Head of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection Division

The Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) of the Council of Europe has overall responsibility for developing and implementing the Organisation’s human rights and rule of law standards. This includes the promotion of democracy through law, the operation of treaties and related monitoring mechanisms, and the implementation of co-operation activities in these fields. 

The team you will be part of, 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.

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.

• Managerial - Leadership
• Managerial - Management of teams
• Managerial - Decision making
• Operational - Results orientation
• Operational - Concern for quality

• Managerial - Vision and Strategic Insight
• Operational - Planning and work organisation
• Interpersonal - Resilience

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 . 

For more information on how we recruit, you can consult the page . This recruitment is carried out in accordance with . 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.

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 .