Head of Communications Solutions Design unit (CF6) - Official position

  • Full-time
  • Grade: CF6

Company Description

THE OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, that works to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.  Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

Under the guidance of the Secretary-General, the core mission of the redesigned Directorate for Communications (COM) is to maximise the reach and impact of the OECD and its work through clear, cutting-edge, evidence-based communications carried out in conjunction with policy directorates. The Directorate carries out its functions in accordance with the OECD Communications Strategy and pursuant to Annual Communication Plans for which it is responsible, steering organisational efforts on strategic priorities and supporting policy directorates in their communications to specialised audiences. Working in concert with communications professionals across the OECD, it drives forward a coherent communications function, serving as a standard setter for excellence and measuring communications impact. It leads on corporate-level media, social media, stakeholder and parliamentary engagement; the architecture and implementation of the organisation’s online presence, including multimedia digital content; and the dissemination of OECD publications while performing an important role in risk identification and management in the public sphere. The Directorate holds as a core value an agile, collaborative and supportive culture marked by positive interaction and accountability among professionals.

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, WEB AND PUBLICATIONS DIVISION

Within the Communications Directorate, the mission of the Digital Communications, Web and Publications division is to drive the development of communications plans, design and deliver cutting-edge digital communication and outreach products and services, including the OECD website, data visualisations, videos and others. The division will serve both corporate priorities and Directorates’ needs for their communications to specialised audiences through a competitive portfolio of communications products and services. Specifically, the division will work with communicators across the Organisation (ONE communications function) to:

  • Support the development of the corporate communication plans co-ordinated by the Editor in Chief, in full collaboration with Directorates, both focusing on corporate priorities and supporting directorates’ specialised audience priorities on demand. Implementation of communications on corporate priorities is to be undertaken in close collaboration with the divisions on Media, social media & external engagement and Communications impact, standards & capacity building to ensure the strategic alignment of the corporate narratives.
  • Define digital strategies, policies, standards, and processes to enable the production of digital communication and its dissemination on digital platforms with quality and consistency in co-ordination with the Division on impact, communications standards & capacity building.
  • Define a corporate offer of communications and publications services adapted to the Organisation’s needs with adequate service level agreements, pricing strategy and direct billing mechanisms for directorates to support revenue generation for the Communications Directorate.
  • Act as liaison and partner for Directorates for the development of the sub-areas of the communications plan, and for directorates’ needs for the implementation of directorates’ specialised priorities.
  • Design digital communications proposals to support corporate and Directorates’ communications plans with appropriate communications products & services.
  • Create corporate creative and compelling digital and data products to engage and reach target audiences through OECD digital platforms, in collaboration with directorates.
  • Design and manage a-state-of-the art OECD-wide web presence, work with internal stakeholders, OECD-wide community of Communications experts, and external partners to build long-term capabilities for OECD web properties, maximise OECD content discoverability and increase audience engagement; manage digital communications infrastructure, workflows, and systems.
  • Centrally manage, produce, and disseminate OECD publications in high quality formats through OECD.org and non-OECD channels.

Job Description

The Directorate for Communications is looking for a Head of Digital Communications Solutions Design unit who will manage a team of digital product managers and engineers, and be responsible for driving the design, development and continuous improvement of the OECD corporate website and digital solutions to support content communications and dissemination on corporate web platforms, with a focus on delivering great user experience and measurable results. S/he will work under the supervision of the Head of the Digital Communications, Web and Publications division.

