Head of the Environment Division

The team you will work with, the Division of the Environment, brings together around 20 professionals dedicated to strengthening environmental protection and promoting the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment across Europe. The Division oversees the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment and provides the secretariat for the Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV), the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), the Council of Europe Landscape Convention (Florence Convention) and the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA). It also contributes to the Council of Europe's work on the protection of animals.

Working closely with member states, international organisations, civil society and other stakeholders, the team promotes a co-ordinated, multidisciplinary approach to environmental challenges, linking environmental protection with human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

As Head of the Environment Division, you will:

• lead and manage a multidisciplinary team, fostering co-operation, staff development and a positive, results-oriented working environment;
• manage the Division’s human and financial resources, including planning, implementing and monitoring the Programme and Budget;
• oversee the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment and contribute to the development of environmental policies and standards;
• co-ordinate and supervise the secretariat of the Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV), the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention, the governing bodies of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention and the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA), ensuring their effective functioning;
• establish and maintain effective partnerships with member and non-member states, international organisations, civil society and other stakeholders;
• represent the Council of Europe in high-level meetings, conferences and negotiations on environmental matters, including through official journeys where required;
• promote co-operation across the Organisation, notably through the Intersecretariat Task Force on the Environment, and enhance the visibility and impact of its environmental work;
• advise the Director and Director General on matters within the Division’s remit and contribute to the Organisation’s broader objectives on environmental protection, human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

You must:

• 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 Area) in law, political and social sciences, environmental sciences, environmental protection and management, natural sciences, biology, ecology, sustainable development or a relevant related field;

The degree requirement may be waived if the candidate has at least ten years of the experience described below;

• have at least eight years of relevant professional experience, with clear evidence of progression to positions involving increasing levels of responsibility and complexity in intergovernmental co-operation, diplomacy, international relations or public policy, including at least three years of proven experience in environmental policy, environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, environmental human rights or relevant related fields;
• have a very good knowledge of English and basic knowledge of French, or capacity to acquire the latter on the job.

You must also:

• be a citizen of one of the 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.

Your application must demonstrate to what extent you have the competencies listed below. To help you doing so, feel free to consult our competency framework.

• Managerial - Vision and Strategic Insight
• Managerial - Leadership
• Managerial - Management of teams
• Operational - Planning and work organisation
• Interpersonal - Negotiating

• Interpersonal - Service orientation
• Interpersonal - Relationship building
• Interpersonal - Resilience

• Professional and technical expertise
  • experience in the preparation, negotiation or implementation of international environmental legal instruments;
  • experience in resource mobilisation and the development of international co-operation projects;
  • experience in addressing complex, cross-sectoral challenges at the intersection of environmental protection, human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

This job vacancy is for an international external recruitment. You can consult the conditions of employment (salaries, allowances, pension scheme, social insurance, etc.) on the webpage What we offer.

For more information on how we recruit, you can consult the page Our recruitment process. This recruitment is carried out in accordance with Article 490 of the Council of Europe Staff Rules. The deadline for applications is indicated in the General information section of this vacancy notice (see above) and is fixed at 23:59:59 (CET/CEST). When applying, make sure your motivation shows how your competencies make your profile the best for the role.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion or belief. Under its equal opportunity policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve gender 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.

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact us at talents@coe.int, we will ensure that your request is handled.

The information published on the CoE’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication of the vacancy notice. Any changes to these conditions during the recruitment process will be updated on our Portal and will apply at the time of the job offer. Our career's website is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. Should you have remaining questions, please contact us at talents@coe.int.