The Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity (DGII) contributes to advancing democratic resilience, quality education and respect for human dignity across Europe. The European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) is an Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe, established in Graz, Austria, in 1994 to encourage excellence and innovation in language education. Currently the ECML counts 36 member states.

The ECML operates as part of the Education Department (Directorate for Democracy, DGII) and is composed of a Secretariat of 12 members based at the Centre’s premises in Graz (Austria) and a Governing Board of 36 members representing member states.

As the Executive Director of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), you will bear overall responsibility for its strategic direction, programme management, external representation, financial oversight, and day-to-day operations. You will also assist and supervise the work of the Governing Board, the intergovernmental body in charge of the implementation of the programme of ECML in order to contribute to fulfillment of the statutory mission of the Centre. In particular, you will:

Co-ordination and Advisory

• lead and manage the ECML, ensuring its strategic alignment with the Council of Europe Education Strategy 2024–2030 and with the Council of Europe's broader mission of promoting democratic culture, human rights and the rule of law;
• prepare, implement and follow-up the ECML's medium-term and annual programmes in line with the decisions of the Governing Board;
• organise and service meetings of the Governing Board, its Bureau, and any advisory or scientific working groups (including planning, documentation, conduct, and follow-up);
• advise the Governing Board on results achieved, resource requirements, and opportunities for the further development of the ECML's mandate and activities and advise the Head of the Education Department;
• contribute to the shaping and implementation of policies and programmes within the education sector and the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity;

Programme Quality

• track developments relevant to language education (research studies, projects, policy instruments, and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and plurilingual wellbeing) and ensure that the Centre remains at the forefront of innovation in the field;
• oversee and, as appropriate, participate in conferences, workshops, seminars and events, working closely with ECML project co-ordinators and team members to ensure high-quality outcomes;

Stakeholder Engagement and External Relations

• maintain high-quality, constructive relations with the national authorities of ECML member states and prospective member states, facilitating links between the ECML's statutory bodies and the relevant competent national authorities;
• build and sustain partnerships and co-operation with relevant networks, academic institutions, professional bodies, and other international and European organisations - including the European Commission, with which the ECML maintains important co-operative activities;
• represent the ECML at the national and international level, addressing diverse and senior audiences, and acting as ambassador for the Centre's mission and vision;
• ensure the effective implementation of the ECML's communication strategy, integrating programme activities and institutional initiatives to provide strong, accurate, and consistent visibility for the Centre's work;

Human and Financial Management

• lead and develop the ECML Secretariat team, fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing working environment rooted in the values of professionalism, integrity, and respect;
• manage the ECML's resources responsibly, ensuring sound financial planning, transparent reporting, and efficient allocation of resources in line with Governing Board-approved programmes and Council of Europe financial regulations.

You must:

• hold a higher education degree or qualification equivalent to a Master’s degree (2nd cycle of the Bologna process Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area) in applied linguistics, language education, education sciences, political science, social sciences, or another relevant discipline; a doctoral degree would be an asset;
• have at least eight years of relevant professional experience with clear evidence of progression to positions involving increasing levels of responsibility and complexity in the fields covered by ECML's activities in an institutional setting, including international co-operation;
• have a very good knowledge of English (one of the two official languages of the Council of Europe) with high-quality communication and strong drafting skills, and good knowledge of French (the other official language).

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.

• Managerial - Leadership
• Managerial - Management of teams
• Operational - Concern for quality
• Operational - Learning and development
• Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation

• Professional and technical expertise:
  • demonstrate proven and relevant experience in programme management, evidence-based policy development, analytical leadership, and scientific co-ordination, particularly at the level of international co-operation;
  • demonstrate proven experience in successfully managing operational budgets and multi-disciplinary teams;
  • demonstrated will and ability to develop and maintain networks, and to work effectively with language experts, academic institutions, and relevant authorities in member states and in other international and European organisations.

• Operational - Creativity and innovation
• Interpersonal - Influencing
• Interpersonal - Adaptability

• Professional and technical expertise:
  • proven experience in addressing large and senior audiences confidently, including ministerial-level officials, intergovernmental bodies, and international expert communities;
  • knowledge of other European languages, in recognition of the ECML's commitment to plurilingualism;
  • familiarity with current and emerging themes in language education, including the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and its Companion Volume, artificial intelligence in language education, content and language integrated learning (CLIL), sign languages and languages of schooling;
  • in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Council of Europe's mission, political and administrative procedures, and its role in the European educational landscape.

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.

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 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 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.