Head of Co-ordination Secretariat Unit

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 International Service for Remunerations and Pensions (ISRP) delivers specialised services to the Co-ordinated Organisations and to Associated Organisations, covering salary studies, statistical analysis, surveys, remuneration and pension management, legal advisory services and fund management. The ISRP is administratively attached to the OECD. The Co-ordination Secretariat Unit provides secretariat, legal and governance support to the Committee of Representatives of the Secretaries/Directors-General (CRSG), the Co-ordinating Committee on Remuneration (CCR), the Pensions Administrative Committee of the Co-ordinated Organisations (CAPOC), and related bilateral, tripartite and working group meetings. The Unit prepares meeting documentation, technical notes, proposals and reports; provides legal and administrative support on pensions and remuneration matters; monitors developments in pension schemes of other international organisations; and supports agreements on the transfer of pension rights. The ISRP is looking for a Head of Co-ordination Secretariat Unit to lead and provide senior institutional legal counsel, governance support and co-ordination across the ISRP’s legal, committee and stakeholder-facing activities. Reporting to the Head of the ISRP, the incumbent will ensure high-quality legal analysis, sound interpretation of applicable rules and regulations, effective support to committees and working groups, and the timely delivery of legally robust advice and documentation. Job Description Main Responsibilities Strategic legal advice and institutional governance • Lead the provision of senior legal analysis and advice on pensions, remuneration, institutional obligations, governance arrangements and the interpretation of applicable rules and regulations • Advise the Head of the International Service for Remunerations and Pensions (ISRP), the Committee of Representatives of the Secretaries/Directors-General (CRSG), the Co-ordinating Committee on Remuneration (CCR), the Pensions Administrative Committee of the Co-ordinated Organisations (CAPOC) and client organisations on complex legal, governance and procedural matters. • Oversee the preparation and quality assurance of legal opinions, technical notes, committee proposals, reports and institutional documents submitted to the CRSG, the CCR and CAPOC. • Ensure that legal advice, institutional documents and committee submissions are clear, consistent, risk-aware and aligned with the applicable legal and governance frameworks. • Lead the drafting, review and presentation of complex legal, governance, policy and institutional documents in both English and French, ensuring that advice and analysis are clear, accurate, well-structured and tailored to senior legal and non-legal audiences in an international context. Committee secretariat and stakeholder co-ordination • Direct the Unit’s secretariat support to the CRSG, the CCR, CAPOC, bilateral, tripartite and working group meetings, including agendas, Chair briefings, summary records, document distribution and follow-up of decisions. • Ensure effective co-ordination with ISRP units, OECD legal services, committee representatives, Co-ordinated Organisations and Associated Organisations on legal, governance and policy-related matters. • Represent the Unit in relevant internal and external discussions and maintain trusted working relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring timely, accurate and professional delivery of advice and documentation. • Ensure clear and effective written and oral communication in both English and French with committee representatives, senior stakeholders, Co-ordinated Organisations and Associated Organisations and International Financial Institutions, including the preparation of concise briefings, records, conclusions and follow-up documentation. Regulatory, contractual and dispute-related work • Lead and oversee the drafting, review and negotiation of legal and institutional instruments, including regulations, memoranda of agreement, exchanges of letters and arrangements relating to special assistance or transfer of pension rights. • Support litigation-related work and complex individual cases by providing legal analysis, drafting input and co-ordination with relevant legal services and stakeholders. • Provide legal analysis and drafting input in relation to litigation-related matters, complex individual cases and dispute-related questions, in co-ordination with relevant legal services and stakeholders. • Monitor legal and institutional developments affecting pension schemes, remuneration frameworks and international administrative law, and assess their implications for the ISRP and the organisations it serves. Data protection and information governance • Oversee legal and governance aspects of data protection, confidentiality and information handling within the Unit’s areas of responsibility. • Ensure that legal documentation, committee records and sensitive information are handled in accordance with applicable OECD rules, procedures and good governance standards. • Orchestrate the implementation of data protection and information governance improvements affecting the Unit’s legal, committee