Vacancy Notice:
EIN Law and Advocacy Officer
Fixed-term replacement contract (CDD de remplacement)
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR or “the Convention”) system, with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR or “the Court”) at its helm and the unique implementation mechanism Article 46 of the Convention has set up, constitutes the world’s most effective international mechanism for enforcing respect for human rights. However, in 2024, 49% of the Court’s leading judgments from the last 10 years were yet to be fully implemented. This non-implementation problem presents a fundamental threat to the European human rights system as a whole.
Established in December 2016, the European Implementation Network (EIN) is Europe’s leading civil society organisation advocating for the full and timely implementation of the ECtHR judgments. EIN is a Strasbourg-based organisation, comprised of 41 individual and institutional members across 25 states. It is governed by a board which is elected by its members. Our mission is to build and strengthen the ability of civil society to advocate for more effective implementation of ECtHR judgments; to act as a platform for civil society advocacy to promote ECtHR implementation; and to support more robust structures that facilitate implementation both nationally and at the Council of Europe (CoE). EIN carries out a range of activities to fulfil this mission, including providing legal guidance to civil society from across Europe, organising capacity-building events, publishing reports, convening advocacy events, and carrying out communication and outreach activities.
EIN's work with civil society has led to the quadrupling of the annual level of civil society engagement in the ECtHR implementation monitoring process in Europe. EIN’s advocacy at the Council of Europe has contributed to making the work of the organisation more transparent; whereas its advocacy with the European Union has led the European Commission to take into account the non-implementation of ECtHR judgments in its annual rule of law reports. The EIN Secretariat is based in Strasbourg and includes a Director, a Programme and Finances Manager, a Law and Advocacy Officer, and a Project and Communications Officer.
Our Law and Advocacy Officer will be away on extended leave for a few months. We are looking for a new colleague to join the Secretariat to temporarily ensure her replacement. The successful applicant will be placed at the heart of EIN’s activities, working to uphold human rights standards across societies and improve the ability of NGOs from across Europe to turn judgments into rights.
What we offer?
Contract Type: Fixed-term replacement temporary contract (CDD de remplacement) of 6 months, with the possibility of an extension by a maximum of another few months. This contract will, in conformity with the provisions of the French legislation, be terminated upon the resumption of duties by the official holder of the position; full-time (35 hours/week).
Location: Strasbourg, France (office located at the heart of the European quarter of the city).
Starting date: Ideally beginning of May 2025
Salary: Between €2,800 per month gross (€33,600 per annum) and €3,540 per month gross (€42,480 per annum).
Other Benefits: 25 days of annual leave per year, in addition to annual holiday between 24 December and 1 January; comprehensive health insurance package; coverage of 50% of public transportation costs; opportunities to benefit from lifelong learning trainings.
Remote working: EIN has a remote working policy of two days per week on an ongoing basis, as well as an allowance of one month per year to work remotely outside of Strasbourg (in periods when this does not affect our ongoing work).
The role
As EIN’s Law and Advocacy Officer ad interim, you will be reporting to the EIN Director. You will be responsible for:
Working with members of our network and the Council of Europe to push forward the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. This will include:
Advising NGOs about how to advance the implementation of the judgments at national and international level;
Reviewing written submissions from NGOs and applicants (“Rule 9s”), as well as drafting Rule 9 submissions on their behalf;
Daily monitoring activities on implementation related-matters;
Liaising with the Council of Europe to advance the work of EIN members and partners; working with the EIN team to organise quarterly briefings to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers;
Preparing research reports on implementation related matters;
Conceptualising trainings and conferences on implementation matters;
Training civil society representatives, lawyers, journalists, NHRIs and students on ECtHR implementation.
Closely cooperating with EIN members and partners to ensure implementation and follow-up on EIN project activities and also to promote co-operation and experience-sharing throughout the network;
Outreach to civil society organisations and lawyers across the CoE region to inform them about judgments pending implementation within their sphere of activity, encourage and support their engagement with implementation.
