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 Directorate for Legal Affairs (LEG) is a small and highly integrated team that provides advice and information on the legal, institutional and procedural aspects of the Organisation’s activities. The Directorate serves as co-ordinator of the discussions with candidate countries for OECD membership, which involves acting as interlocutor for the candidate countries, OECD Members and the different parts of the Secretariat. It also involves supporting the review by OECD committees of the candidate countries’ alignment with some 260 OECD legal instruments, as well as their evaluation of the candidate countries’ policies and practices, spanning almost every area of public policy.

We are currently co-ordinating the accession discussions with Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru and Romania and accession discussions are now getting underway with Argentina and Indonesia  In this context and subject to the availability of the necessary funding, we are looking to expand our accession co-ordination team by recruiting  two experienced Legal Advisors whose work will focus on assisting in the co-ordination of accession discussions.  The successful candidates, who will work under the oversight of the OECD Accession Co-ordinator and the supervision of Senior Legal Advisors, will need to be adept at legal analysis and drafting while also possessing excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. S/he will thrive on multi-tasking in a particularly fast-paced environment, handling a substantial amount of information, and demonstrate good political and diplomatic sensitivity.

Job Description

Legal Work on Accession

• Provide legal and procedural advice and support to substantive Directorates in preparing the accession reviews of the candidate countries and participate as appropriate in the discussions of relevant OECD Committees.
• Carry out research and provide legal advice on the interpretation of the OECD legal instruments against which candidate countries are evaluated.
• Prepare reports and provide legal advice to the OECD governing bodies on the status of the accession discussions.
• Assist in the negotiation of an agreement with the candidate country on the privileges and immunities of the Organisation.
• Assist in liaising and providing legal and procedural advice to the candidate countries on the accession process.

Accession Co-ordination

• Prepare briefing materials and analysis on the status of the accession process for the Secretary-General and other senior officials.
• Facilitate the liaison between the candidate countries, the Secretariat and the Member countries and actively contribute to the Secretariat’s visits to candidate countries and of senior officials of the candidate countries to the OECD.
• Develop guidance for substantive Directorates on legal and procedural issues and contribute to the organisation of regular inter-directorate meetings to facilitate internal co-ordination.
• Keep track of developments in the accession process and ensure the appropriate flow of information amongst the various Directorates.
• Assist, as necessary, in any other work that may be required as part of the co-ordination of the accession process.

Other Duties

• Provide guidance and oversee work of more junior members of the team, and contribute to their training as appropriate.

Qualifications

Academic Background

• A basic and postgraduate degree in international law or in international relations/political science with an international law component.

Professional Background

• Five to ten years’ relevant professional experience.
• Experience in an international organisation, a ministry of foreign affairs or other similar international environment would be a definite advantage.
• Experience working with or in Latin America  and Southeast Asia, in particular with the current accession candidate countries, would also be an advantage.
• Demonstrated knowledge of public international law and international relations.
• Experience overseeing the work of junior staff.

Languages

• An excellent written and oral command of one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and working knowledge of the other. Ability to verify the equivalence of texts in both languages. 
• A working knowledge of the languages of one or more of the accession candidate countries would be an 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).
• To learn more about the definitions for each competency for levels 1-3, please refer to OECD Core Competencies.

Additional Information

Closing Date

This vacancy will be filled as soon as possible, and applications should reach us no later than 23:59 on 5 May 2024 (Paris time).

Contract Duration

Subject to availability of funding. 13 months fixed-term appointment, with the possibility of renewal. 

What the OECD offers

• Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at 7,738 EUR plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.
• Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.
• 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.

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.