The College of Europe is seeking applications for the position of Administrative Liaison Coordinator (100% FTE), joining the Rector's Office (Bruges campus) from 1 October 2024 onwards, to coordinate the administrative exchanges with the Tirana campus during the academic year 2024-2025, starting from 1 October 2024. The successful candidate will be hired under and contribute to the execution of the EU-funded project: “Implementation phase for the establishment of a College of Europe campus in Tirana (Albania)”, IPA 2024 455-237.
About the College: Welcome to the laboratory of European integration
The College of Europe, with its Bruges campus established in 1949 and its Natolin campus established in 1992, is the oldest postgraduate institute of European studies. Currently, the College of Europe hosts more than 340 students in Bruges and 120 students in Natolin. Students come from approximately 50 nationalities every year and follow advanced Master’s programmes of 10-month duration in a residential format (“studying and living Europe together”). Starting in September 2024, a new study department "Master of Arts in European Transformation and Integration – The EU and Southeastern Europe” (ETI) – at the recently established Albanian branch (“Tirana campus”) of the Belgian foundation of the College of Europe – will enrol over 30 students in its first cohort and grow in numbers over time. The ETI programme provides a unique academic offer, combining EU affairs with region-specific elements of Southeastern Europe – while upholding the high academic standards of the College of Europe. Responding to the emerging challenges and equipping students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes for their future careers, the programme will provide a distinguished educational framework for students from the Western Balkans, the European Union, and beyond.
Profile
For the key position of Administrative Liaison Coordinator, the College is looking for candidates with:
- A postgraduate degree in Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, European Studies, or a related field;
- Excellent command of English; a (very) good command of Albanian and/or French is considered an asset;
- Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in administrative roles within project management, preferably in a higher education and/or the EU-funding context;
- Very good understanding of EU financial, procurement, and administrative regulations;
- Solid understanding of project management;
- Ability to assume responsibility for results and operational decisions;
- Result-oriented approach as well as a proactive and cooperative outlook;
- Excellent analytical and organisational skills, ability to meet tight deadlines, and attention to detail;
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment;
- Full digital literacy;
- Preferably, experience with or a good understanding of the College of Europe;
- Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a team;
- Open personality with strong interpersonal, communication, and networking skills and a flexible and hands-on mindset.
Role
The Administrative Liaison Coordinator will be working under the direct supervision of the Rector and in close cooperation with the Head of Administration of the Tirana campus. He/She will contribute to ensuring compliance, planning, execution and monitoring of the project and will be assisted by a Project Manager based in Bruges and a Project Officer based in Tirana.
Tasks include:
- Prepare decisions by the Rector and support the Head of Administration on the follow-up on administrative matters related to the Tirana campus;
- Liaise with internal collaborators and external stakeholders, establishing an efficient communication flow from and towards the Rector’s Office;
- Liaise with the administrative offices of the Bruges campus to facilitate the implementation of administrative policies and procedures linked to the Tirana campus;
- Provide advice and oversight on the administrative alignment of the Tirana campus with the Bruges campus;
- Coordinate with and support the administrative units of the Tirana campus to ensure compliance with the College’s financial, procurement, and other administrative regulations;
- Monitor the correct execution of the Project's budget and provide regular budget reports, analyse financial data, and make recommendations for cost-saving measures or budget adjustments as needed;
- Coordinate the interaction between the administrative offices of the Bruges campus and the administration in Tirana;
- Contribute to the accurate and timely reporting to the European Commission on the project implementation;
- Contribute to the preparation of the long-term funding framework for the Tirana campus;
- Contribute to the preparation of documentation for the College of Europe’s decision-making bodies on administrative matters;
- General support for the implementation of administrative processes and systems for the Tirana campus.
The Administrative Liaison Coordinator will be based in Bruges – with regular visits to Tirana.
The College offers:
- An excellent academic setting;
- A pleasant and stimulating international working environment;
- A renewable contract (initial duration: 11 months) under Belgian law with competitive remuneration and benefits;
- A comprehensive benefits package including the compulsory holiday pay and an end-of-year bonus, meal vouchers, a transportation and telework allowance, hospitalisation insurance, and a complementary pension scheme;
- Legal holidays plus two extra public holidays (9th of May and 11th of July) and eight days closing during the winter break;
- The possibility of teleworking (up to two days per week).
- An invaluable opportunity to contribute to a historic project for the College and the Western Balkans region.
The successful candidate will be available to carry out his/her duties in Bruges, with homeworking possibilities (in line with the College of Europe’s policy).
Application:
Applications in English comprising a detailed CV and a motivation letter (max. one page) should be submitted by Thursday, 25 July 2024 to Rector Federica Mogherini, via applications.rector@coleurope.eu), mentioning “Administrative Liaison Coordinator” in the subject line.
Early applications are highly encouraged. As applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Starting date: 1 October 2024
For further information on the position, please contact Mr Carsten Gerards, Principal Coordinator in the Rector’s Office (carsten.gerards@coleurope.eu). For questions on the remuneration etc., please contact Ms. Isabelle Hillewaere, HR Director (isabelle.hillewaere@coleurope.eu).
---
By submitting your application, you consent to have your personal data processed for the purpose of recruitment and the specific position you are applying for. You acknowledge that your data, as well as data we receive from academic institutions we can contact for verification purposes, will be processed by the College of Europe, the members of the selection committee appointed by the College of Europe related to this recruitment process. All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and in line with the current data processing regulations. For more information on how we use the information you have provided and how to exercise your rights, please see our privacy notice for recruitment (https://www.coleurope.eu/privacy).
The College of Europe is committed to equal treatment and opportunity. It aims to reflect the diversity of our society and to offer an inclusive work and study environment for all members of its community. Consistent with these goals, the Bruges campus has a zero-tolerance policy for any acts against the dignity and integrity of individuals, whether in the form of discrimination, bullying, harassment, stalking, violence, or sexual misconduct.
Candidates are therefore recruited and selected on the basis of skills and experience, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, class and background, political belief, race, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, culture, or any other grounds.