Chief Information Officer

Directorate General of Administration (DGA)

Description & Requirements

Your Team

As Chief Information Officer you will be providing leadership to the Directorate of Information Technology (DIT), which consists of more than 50 staff members. Its mission is to implement innovative and cost-effective systems that will enhance the efficiency and productivity of the Council of Europe, digitally transform the Organisation to continue to improve its collective efficiency, the user experience and data-driven activities, harmonise and streamline business processes and provide both internal and external stakeholders with effective tools to implement the Organisation’s operational objectives. It also works to protect the Organisation against cyber threats, breaches, and unauthorised access, and develop robust security policies, conduct risk assessments, and promote security awareness.

Your Role

As Chief Information Officer, you will:

Programme and Resource Management

• ensure the implementation of innovative and cost-effective systems that will enhance the efficiency and productivity of the Council of Europe and digitally transform the Organisation to become user-focused and data-driven;
• plan, manage and monitor the execution of the Programme and Budget in accordance with the principle of sound financial management (economy, efficiency and effectiveness);
• contribute to good governance by ensuring that responsibilities in respect of risk management, internal control, results monitoring and reporting, evaluation, internal/external audit, fraud prevention and ethical behaviour are respected within the Directorate;
• manage the enterprise data and documentary information system;
• put in place effective protection against cyber threats, breaches, and unauthorised access; develop robust security policies, conduct risk assessments, and promote security awareness;
• provide general guidance including on priorities to Heads of Divisions and other direct reports.

Leadership and Staff Management

• lead and motivate staff in the Directorate through different levels of management;
• set specific objectives and provide guidelines; allocate roles and responsibilities; evaluate the performance of direct reports;
• facilitate internal communication; foster co-operation, team-spirit and a harmonious working environment with a view to increasing efficiency.

Responsibility and Reporting

• advise and assist the Director General of Administration in defining the major objectives of the Directorate General in relation to information technology;
• report on a regular basis to the Director General on the results achieved and on further requirements, risks and opportunities stemming from developments or events.

Communication and Representation

• promote Council of Europe values internally and externally;
• represent the Directorate General of Administration when appropriate.

Qualifications

• substantial professional experience at senior management level in the field of information technology, preferably in an international environment;
• extensive budgetary and human resources management experience, preferably managing large budgets and teams, with the ability to unite;
• have very good knowledge of one of the Council of Europe official languages (English or French) and preferably working knowledge of the other.

Additional Requirements

• 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
• Operational - Results orientation
• Interpersonal - Relationship building
• Interpersonal - Communication
• Operational - Planning and work organisation
• Operational - Analysis and problem solving
• Interpersonal - Negotiating

What we offer

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. Candidates appointed to grade A6 by way of international external recruitment shall initially be appointed for a fixed-term period of one year. The appointment may be extended for one or more periods each not exceeding five years.

Applications and selection procedure

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 and 4140 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 careers 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.