orientation and sense of continuous improvement; organisational alignment. 

·         Personal values: integrity; loyalty; discretion. 

Desirable:

·         Communication and linguistic skills: knowledge of other European language desirable. 

For more information, please refer to the competency inventory 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 14 May 2014 (midnight Central European Time).  

The selection procedure consists of shortlisting, assessment(s), and a panel interview.  Assessments may include one or more of the following: ability tests, behavioural questionnaires, job-related examinations, situational exercises, language tests, interviews and full assessment centres. At least one assessment will be eliminatory.

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

Candidates with the best results in the previous stages of the procedure (tests, exams, etc.) will, as a last stage of the procedure, be invited for an interview with a panel.

Following this competition, a reserve list of successful candidates, in order of merit, may be established. This list will be valid for two years with the possibility of extending it to a maximum of four years. It should be noted that placement on a reserve list does not give candidates the right to an appointment within the Council of Europe.  The choice of candidates from a reserve list is not made solely according to the order of merit but also takes into account the requirements of the position to be filled and the qualifications of the candidates. 

During the period of validity of the reserve list, candidates on the list may be offered employment on a fixed-term contract, which may be renewed one or several times. There is a statutory probationary period of two years.

The compulsory retirement age is 65. 

For the moment, the duration of the position is limited to 31 December 2015, but may be prolonged.

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.

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 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.

External recruitment procedure organised in accordance with Article 15B of the Regulations on Appointments