The seconded official shall remain in employment or be paid by the member State from which he/she is seconded throughout the period of secondment, and shall receive no salary and no social and medical cover from the Council of Europe. The seconded official will not receive displacement allowance nor reimbursement of travelling expenses by the Organisation as set out in Article 23 of Committee of Ministers’ Resolution Res (2012)2.

Under the authority of the Head of the Civil Society Division, the seconded official contributes to the development and implementation of the Division’s civil society standard-setting and co-operation projects and their coordination with the Conference of INGOs, translates them into concrete targets and ensures their achievement in accordance with guidelines and priorities and with a concern for quality, efficiency and accuracy.

The seconded official will in particular:

- Contribute to the preparation of new guidelines to ensure meaningful civil participation in political decision-making and the revision of Resolution(2003)8 on participatory status for international non-governmental organisations with the Council of Europe ;
- Conceive, implement and lead specific civil society co-operation projects in Council of Europe member States, Belarus and the neighbourhood ;
- Plan, organise and carry out activities in accordance with the Promotion and Implementation Strategy for the Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation in the Decision-Making Process ;
- Assist the Expert Council on NGO Law of the Conference of INGOs ;
- Advise and assist the Democracy, Social Cohesion and Global Challenges Committee of the Conference of INGOs ;
- Carry out research and prepare comparative analyses and studies on the interaction between civil society and public authorities and on NGO legislation and its implementation in Council of Europe member States and Belarus ;
- Coordinate and co-operate with other Council of Europe structures and bodies active in the strengthening of civil society ;
- Establish close working contacts with NGOs, high level officials, international governmental organisations, specialised institutes etc. dealing with civil society promotion, including by representing the Council of Europe in conferences and seminars;
- Advise certain categories of staff and trainees.

- Professional and technical competencies:
o professional expertise: university degree, preferably in law, social or political sciences; good knowledge of the standards, organisation and the functioning of the Council of Europe; capacity to organise seminars, draft reports.
- Interpersonal skills: service and client orientation, relationship-building and networking with different stakeholders in a multi-cultural environment.
- Communication and linguistic skills: very good knowledge 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. Knowledge of other European languages, in particular Russian, would be an advantage.
- Personal attitudes: initiative and responsibility, result orientated and sense of continuous improvement, concern for quality and efficiency, adaptability, self-management and development, organisational alignment.
- Personal values: integrity, loyalty, discretion.