Main Responsibilities

  • Oversee the Communications Solutions Design Unit and assist in the management of the division according to corporate standards in financial and HR management, leading by example and promoting staff well being.
  • Play a constructive role in the transformation of the OECD communications function, contributing to an agile, collaborative, and supportive culture marked by positive interaction and accountability among colleagues.
  • Ensure good collaboration with other divisions of COM to ensure strategic alignment.
  • Manage the information and design architecture of OECD corporate website in line with the web strategy, and ensure the building of long-term content, design and search capabilities for OECD.org and its digital ecosystem in collaboration with the corporate IT Division.
  • Oversee the web design systems and the implementation of standard web templates, products & services for the whole Organisation in collaboration with the Digital visual communication unit.
  • Ensure coherence across OECD’s online platforms, optimising user experience, ensuring search engine optimisation, and streamlining where necessary.
  • Contribute to the implementation of the web channel governance, standards and guidance in collaboration with all relevant teams.
  • Manage the development and maintenance of the central content & publications repository (KAPPA).
  • Act as the standard setter to enable a streamlined and optimised management and dissemination of OECD content on web platforms through state-of-the-art and efficient processes and practices.
  • Manage the continuous development of standard publications products & services, making it easy for users to find, access, share and reuse OECD published content.
  • Maintain a yearly roadmap of digital solutions to develop at scale new communication products and services addressing OECD communications needs.
  • Enable the development of innovative digital communications products through prototyping, testing and piloting of innovative projects working with the Digital Visual communication unit.
  • Lead the project and product design frameworks including standard project and product management processes, documentation, methodologies and toolkits in line with corporate standards.
  • Develop periodic performance reports of the activity based on KPIs to support decision making and continuous improvement.
  • Define the corporate package of digital and web solutions & tools to be used by the Communications teams across the Organisation in collaboration with the Digital visual communication unit and other relevant units or divisions.
  • Manage forecasts and actuals building and running costs for all digital solutions development.
  • Develop and maintain a very good understanding of the digital solutions in the market by working closely with other key stakeholders, looking at trends and best practices.
  • Adopt and maintain a user-centric, data-driven and continuous improvement culture that supports a constant and growing pace of innovation in product development areas.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

  • An advanced University degree or equivalent in Digital Communication, Computer Science, Information Science, or other related field.
  • Certification or training in Project Management and/or Product management would be an advantage.

Professional Background

  • A minimum of eight years of relevant experience in a management position of a multi-functional team involving information and communication technology solutions delivery.
  • In-depth knowledge and skills in all aspects of global project management including leading a project team, managing project costs, resources, change requests, risk and issues to ensure that maximum business benefit is maintained as well as provision of regular project status updates.
  • Confirmed experience managing projects with Lean or Agile methodologies, gained in a fast-paced international environment.
  • Extensive experience in successfully leading change in a complex environment across multiple processes.
  • Ability to work cross-functionally with multiple stakeholders.
  • Strong experience in establishing Key Performance Indicators to measure progress and achievements.
  • Digital publishing experience would be an advantage.

Tools

  • Knowledge of the OECD publishing processes, OECD Authoring Environment, would be an asset.
  • Excellent ICT (Information and Communications Technology) knowledge and skills. Familiarity with OECD’s software package and corporate tools is a plus.
  • Knowledge of content management systems (CMS) and/or experience using prototyping and/or design tools for UI/UX.
  • Experience using digital tools to assist with project management, workflow optimisation or team collaboration.
  • Experience working with Analytics tools (Google Analytics), Usability Studies and User Acceptance Tests.
  • Experience with digital tool procurement and/or experience implementing a multilingual strategy or the large-scale coordination of translated content.

Core Competencies

  • OECD staff are expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned to six core competencies which will be assessed as part of this hiring processes: Vision and Strategy (Level 3); Enable People (Level 2); Ethics and Integrity (Level 2); Collaboration and Horizontality (Level 3); Achieve Results (Level 3); Innovate and Embrace Change (Level 2).
  • There are three possible levels for each competency. The level for each competency is determined according to the specific needs of each job role and its associated grade.
  • To learn more about the definitions for each competency for levels 1-3, please refer to OECD Core Competencies.

Languages

  • Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level.
  • Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Additional Information

Selection Process

  • For retained candidates, written tests are foreseen on 27-31 May 2024, and panel interviews are planned for 13-14 June 2024.
  • Short-listed applicants will be invited to an interview with the Hiring Manager.

Closing date

  • Applications should reach us by no later than 23h 59 (CEST) on 17 May 2024.

Contract Duration 

  • 13-month fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.
  • Ideal start date: 1 September 2024.
     

What the OECD offers

Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at either 8 984 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.

  • Click here to learn more about what we offer and why the OECD is a great place to work.
  • Click here to browse our People Management Guidebook and learn more about all aspects relating to people at the OECD, our workplace environment and many other policies supporting staff in their daily life.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates [who are nationals of OECD member countries], irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities.

The OECD promotes an optimal use of resources in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.

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