Company Description

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.

The Trade and Agriculture Directorate (TAD) provides relevant and timely information and advice to support the efforts of governments to improve the domestic and international performance of their trade, agriculture, food and fishery policies and to maintain the orderly use of export credits.  It is the focal point for the OECD’s work on agriculture, both international and domestic, and it works to advance the Strategic Orientations of the Secretary-General, ensuring impact of the OECD Agriculture work in the international governance architecture.

The Agriculture and Resource Policies Division (TAD/ARP) works across three main areas of agriculture and food policy, mainstreaming sustainability concerns throughout: monitoring and evaluating policy developments, undertaking in-depth country reviews, with a particular focus on innovation towards productivity, sustainability and resilience of agriculture; and evaluating the sector’s performance, policy progress and new policy options to address climate change, environment and resource issues in agriculture. TAD/ARP’s work involves a mix of analytical and policy-orientated research conducted in a dynamic, multicultural environment by a team of highly-qualified and experienced staff.

TAD/ARP is looking for a Head of Unit to lead ARP’s team on climate change environment and resources and conduct studies on the policy interactions between agriculture and climate change, environment and natural resources. That includes representing OECD’s work on agriculture and environment, managing a team of analysts, and conducting studies on agriculture’s environmental and productivity performance and related policy issues.  The selected person will report to the Head of the Agriculture and Resource Policy Division in TAD.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

Management

• Manage a team of four to six analysts working on climate change, environment and resources policy issuess, serving as their direct supervisor.
• Contribute to the management of the ARP division, with other heads of unit and the Head of Division. 
• Manage staffing contracts, and raise funding when this can usefully complement the Programme of Work.
• Identify and manage external consultants and temporary staff to provide analytical input into the work on agriculture and environment.

Research and Analysis

• Provide intellectual leadership on the interface of agriculture, climate change and the environment and resources issues, and develop domestic and international policy implications and recommendations. This includes providing insights to projects, reviewing relevant reports by the Division, the Directorate or other parts of the OECD.
• Lead the Division’s contribution to horizontal activities on climate change in agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU), and collaboration with other Directorates on water or climate change adaptation.
• Contribute to the Division’s analyses on agriculture, climate change and resource. This may involve work on the sustainable productivity performance of agriculture or on policies to address climate change and water challenges in agriculturethrough the assessment and, where necessary, adaptation of existing methodologies, using qualitative or quantitative approaches.  
• Contribute to other work of the Division, including on country reviews or the monitoring of agricultural policies in specific countries.
• Liaise with others working inside the Organisation on environmental, agricultural and economic indicators.

Liaison, representation and meetings

• Represent the OECD at internal and external meetings on agriculture and environmental policy issues and respond to internal and external requests on agriculture and the environment
• Lead the organisation of meetings of the Joint Working Party on Agriculture and the Environment, co-ordinate with the Bureau, prepare draft agendas, summary records,  papers and presentations for  meetings. 
• Organise conferences and workshops of national delegates and experts, as needed.
• Co-ordinate and participate in horizontal activities within the Directorate or across Directorates through Task Forces or Working Groups set up to implement such activities, particularly on climate change, biodiversity and water related issues.
• Maintain a network of contacts with Delegations, governments, other international organisations, universities, and research institutes in the fields of agricultural economics and environmental economics.
• Actively contribute to the communication of outputs on agriculture and environmental issues, in relation with the communication unit.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in agriculture, environmental or natural resource economics, or a similar discipline.

Professional Background

• Eight to ten years' experience in policy analysis acquired in a national government, a research environment or in another international organisation.
• Experience in leading a team towards tangible outcomes
• Experience in applying quantitative techniques to agricultural and environmental policy issues.

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 3).
• 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

Closing Date:

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

Contract Duration

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

What the OECD offers

• Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at either 10 640 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.

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

For retained candidates, written tests/video-recorded interviews are foreseen in October 2024 and panel interviews are planned in November 2024.

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.