and stakeholder-facing activities. Service-wide co-ordination and delivery • Ensure that the Unit contributes effectively to the ISRP’s broader service delivery, including support to Co-ordinated Organisations, Associated Organisations and International Financial Institutions where relevant. • Provide legal and governance input to cross-unit projects involving pensions, payroll, actuarial studies, compensation and benefits, data protection, communication and services to external stakeholders. • Support the continuous improvement of Unit processes, documentation standards and knowledge management practices to strengthen efficiency, consistency and service quality. Unit leadership and people management • Lead, manage and develop the Co-ordination Secretariat Unit, setting priorities, allocating work and ensuring high-quality delivery across legal, committee and stakeholder-support activities. • Foster a collaborative, inclusive and accountable working environment, supporting staff development, performance management, knowledge sharing and continuity of expertise. • Promote a culture of integrity, sound judgement, service orientation and continuous improvement within the Unit. Qualifications Ideal Candidate Profile Academic Background • An advanced university degree in law, preferably with a specialisation in public law, international administrative law, institutional law, international civil service law or another field relevant to the role. Professional Background • Extensive professional experience providing legal advice in an international, intergovernmental or comparable institutional environment, including on the interpretation and application of rules, regulations and governance frameworks. • Proven experience supporting or advising committees, governing bodies or senior management, including the preparation of legal opinions, technical notes, reports, proposals and institutional documentation. • Strong knowledge of pensions, remuneration, international civil service law or institutional administrative law would be a distinct advantage. • Proven ability to advise on complex legal, contractual and procedural matters, including memoranda of agreement, exchanges of letters, transfer of pension rights, dispute-related matters and governance documentation. • Experience in managing, developing and motivating professional staff, setting priorities, ensuring quality control and supporting continuity of expertise. • Proven ability to communicate complex legal, governance and procedural issues with clarity, tact and authority in a stakeholder-facing environment. • Excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills in legal, governance, policy and international institutional contexts, with proven ability to prepare, review and present complex legal and institutional documents clearly and accurately in both English and French for senior legal and non-legal audiences. Tools • Excellent command of Microsoft Office Suite, in particular Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. • Ability to work with online platforms, databases and digital repositories used for legal, governance, committee or stakeholder-support activities. • Experience using document management, collaboration and workflow tools to prepare, review, track and archive legal, committee and institutional documentation. Core Competencies • OECD staff are expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned to six core competencies which will be assessed as part of this hiring process: Vision and Strategy (Level 3); Enable People (Level 2); Ethics and Integrity (Level 3); Collaboration and Horizontality (Level 3); Achieve Results (Level 3); Innovate and Embrace Change (Level 2). • To learn more about the definitions for each competency for levels 1-3, please refer to OECD Core Competencies. Languages • Excellent command of both OECD official languages, English and French, both written and spoken, with proven ability to draft, review and present complex legal, governance, policy and institutional documents clearly and accurately in both languages. • Knowledge of other languages would be an asset. Additional Information Closing Date • This vacancy should be filled as soon as possible, and applications should reach us no later than midnight 02 August 2026 (Paris time). Contract Duration • Open-ended appointment, with no foreseen end date. Please note that our Rules and Regulations stipulate that the mandatory retirement age is 67. What the OECD offers • Monthly salary starts at 11 134.80 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax. Click here to visit our Salary and Allowances Calculator. • Click here to consult the Staff Regulations applicable to officials of the OECD. Please note that from 1 July 2025, all Official appointments will be made under the OECD’s new contractual modalities. • 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. • 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. • This vacancy may be used to create a pool of candidates for comparable positions, both for open-ended and fixed-term functions. Selection Process For retained candidates, the selection process may include a video-recorded interview, job-based assessment and panel interviews. 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.