Director - Employment Labour and Social Affairs Directorate

Director - Employment Labour and Social Affairs Directorate

OECD - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Paris, France

ELS is looking for a dynamic and visionary Director to provide leadership and strategic direction to the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs. As a key member of the Senior Management team of the Organisation, s/he will provide intellectual leadership and ensure that the OECD is at the forefront of global economic policy thinking. Key activities across these areas of focus include advancement of strategic objectives and directorate management, reporting to Secretary-General.

The breadth and the complexity of the policy issues for which ELS is responsible requires an experienced senior executive with an exceptional understanding of employment, skills, health, migration and social policies issues, political processes and effective institutional settings. S/he thrives in a fast paced, multidisciplinary work environment, is an innovative strategic thinker with political sensitivity. Finally, s/he has a proven track record of applied economic research, managing and delivering a complex Programme of Work and Budget, as well as managing large and diverse international teams, while maintaining a wide and effective professional network.

Job Description

Leadership

• Lead the Directorate’s team in shaping with Member countries and delivering the work programme also in line with the priorities set by the Secretary-General and with the OECD’s strategy for employment, skills, migration and social and health policies in the Programme of Work and Budget;
• Support the advancement and delivery of strategic outcomes in the area of employment, skills, migration, social and health policies through enhanced engagement and horizontal work;
• Ensure the Directorate is at the forefront of international thinking and research on employment, skills, migration, social and health policies, in line with current developments, and shaping the Organisation’s global contribution;
• Support the Office of the Secretary-General, the OECD Sherpa, and their respective teams on targeted policy advice and on the Organisation’s contributions in the area of employment, skills, migration and social and health policies, including to the G20 and G7.

Representation and Liaison

• Represent the Directorate and the Organisation at internal and high-level external meetings, establishing close contacts and active collaboration with a wide range of 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 development, promotion and implementation of enhanced engagement with key partners and other non-member economies and “horizontal” (multidisciplinary) work;
• Lead and oversee policy missions to OECD Member Countries and several non-OECD member economies, involving meetings with Ministers and other high level policy makers.

Management and Co-ordination

• Actively manage the Directorate’s human capital, through merit-based recruitment processes, professional development and performance management of its staff;
• Ensure optimal use of resources, skills and knowledge in support of the Directorate’s business needs;
• Build and lead a cohesive, multicultural and multidisciplinary team, promoting excellence, inclusion and diversity;
• Ensure effective co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation across the Organisation, including with the Office of the Secretary-General and policy directorates to support and contribute to flagship corporate initiatives and horizontal projects;
• 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.

Qualifications

Academic and Professional Background

• Advanced university degree (Master or PhD) in economics and or social policy or another relevant discipline;
• More than 10 years’ experience in employment, skills, migration and social and health policies;
• Excellent knowledge of current national and international policy environment in at the least some of the areas of employment, migration, social and healthcare policy issues;
• Proven record of conducting relations at senior level and within a political decision-making environment;
• Well established professional network and contacts with key actors and stakeholders in relevant international communities;
• Strong diplomatic skills and proven ability to interact confidently with various audiences, including the media;
• Excellent communication skills, strong culture of collaboration, and a proven record of fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Communication and 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.