Deputy Director - Public Affairs and Communication, Paris

The OECD's mission - Better Policies for Better Lives - promotes policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. It provides a unique forum in which governments work together to share experiences on what drives economic, social and environmental change, seeking solutions to common problems.

The Public Affairs and Communications Directorate (PAC), supports the implementation of the Secretary General's strategic orientations by orchestrating the Organisation's external communications. The Directorate comprises approximately 220 staff members (communication specialists, administrative staff, consultants and trainees) working across a broad range of public affairs, media, publishing and communication issues. The Directorate looks at the whole spectrum of OECD work, how it relates to the global public agenda, and ensures that key OECD policies and research are communicated to key stakeholders and the media. For more information, please refer to: http://www.oecd.org/about/listofdepartmentsandspecialbodies.htm.

We are looking for a dynamic and highly competent Deputy Director with strong corporate communication skills and extensive management experience who, under the Director's supervision, will provide strategic direction and intellectual leadership to the Directorate. As a key member of the senior management team of PAC and the Organisation, s/he will be asked to support and advance the strategic orientations of the Secretary-General, and will be required to take a leadership role in the conception and implementation of a corporate external communication strategy that is coherent with these orientations. S/he will be asked to work closely with the Director and the management team, providing guidance and support to the Directorate's work in the co-ordination and management of its programme of work. S/he will also be required to promote horizontal work and foster co-ordination and joint activities in other areas of the Organisation.

The ideal candidate will have excellent and proven public policy skills. S/he will thrive in a multidisciplinary and multicultural work environment, demonstrate innovative strategic thinking and have proven corporate communications skills as well as a track record of managing a complex programme of work, budget and international teams.

S/he will strive to increase the impact of the work of the Organisation in the international and national context. S/he will have the capacity to provide intellectual guidance and supervise the work of the Directorate, while maintaining a wide professional network, representing PAC in international meetings and media events.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership

• Advance the strategic orientations of the Secretary-General in the field of corporate external communications strategies, the enhancement of the public image of the OECD and an increase in the visibility of its work, and assist the Director in providing leadership to the work of the Directorate.
• Identify emerging opportunities and challenges to develop the means through which the Directorate can assist Senior Managers to deal with communication and public affairs challenges of the Organisation. Contribute to develop specific communication proposals to advance the Emerging Economies strategy as well as the horizontal projects inside the Organisation.
• Participate in activities to communicate the OECD's key position as a forum in which governments work together in order to promote policies that will improve economic and social well-being of people around the world.

Management and co-ordination

• Contribute to the overall management and administration of the Directorate, as well as the development and execution of the Programme of Work and Budget and Human Resource Strategy. Ensure the delivery of relevant, rigorous and timely information, analysis and advice.
• In collaboration with the Director, contribute to the planning, orientation, oversight and control of the Directorate's activities and advise him on issues of substance and management.
• Supervise, motivate and recruit professional staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality products within set deadlines, effective working methods, a positive working atmosphere and good communication.
• Participate actively as a member of the senior management of the Directorate and the OECD. Contribute to maintaining high standards of personnel and financial management.
• Exercise critical oversight to ensure optimal use of resources and the maintenance of high quality standards. Supervise and work closely with PAC staff to ensure the timely provision of accurate briefing material to the Secretary General and his staff.
• Participate in mobilising and securing voluntary funding to support all the main areas of the Directorate's work.
• Ensure co-ordination and coherence of OECD messages coming from different parts of the Organisation and develop excellent relationships with all of them, when dealing with external communications.
• Co-ordinate inter-directorate projects and foster co-ordination and joint work with other parts of the OECD in which the Directorate is involved, in particular horizontal projects of strategic priority.
• Collaborate with corporate management reforms and initiatives.

Representation and liaison

• Ensure effective communication with key internal and external stakeholders and the general public in order to maximise the value, visibility and impact of work of the OECD.
• Build collaborative working relationships with other international organisations and fora.
• Promote coordination and collaboration with the Secretary General's office and other Directorates, and effective relations with the Council and permanent delegations.
• Represent the OECD at high-level meetings internally and externally within and beyond OECD member countries, key international and national external stakeholders.
• Replace the Director in his/her absence.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in communication, business and administration or international relations.

Professional Background

• Extensive senior-level experience, gained in an international organisation, a national administration, a private sector company or a communication agency, working on issues and policies falling within the Directorate's area of activity.
• Proven leadership on corporate communication issues at an international level.

Languages

• Outstanding communication and presentation skills and the ability to interact confidently with various audiences, including the media
• Excellent written and oral command of, and ability to draft policy, analytical and technical papers in at least one of the OECD's two official languages (English or French), with working knowledge of, or willingness to learn, the other.

Core competencies

• Strong leadership and political skills, proven management skills and demonstrated ability to motivate and manage a multidisciplinary team and to advise and coach other managers.
• Strong human and budgetary resource management skills
• Commitment to team-orientated working methods and to diversity in the workplace.
• Strong political and diplomatic sensitivity, proven skills in interacting effectively with multiple high-level stakeholders.
• Ability to identify emerging issues and policy implications and to communicate analytical results to policy-makers in clear and compelling ways. Ability to translate these issues into innovative and rigorous work programmes.
• Ability to assess the needs of members and to identify analytical approaches to address these needs in the Directorate's programme of work.
• Please refer to the full list of OECD Core Competencies and the level 5 indicators.

Contract Duration

Three years fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.

What the OECD offers

Monthly base salary starting from 10 693.84 EUR exempt of French income tax, plus allowances based on eligibility.

Please note, the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.

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.