Head of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection Division

The Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection Division leads the Council of Europe’s work in the field of digital development, artificial intelligence and data protection. It promotes the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law as well as the Council of Europe’s data protection conventions (Convention 108 and its “modernised version”, Convention 108+). The Division also organises international conferences, oversees technical co-operation, and works with national and international partners to promote the values, treaties and related standards of the Council of Europe in the field to like-minded partners worldwide.

Your Role

As Head of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection Division, you will:

• provide leadership and direction to the Division staff; foster co-operation, team spirit and a harmonious working environment with a view to ensuring staff well‑being, efficiency and the best use of resources;
• manage the Division’s human and financial resources, motivate and supervise staff members, co-ordinate their activities and offer them guidance;
• manage the activities of the committees for which the Division ensures the Secretariat; this includes notably the organisation of Plenary and Bureau meetings as well as, if necessary, working group meetings of the future Conference of the Parties to the AI Framework Convention (once it has entered into force); the Committee of Convention 108 (and its future successor Committee, once the “modernised” Convention 108+ has entered into force); and the Steering Committee of New and Emerging Digital Technologies (CDNET);
• oversee the standard-setting work on new and emerging digital technologies, as provided by the CDNET;
• develop the future monitoring methodology and rules of procedure for the respective monitoring mechanisms for the AI Framework Convention and the “modernised” Convention 108+, and implement them once these conventions have entered into force;
• seek the widest possible promotion of the AI Framework Convention and the “modernised” Convention 108+, in view of a wide ratification by Council of Europe member states, observer states and likeminded third countries beyond Europe;
• co-ordinate and oversee the design, negotiation and implementation of technical co‑operation projects on new and emerging digital technologies, including through the wide promotion of the HUDERIA methodology (risk and impact assessments of AI systems from the point of view of human rights, democracy and the rule of law), as well as data protection; and mobilise resources for these projects;
• manage the preparation and organisation of Council of Europe conferences and seminars related to the work of the Division;
• establish and maintain contacts and effective relations with national authorities, and with counterparts in other organisations;
• represent the Council of Europe in the relevant initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact, the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), the AI4 Good Global Summit and European data protection initiatives;
• contribute to reaching the overall objectives for the Digital Governance and Sport Department (which includes the Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection Division), taking into account transversal activities of the Organisation, for example in the areas of media and information society; business and human rights; cybercrime; as well as the relevant case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Requirements to apply

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 international relations, public relations, law, political science or a related field;

The degree requirement may be waived if the candidate has at least 15 years of the experience described below;

• demonstrate at least 10 years’ experience in roles of increasing responsibility (including at a senior level) in protocol matters, particularly diplomatic protocol, involving dealings with high-ranking officials, preferably in a governmental or international organisation; experience in public relations would be an asset;
• have proven and relevant management experience, including team leadership and development;
• have a very good knowledge of both Council of Europe’s official languages (English and French); knowledge of other European languages would be an advantage.

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 .