Head of Department of Health and Addictions

General Information

Vacancy number

1097/2025

Recruitment type

External recruitment (international)

Type of contract

Fixed-term appointment

Posted date

17-Dec-2025

Deadline to apply

05-Jan-2026

Duty station

Strasbourg

Grade

A5

Entity

Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI)

Description & Requirements

Your Team

The team you will lead includes the Health Division and the Pompidou Group Secretariat (Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions). The Health Division serves several Council of Europe international treaties and committees dealing with health related issues and ensures transversality in this area throughout the Organisation, while the Pompidou Group serves as the Organisation's key platform for co-operation on drug and addiction policies.

Anchored in the Council of Europe's fundamental values - human rights, democracy and the rule of law - the Department works to ensure that public health, security considerations and individual rights are integrated into effective standards and policies. The team also supports the Group's strategic development, programme implementation and partnerships within Europe and beyond.

Your Role

As The Head Of The Department Of Health And Addictions - Executive Secretary Of The Council Of Europe International Co-operation Group On Drugs And Addictions (Pompidou Group), Within The Directorate Of Social Rights, Health And Environment, You Will

ensure the sound administrative and financial management of the Department and its staff as well as the achievement of the objectives set out in the Program and Budget;
supervise the activities relating to health in particular those relating to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No Oviedo Convention, the Council of Europe Convention on counterfeiting of medical products and similar offences threatening public health (CETS 211) – Santiago de Compostela Convention, and the Council of Europe Convention against trafficking in human organs (CETS 2016) – Medicrime Convention, and the management of its budgetary and human resources; ensure synergies with other departments and entities;
lead the work of the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions – the Pompidou Group, including the organisation of Ministerial Conferences and meetings of Permanent Correspondents of the member states and the implementation of the work program adopted by the Pompidou Group at the Ministerial Conferences;
co-ordinate and oversee the design, negotiation and implementation of technical co-operation projects relating to health and addictions and mobilising resources for these projects;
maintain high-level relations with member states, as well as with non-member states and other competent international organisations and agencies; liaise with other Council of Europe bodies and authorities, in particular with a view to developing synergies and pursuing a transversal approach based on complementarity and collaboration;
promote the accession of new states to the Pompidou Group and to relevant Council of Europe conventions;
contribute to enhancing the visibility of the Council of Europe activities in this area within and outside the Council of Europe.

Requirements to apply

You Must

hold a higher education degree or qualification in a subject relevant to the Department's work, preferably law, health and natural sciences, political science or related fields;
have at least 10 years of experience in the relevant fields, including 5 years in a senior leadership role within large teams;
have strong skills and experience in intergovernmental co-operation, political negotiation at national and international levels, as well as proven experience in managing, developing and inspiring multidisciplinary teams, combined with the ability to operate effectively in diplomatic and international affairs;
have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, together with the ability to collaborate and partner with multiple stakeholders;
have solid experience in budget planning, financial management and human resources management within international environments;
have excellent knowledge of English, one of the Council of Europe's official languages, and basic knowledge of French, the other official language, or the capacity to acquire it on the job.

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.

Key competencies

Managerial - Vision and Strategic Insight
Managerial - Management of teams
Operational - Results orientation
Interpersonal - Communication

Desirable competencies

Operational - Drafting skills
Interpersonal - Influencing
Professional and technical expertise:
knowledge of other European languages.
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.

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 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.

Important information

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 , 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
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