Working together with the EIN Project and Communications Officer to enhance awareness about ECtHR implementation-related developments, notably providing inputs and reviewing the final output;
Assisting with the wider tasks involved in the work of a leading human rights NGO, including contributions to fundraising submissions and narrative reporting to funders; the documentation of activities and impact of EIN’s work; updating EIN’s database and keeping record of institutional memory; supporting event organisation etc.
Please note that the position might require a small amount of international travel.
What are we looking?
Essential Experience
At a minimum, the successful candidate must have:
Five (5) years’ experience in the human rights field.
Strong knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights’ system, ideally with a Master’s degree in Human Rights Law or equivalent.
Demonstrable experience on litigation at the ECtHR or on the implementation of ECtHR judgments or otherwise provision of legal advice on ECHR standards, as an independent lawyer, in an NGO or National Human Rights Institution, at the Council of Europe or in a national government.
Fluency in English and working knowledge of French.
Excellent drafting skills, suitable for a legal context.
Strong communication skills.
Candidates must also have the right to live and work in France.
Desirable Experience
The following would be an asset:
Experience in supporting project-based work in the field of human rights, including, e.g., experience in: carrying out legal research; designing training materials and carrying out trainings; conceptualising project-based events, such as conferences, roundtables etc., and contributing to the preparation of output/ deliverables in relation thereto; contributing to the narrative reporting to funders.
Experience in supporting the preparation of narrative proposals for fundraising purposes.
Experience in working in an international environment.
Affinity for work that strikes a fair balance between the provision of robust legal advice in the context of international law (in particular, ECHR standards), on the one hand, and understanding of the political and diplomatic considerations that can impact the work of an international inter-governmental body, such as the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, on the other hand.
Competencies
We will expect the successful candidate to be able to:
Professional and technical expertise: Demonstrate tangible knowledge of the Convention mechanism, preferably with an emphasis on the function of the implementation process established under Article 46 ECHR. Demonstrate the ability to carry out robust analysis of the ECtHR’s violation-finding judgments, and to provide sound legal and policy advice to stakeholders interacting with the implementation mechanism.
Drafting skills: Have excellent drafting skills, suitable for a legal context, in particular: Demonstrate the ability to: produce documents with a clear and logical structure; use accurate and appropriate language with a view to communicating clearly legal and policy analyses in writing; translate complex ideas or concepts into clear and concrete language; and adapt style and structure in accordance with the purpose and intended audience.
Personal organisation: Efficiently manage own resources – own time, energy, knowledge and understanding and physical and mental skills – in order to meet the requirements of the job; agree achievable objectives for self and give a consistent and stable performance; prioritise objectives and schedule work to make best use of time and resources. Develop self to improve own performance.
Other professional skills: Demonstrate commitment to the promotion of human rights. Demonstrate understanding of the particular challenges civil society organisations are faced with in fulfilling their mandate. Demonstrate attention to detail. Demonstrate high standards of honesty, integrity and fairness. Possess good communication skills. Show respect for the views and actions of others. Enjoy being part of a small, dynamic international team.
Ideally, the person recruited will be able to start on 5 May 2025. A later starting date may also be envisaged.
You are the ideal candidate if you:
Share our view regarding the concerns and challenges non-effective implementation of ECtHR judgments raise, and our belief that it is essential to improve the record of implementation of ECtHR judgments in order to ensure the viability of the ECHR system.
Are enthusiastic about working on this important issue.
Are ready to work with a small team of people who are passionate about their work, and to liaise with several members and partners from wider Europe who want to advance human rights.
Are a team-player, ready to think out of the box and work for the development of EIN.
How to Apply
Please send your CV and cover letter of up to two pages in English to the following address: contact@einnetwork.org, with a copy to director@einnetwork.org by 20 April 2025, at 23.59 CEST.
Short-listed candidates will be invited to complete a short-written task and an online interview between 24 and 30 April 2025.
Any questions concerning this vacancy must be directed to the following email address: contact@einnetwork.org
Learn more about us at: www.einnetwork.org