Programme Manager on Freedom of Expression

The team within which you will work, the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, supports Council of Europe member States in strengthening policies, legislation, and capacities on freedom of expression, media, and access to information, in line with the European standards. It collaborates with governments, media regulators, judiciary and law enforcement, media actors, civil society and international bodies. The division is advising on policies and legal frameworks, providing capacity building and awareness-raising in such areas as media freedom, pluralism and transparency, enhancing media literacy and countering disinformation, ensuring journalist safety, countering SLAPPs and strengthening public service media and regulatory authorities.

As a Programme Manager, you will:

• Support the development and implementation of new projects addressing freedom of expression and countering disinformation;
•  Contribute to the preparation of policy advice and legal opinions, conduct research in the relevant areas or work, e.g. information integrity; 
• Support the development of the division’s new training materials and policy advices; 
• Help in organising international events and activities, while ensuring synergies with relevant divisions and standard-setting committees within the Organisation; 
•  Support the Head of Division in providing various contributions related to freedom of expression, media, countering disinformation and access to information;
• Contribute to the external visibility of the division, such as help in drafting texts for the website and social media;
• Establish and maintain regular contacts with partners and beneficiaries as well as with the appropriate external offices;
• Undertake official journeys in connection with your duties;
• Perform any other tasks related to the implementation of the projects and division’s activities as requested.

• Managerial - Vision and Strategic Insight
• Managerial - Organisational and contextual awareness
• Operational - Planning and work organisation
• Operational - Creativity and innovation
• Operational - Drafting skills

• Professional and technical expertise:

• Experience in project management;
• Knowledge of the issues related to information integrity, freedom of media, democracy, civil society.

• Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation
• Interpersonal - Resilience

• Professional and technical expertise:

• Knowledge of the European standards in the area of media freedom;
• Knowledge of the issues and main developments relating to disinformation, digital platforms, AI;
• Experience of working in or with communications, media, government, international projects and grants.

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 does not foresee any allowances or travel expenses from the Organisation.

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.