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.

About the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct

The OECD has earned a leading role in financial and enterprise issues.  In line with the Strategic Orientations of the Secretary-General, the core mission of the OECD’s Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs (DAF) is to assist markets to fund inclusive economic growth, and in turn Better Lives, through setting and implementing standards, providing capacity building and technical assistance, acting as a forum for co-operation and collaboration across the OECD Directorates, external stakeholders and International Organisations. DAF’s work is structured under two work areas - Conduct and Markets - and its mission is pursued through several  substantive divisions whose teams provide Member  countries and partners with policy guidance, analysis and support in the areas of competition, anti-corruption, corporate affairs, financial affairs, international investment and responsible business conduct.

The OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC Centre), which is part of DAF, is in charge of supporting the implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (OECD Guidelines) and related due diligence guidance in the minerals, extractives, agriculture, garment and footwear and financial sectors. The Centre also provides the Secretariat of the Network of National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct (NCPs). 

The RBC Centre is looking for Policy Analysts to work on either or both Regulatory Engagement and Sustainability Initiative practices. The work covers cross-sectoral human rights and environmental due diligence, emerging legislation and assessments and engagement with sustainability initaitives vis a vis OECD due diligence standards (OECD Due Diligence Guidance for RBC and the sector guidances).

The work is carried out in a multinational and multicultural environment, including emerging markets and developing countries as well as OECD member countries. The selected candidates will interact with senior policy-makers, regulatory authorities, business sector representatives, industry initiatives, trade unions, experts and stakeholders worldwide.

Deadline for applications is 28/03/2024 at 23:59 (Paris Time)

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

Research, analysis, drafting and strategic & policy advice

Contribute to  work of the Regulatory Engagement & Sustainability Initiatives Practice by:

Sustainability Initiatives

• leading research on coverage and key implementation challenges of cetifications, audit schemes and other types of industry, multi-stakeholder and government-run initiatives
• carrying out targeted capacity building and outreach with sustainability initiatives in key geographies and sectors;
• inputting into the development of a multi-year strategy for strengthening uptake of OECD RBC due diligence standards and promoting alignment among initiatives in relation to nascent legislation on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence and sustainable supply chains;
• contributing to strengthening and revising the methodology for evaluating the alignment and credibility of initaitives
• overseeing alignment assessments of initiatives against OECD due diligence guidance; this includes both managing external experts supporting those assessments as well as the relationship with the initiatives being assessed;
• contributing to efforts to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of certifications, audit schemes and sustainability initiatives, and of OECD Alignment Assessments.

Regulatory Engagement

• providing strategic and technical advice on horizontal and sectoral mandatory due diligence legislation, corporate sustainability reporting laws and standards and trade-based measures (e.g. on forced labour), with a particular focus on issues of alignment with OECD standards;
• contributing to review and drafting of legal text where requested by policy makers, with a focus on alignment with OECD standards
• undertaking legal research and writing high quality analytical reports and policy briefings on aspects related to  design of due diligence-related legislation and proactive tracking of broader due diligence related policy developments across key sectors and geographies;
• supporting policy coordination and coherence across jurisdictions on due diligence legislation through comparative analysis of different laws and regimes
• contributing to the development of a policy coordination platform on due diligence to convene relevant policymakers and enforcement authorities to exchange experiences and coordination on policy design and enforcement of due diligence-related laws

Contribute to  the development and operationalisation of innovative and effective strategies, policies (either private sector or government-led) and instruments to promote and measure implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and due diligence guidance more broadly, disseminate the findings and convey the main messages from reports and papers.

Outreach, awareness raising and sensitization

• Establish or maintain professional contacts with officials from member and partner countries, representatives from the private sector, government and industry initaitives, international organisations and experts, as well as local and international civil society organizations and international and local trade unions.
• Represent the OECD at relevant fora and provide training on responsible busniness conduct and supply chain due diligence.
• Supervise the organisation of meetings/workshops/multi-stakeholder consultations and policy maker roundtables on OECD Guidance and prepare background materials.

• Participate in multi-disciplinary projects and activities within the OECD and projects with other international organisations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and policy makers developing, enforceing or responding to due diligence regulation

Operations and coordination

• Contribute to development of fundraising strategies, applications, and, as relevant, grant reporting activities. 

• Oversee contributions to internal briefing requests, team wide publications and inputs for strategic initatives (G20, G7, MCM etc.).

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic background

• An advanced university degree in a relevant subject matter (political sciences, law, economics, international relations, development, etc).
• Studies with a focus on policy related to responsible business conduct, sustainability, international trade would be an advantage.

Professional Background

• Minimum five years experience in the field of responsible business conduct in a government institution, international organisation, business, trade union, civil society organisation, research institute or consultancy.
• Experience, particularly at the international level, working on human rights, governance and/or environmental due diligence with diverse stakeholders (governments, local and international NGOs, industry, trade unions).  
• Strong technical understanding of OECD standards on due diligence in particular the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on RBC and/or the Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct (2018) would be a significant advantage.
• Strong technical understanding of environmental due diligence and international standards on climate and biodiversity would be an advangage.
• Experience working with or at certifications, assurance schemes or other types of industry, multi-stakeholder or government run initiatives on sustainability, particularly in the agriculture secor, would be an advantage.
• Strong legal drafting and writing  and negotiation skills would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with stakeholders from the OECD’s RBC work would be an significant advantage.

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 2); Enable People (Level 1); Ethics and Integrity (Level 2); Collaboration and Horizontality (Level 2); Achieve Results (Level 2); Innovate and Embrace Change (Level 2).
• 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 official languages of the Organisation (English and French), and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level.

Additional Information

Contract Duration

• Twelve month fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal

What the OECD offers

• Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at 7 738.74, 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

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates 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.