Senior Adviser CBSS - Council of the Baltic Sea States

OPENING DATE: 16 January 2013 
CLOSING DATE: 26 February 2013

The Council of the Baltic Sea States

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) serves as an overall regional forum for intergovernmental cooperation and coordination among the 11 CBSS Member States – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, as well as the European Union. 

A Permanent International Secretariat was established in Stockholm in October 1998. The budget of the Secretariat is financed by annual contributions from the CBSS Member States as well as through project funds. The Secretariat is organised in a core team and specialised units. Currently there are 20 employees at the Secretariat. Additional information about the CBSS is available on www.cbss.org.

Job description

The Senior Adviser works under the supervision of and reports to the Director General of the Secretariat. The Senior Adviser is responsible for providing secretarial/technical/analytical assistance and advice to the CBSS, initiate, assist in preparation and implement projects and to liaise with relevant stakeholders and networks in the region. The initial focus of the position will be on the long-term CBSS priority of Culture and Education, as well as development of a potential Baltic Sea identity. The South Eastern Baltic Area Modernization Partnership (www.cbss.org/SEBA) alongside NGO and Youth issues will also be part of the portfolio. 

Reporting to the Director General of the Secretariat, your responsibilities will include the following:

• Project Development in relevant fields including devising financing solutions;
• Managing and/or monitoring the implementation of projects including awareness building and disseminating project results;
• Preparing high-quality background papers and strategic policy documents;
• Providing analytical and secretarial support to the Chair and relevant CBSS Expert Groups and Networks;
• Coordinating, networking and liaising with governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, international organisations and regional stakeholders;
• Coordinating and contributing to the preparation of CBSS meetings and events related to the portfolio.

The job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent of this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position. Responsibilities may vary and change over time, depending on the development of the CBSS and of the Secretariat in the general framework of Baltic Sea Cooperation. 

The position of Senior Advisor involves frequent travel to destinations in CBSS Member States and occasionally beyond. 

A competitive remuneration and allowances package, depending on expatriate status, professional background and family situation, is offered.

Selection criteria

All internationally recruited staff members of the Secretariat are nationals of a Member State of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and are nominated on the basis of merits in a manner which strives to take account of geographical representation, gender balance and the principle of rotation. 

Individuals applying for the position should possess at least the following qualifications:

• A university degree in a field relevant to the position;
• A minimum of ten years of professional experience, including some of which are at the multilateral or regional international level and at a national level with relevance to the job description;
• Good understanding and appreciation of the context of the CBSS, as well as ability to navigate in a complex international environment, including the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and other regional strategy documents of importance to the CBSS.
• Strong organizational skills – a team player able to handle a multitude of tasks and prioritize;
• Proven record of fundraising and/or project management;
• Strong and broad personal network and aptitude for liaison with various governmental, non-governmental and international organisations;
• Clear analytical skills and ability to make sound judgments, critical thinking and problem solving skills;
• Excellent communication, drafting and reporting skills;
• Excellent command of oral and written English is required and a working knowledge of Russian is seen as an advantage handling this portfolio. Knowledge of other languages of the region is considered as an advantage too;
• Computer literacy in MS office tools.

Terms of employment

The Senior Adviser will be appointed for a period of four years with possibility of prolongation for up to two years. The suggested starting date for the position is 1 April 2013.

Applications

Applications consisting of completed application form, CV and a letter of motivation should be submitted preferably via e-mail to: 

Mr. Jan Lundin 
Director General 
CBSS Secretariat 
P.O. Box 2010 
SE 103 11 Stockholm 
Sweden 
Fax +46 8 440 1944 
E-mail: recruitment@cbss.org 

All application documents must be presented in English. 

Complete applications should be submitted not later than 26 February 2013. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. 

Further information on the position can be acquired from: Ms. Gertrude Opira, Head of Administration, +46 8 440 1922 or Ms. Ligia Broström, Administrative Officer,+46 8 440 1931.