Senior Project Officer

The Council of Europe Office in Tirana assists the authorities in fulfilling their membership commitments and obligations, supports legislative and other reforms, provides expertise in the Organisation’s fields of competence, develops effective training programmes or implements activities such as thematic campaigns.You will be part of the team implementing the Action “Strengthening hate crime monitoring, equality data systems and victim protection in Albania”1, which is part of the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal facility - Phase IV).This 36-month project, which is expected to start in January 2027, aims at supporting the beneficiaries in Albania in their efforts to comply with Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the field of combating hate crime and improving the data collection on equality, as well as related protection systems.1Subject to the signature of the contract with the European Union and the actual implementation period of the project. As a Senior Project Officer you will:plan, organise, co-ordinate, implement and follow up on project activities in accordance with the project workplan, Council of Europe procedures and Project Management Methodology (PMM), in close co-ordination with the Project Manager at headquarters (HQ); monitor project progress against the workplan and expected results, ensure the quality and relevance of project outputs, identify risks and implementation challenges and propose adjustments as necessary;prepare financial work plans, monitor project expenditure and ensure the implementation of project-related procurement procedures, including the verification of purchase files, contracts, deliverables and payment documents, in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures and in consultation with HQ;conceptualise and organise project activities, including seminars, workshops, conferences and expert meetings, and contribute to relevant regional initiatives on anti-discrimination, combating racism and hatred, and promoting diversity, ensuring the engagement of local stakeholders and appropriate follow-up;supervise and co-ordinate the work of the project assistant based in Tirana and of international and national short-term consultants, including monitoring progress and ensuring the quality and timely delivery of their work;establish and maintain effective working relationships with project partners, national and international stakeholders, including relevant authorities, international organisations and non-governmental organisations, and liaise with them regarding the implementation of project activities;contribute to the efficient functioning of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana and co-ordinate with other projects implemented by the Office, ensuring that project activities are aligned with the broader framework of the Office's activities;regularly inform and brief Office management, the Programme Manager and management at HQ on project implementation, progress, results and other relevant issues, and assist in the preparation of internal and external evaluations and audits;draft and contribute to project-related documents, including progress and annual reports, mission reports, terms of reference, briefings, speaking notes, speeches and other relevant documentation, ensuring compliance with Council of Europe quality and style requirements;contribute to the visibility of the project by drafting web news items and press releases, organising visibility activities, disseminating information and providing input on publications;monitor relevant legal, policy and institutional developments at national level, assess their implications for project implementation and identify further needs and opportunities for intervention;contribute to the development of new project proposals and activities.