Senior Policy Advisor - Public Service and Human Resource Management

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.

Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA) is a joint initiative of the OECD and the European Union, principally financed by the EU. We work with countries to strengthen their public governance systems and public administration capacities and facilitate sustainable reforms. These countries are EU candidate countries and potential candidates (Turkey and Western Balkans) and a wide range of European Neighbourhood partner countries, to the east and south of the EU’s borders.

SIGMA is looking for a Senior Policy Advisor, who will also act as a Country Manager, to work with SIGMA partner countries in the field of good governance, public administration reform and civil service, in particular\:  

• Civil/public service policy, legislation and implementation
• Human resources management in public administration
• Public sector integrity

If you would like to use your experience and expertise to assist countries in improving their public governance, while working in a stimulating international environment, this exciting and challenging position could be for you.

The successful candidate will work with a range of countries and across various policy areas, managing projects often supported by external experts (international and local). Your role will be diverse – it is likely to involve reviewing and assessing the state of play, making recommendations on improving laws, policy documents and administrative arrangements, advising on the design, co-ordination and implementation of reforms, presenting the plans for and outcomes of your work to ministers and senior officials, and providing advice to both beneficiaries and the EC on using various EU instruments for public administration reform in partner countries.

This role will require extensive travel to a range of SIGMA partner countries.

For more information on the SIGMA programme and additional information on the positions available, please visit our website www.sigmaweb.org

Main Responsibilities

Advisory and liaison role

• Provide high quality advice to partner countries to design and support reforms, to assess reform progress and to assist partner countries and the European Commission to design and manage technical assistance for public governance and public administration reforms.
• Work with the partner countries to develop joint approaches and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with senior officials of partner countries, the Commission and colleagues in other international organisations.
• Follow technical discussions in other fora on the subject and represent SIGMA in meetings with bilateral and multilateral donors on substantive issues, as well as donor co-ordination and co-operation, and development of new initiatives.
• Collaborate and co-ordinate with colleagues in the rest of the SIGMA programme, as required.
• Ensure ongoing, active liaison with the relevant parts of the EC, the OECD and other donors.
• Represent SIGMA in partner countries and EC forums and in other international forums.

Country management role, analytical and thematic work

• Co-ordinate SIGMA’s activities in the relevant country or countries, ensuring coherence with agreed priorities in the country and region.
• Implement and monitor a tailored approach to public governance reform in the partner countries, identifying and resolving problems, as necessary.
•  Lead monitoring and assessment of the country’s progress against the agreed roadmap and co-ordinate an assessment report for the EC.
• Carry out work as a subject matter expert in other countries in any of the SIGMA regions, as required.
• Carry out, draft and contribute to thematic, regional and country specific policy papers and other analytical outputs.

Project management role, work programme and communication

• Participate in the design, planning and organisation of the programme of work and budget management;
• Design and manage SIGMA technical assistance and co-operation projects, involving operational activities such as budget management, contracting and overseeing the work of external consultants, and designing and overseeing quality control processes on the relevant projects;
• As a member of one or more professional groups, contribute to further development of Public Administration principles framework, maintaining and growing SIGMA’s professional expertise and knowledge base; maintain and update own knowledge and skills through continuing professional development activities.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic background

• Advanced university degree in law, political science, public administration, public management, human resource management, business administration or other relevant disciplines.

Professional background

• Extensive knowledge and professional experience (a minimum of eight years’) of EU member countries’ administrations.
• Extensive experience in initiating, developing and implementing reform programmes in the public sector, preferably in the field of civil/public service, HRM and public sector integrity;
• Experience and skills managing people, projects and budgets.
• Good comparative knowledge of public governance systems of the EU Members states, with deeper knowledge of the areas listed above.
• Extended professional network in EU Member States.
• Extensive experience as advisor to, or interlocutor with, ministers and top officials, and other key stakeholders (e.g. parliamentarians and representatives of civil society).
• Outreach, communication and public presentation in international fora experience.
• Professional experience as a civil servant, or equivalent public sector role, in a national/federal or regional administration would be an advantage.
• Experience working at a senior level in relevant functions would be an advantage.
• Experience working at the central civil service coordination body would be an advantage.
• Good knowledge and professional experience in the area of organisation of central government and accountability (access to information, oversight institutions, administrative procedures, multi-level governance) and relevant assessment frameworks would be an advantage.
• Good knowledge of the situation in a number of the partner countries of SIGMA programme and experience working in these countries would be an advantage.

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level;
• Knowledge of SIGMA partner country languages would be an asset.

Core Competencies

• For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important\: Achievement focus, Analytical thinking, Drafting skills, Managing resources, Teamwork and Team leadership, Diplomatic sensitivity, Influencing, Negotiating, Strategic networking, Strategic thinking.
• Please refer to the OECD Core Competencies and the level 4 indicators.

Contract Duration

• Two years fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from EUR 8,886 exempt of French income tax, plus allowances based on eligibility.
• 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 a lower grade if the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant correspond to that grade; in this case, the duties and responsibilities assigned will be adjusted accordingly.

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.