Policy Advisor – Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)

The team you will work with, the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), is primarily responsible for the follow-up on the implementation of the Bern Convention, the European Diploma of protected areas, the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest, and biodiversity-related issues.

The team is located within the Department of the Reykjavik Process and the Environment, which oversees the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment, and encompasses the secretariats of the Bern Convention, the Landscape Convention (Florence Convention), and the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement.

As a Policy Advisor, you will:

• provide policy advice, analysis and strategic input to senior management, governing bodies and Contracting Parties on the implementation of the Bern Convention, with a focus on areas of special conservation interest (Emerald Network) and on natural and semi-natural areas of exceptional importance for the preservation of biological, geological and landscape diversity (European Diploma);
• contribute to the planning, organisation and delivery of meetings of the Bern Convention’s statutory and monitoring bodies (Standing Committee, Bureau, Groups of Experts) in accordance with the programme of activities adopted by Contracting Parties in liaison with the Secretary of the Convention;
• promote the contribution of the Council of Europe to achievements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular n° 13, 14, and 15, and to the Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework, ensuring these objectives are embedded across relevant programmes;
• contribute to the coordination of the implementation of the Vision and Strategic Plan of the Bern Convention for the period to 2030, identifying synergies and building partnerships to maximise impact;
• advise and assist the Secretary of the Bern Convention in contributing to the Reykjavík process on the environment and in implementing the Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment and its related Action Plan, ensuring coherence and complementarity with other key conventions and initiatives;
• coordinate, gather, research and critically analyse data and information to inform evidence-based decision-making, drafting high-quality documents, reports, statements and contributions for senior audiences;
• contribute to the communication strategy of the Secretariat of the Bern Convention (publications, press releases, articles for the website, and news on any other means of communication), enhancing visibility and impact;
• ensure quality control of outputs by reviewing, proofreading and verifying the accuracy of documents and translations prepared by the Secretariat and its partners.

• Operational - Planning and work organisation
• Operational - Analysis and problem solving
• Operational - Drafting skills
• Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation

• Professional and technical expertise:

• ability to use standard office applications (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, Outlook).

• Operational - Results orientation
• Operational - Concern for quality

• Professional and technical expertise:

• experience in secretariat work of intergovernmental and/or experts committees.

This vacancy is for a secondment, ruled by Article 23 of Committee of Ministers’ Resolution CM/Res(2012)2. You can consult the conditions of secondment to the Council of Europe (days of leave, allowances etc.) on the webpage What we offer. This secondment foresees the relocation allowance and the travel expenses from the Organisation as indicated in Article 23 of the Resolution.

This secondment should start as soon as possible.

For more information on how we recruit, you can consult the page Our recruitment process of our Career's website. 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). Only applicants who meet the conditions of the Committee of Ministers’ Resolution CM/Res(2012)2) and who best meet the abovementioned criteria will be considered for selection and for the next stage.

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.