Company Description

THE OECD – Who we are, what we do

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 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 a decentralised organisational structure in conjunction with policy directorates with a focus on enhancing the effectiveness of digital communications. The Directorate conducts 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 in policy directorates across the OECD, it drives forward a coherent communications function, serving as a standard setter for excellence and measuring communications impact throughout the OECD. 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 a key 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.

Job Description

THE POSITION

COM is looking for a Head of Communications Impact, Standards & Capacity Building, under the Director’s supervision. The mission of the division is to build and facilitate a collaborative community of excellence among communication staff at the OECD (One communication function) by promoting effective and consistent communications practices and developing a learning and improvement culture.  Specifically, the division works with communicators across the Organisation (ONE communications function) to:

• Provide strategic analysis: inform communications strategies on key corporate priorities with key insights from the external environment and analysis of the performance and lessons learned.
• Evaluate performance: regularly monitor and measure key performance indicators and provide lessons learned on the effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Monitor the reputation of the OECD and build capability to react to mis-disinformation
• Build capacity: Design and deliver communications training programs and capacity-building initiatives; develop and promote best practices; determine standard communications descriptions of skills and competencies for the ONE communication function in collaboration with HRM; maintain a roster of vetted external communications suppliers and tools to support OECD-wide communications initiatives.
• Establish and ensure compliance with standards.
• Provide guidance on reputational risk.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead work to design and implement a strategy to monitor and measure the impact of the OECD’s communications efforts, and report annually to OECD Members on communications results.
• Lead work efforts to deepen the understanding of OECD’s audiences, with key insights from the external environment (benchmarking, audience intelligence).
• Lead work to inform, monitor and measure key performance indicators, provide lessons learned on the effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Lead work to ensure the right set of guidance in all communications areas (policies, standards, procedures)
• Monitor the reputation of the OECD and build capability to react to mis-disinformation including by building external partnerships.
• Oversee the management of reputational risks.
• Lead the annual planning of a multidisciplinary digital team, outlining milestones and strategic direction.

Management and Co-ordination

• Oversee the Communications Impact, Standards & Capacity Building Division 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.  
• Build and lead a cohesive, multicultural and multidisciplinary team, promoting excellence, inclusion and diversity and foster a culture of innovations and agility within the team, across the directorate’s teams and with the rest of the OECD. 
• As a member of the senior management team of the Directorate and the OECD, ensure high quality and relevance of the Division's outputs in the framework of its programme of work. 
• Ensure effective co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation across the Organisation and within the Communications directorate and foster a positive collaboration with the other units.
• Manage the staff of the Division, setting objectives and providing and feedback to staff and promoting their individual development.
• Develop and maintain good teamwork and ensure effective work methods and project management; implement and maintain arrangements to ensure effective internal communications within the Division.
• Adhere to and promote the highest professional standards and the ethical principles of the OECD's Code of Conduct in all internal and external matters. Ensure a caring environment where managers promote, respect and support staff in developing their full potential.
• Ensure that senior management is well-briefed on the activities, financial management and human resources management of the Division. Assist the Director in the smooth running of the Directorate in the fields of the division and in ensuring its optimal contribution to the Organisation-wide objectives. 

Representation and Liaison

• Represent the Directorate and the Organisation at internal and external meetings, establishing close contacts and active collaboration with a wide range of colleagues, stakeholders and partners to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
• Establish and maintain a network of relationships with other international organisations, national authorities, academia and research institutes.
• Actively contribute to the effective dissemination of the work of the Division through the media, professional networks, academia and other communities.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic and Professional Background

• An advanced university degree in communications, political science, international relations, or a related subject.
• At least 10 years’ relevant professional experience, at a progressively senior management level and preferably in an international context. Knowledge of OECD institutional workings is a plus. 
• Excellent knowledge of complex geo-economic-political issues and strong analytical skills.
• Proven record of conducting relations at senior level and within a political decision-making environment.
• Experience in representation with senior officials in various public fora and briefings at both the national and international level. 
• Knowledge of the OECD's substantive work, its role and impact in the overall framework of international co-operation and domestic policy formulation would be an asset.
• Solid understanding of and experience with the digital ecosystem of the communications environment

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of, or a willingness to learn, the other.
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Core Competencies

Staff in Executive Leadership are expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned to six core competencies which will be assessed as part of this hiring processes at level 3: Vision and Strategy; Enable People; Ethics and Integrity; Collaboration and Horizontality; Achieve Results; Innovate and Embrace Change.

To learn more about the definitions for each competency, please refer to the OECD Core Competency Framework.   

Additional Information

Closing Date:

• This vacancy will be filled as soon as possible, and applications should reach us no later than midnight 26 July 2024 (CEST).

Contract Duration

• Two-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.

What the OECD offers 

• Monthly salary starts at 12 110 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax. Salary Information 
• Please note that the appointment may be made at one grade lower in the specified job family, based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant. 

Selection Process

All applications are screened based on the criteria for the position. For candidates who are screened-in, written tests and/or video-recorded interviews are foreseen in September, and panel interviews are planned for October. A leadership assessment will also be requested by candidates in the final selection stage.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from 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. Our selection processes are merit-based; we strive to enhance diversity both from national and gender perspectives while running fair, transparent and competitive selection processes.

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

Learn more about what we offer and why the OECD is a great place to work.

Browse our People Management Guidebook to learn more about all aspects relating to people at the OECD, our workplace environment and on policies supporting staff in their daily life.