Senior Analyst - CERI

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 Education and Skills (EDU) leads the Organisation’s work to help member and non-member countries achieve high-quality learning for all, design better skills policies, and turn them into jobs and growth. EDU carries this out by providing statistics, analysis and policy advice to countries on a wide range of educational topics.

The Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) performs research-driven work to achieve lifelong learning for all. Having a particular focus on emerging trends and issues, CERI aims to set a forward-looking and innovative agenda for a changing education landscape. The goal of CERI is to produce work that is thoroughly integrated with empirical analysis and innovation awareness. Due to their experimental nature, the CERI projects have served as incubators for innovations in OECD’s flagship activities such as INES, PISA, and TALIS. Currently, CERI works on topics such as how trends in society impact the future of education; the nature of modern childhood and how schools can better support the children; the impact of artificial intelligence on future skills; how smart data is changing delivery of education; and how the future of teaching impacts teachers’ professionalism.

EDU is looking for a Senior Analyst to provide intellectual leadership and to oversee the implementation of CERI’s cross-disciplinary foresight projects. In the first stage the focus of the work will be on the 21^st Century Children and Trends Shaping Education projects, but the selected candidate will be expected to actively contribute to the development of CERI’s future portfolio of activities. This position presents an opportunity for the selected candidate to build a shared understanding of the frontiers of education, integrate education research into the policy discourse, and, hence, shape the design of public education policy. The selected candidate will work under the supervision of the Head of the Innovation and Measuring Educational Progress Division.

Main Responsibilities

Project leadership and management

• Set the strategic direction and priorities for cross-disciplinary research projects aimed at ensuring better quality education for all in line with the OECD’s strategic priorities for its work in education. This includes identification of opportunities and areas for analysis and development of methodologies.
• Oversee the implementation of the projects in accordance with the agreed plans and timelines, and deliver outputs that respond effectively to country priorities.
• Liaise with the CERI Governing Board, member representatives, stakeholders and external experts to identify emerging analytical and policy priorities, to balance priorities within competing demands, to assess risks and negotiate solutions.
• Lead fund-raising and managing the budgets of the projects with the mandate given in the OECD Programme of Work and Budget.

Team leadership, supervision and recruitment

• Manage and lead a team of analysts, other staff, consultants and a network of experts to ensure the delivery of high quality outputs, a good working atmosphere, effective working methods and good communications.
• Oversee identifying, recruiting, motivating the staff and experts to mobilise relevant talents for the implementation of the work.
• Build collaboration with colleagues across EDU and other Directorates across the OECD Secretariat in overseeing collective and horizontal work on conditions impacting the future of education and learners.

Analytical leadership

• Provide intellectual leadership to development, design and implementation of research consistent with CERI’s mandate and goals ensuring future-oriented and innovative themes addressed as well as cutting-edge methodologies utilised.
• Supervise and co-ordinate the development of analytical reports, publications, briefings and other written materials in connection with the projects, including conceptual planning and editing of the reports.
• Lead collaborative projects and the conceptual planning of project events.

Representation, communication and outreach

• Develop and maintain working relationships with country representatives, research community and other stakeholder groups involved. Liaise with colleagues across the OECD to establish priorities for co-operation with external bodies, in particular for responding to requests for presentations, papers and involvement in working groups.
• Oversee development and implementation of effective communication strategies for the outputs of the projects to maximise their value, visibility and impact within countries, the OECD and the broader international community. Adapt key messages to meet the needs of different audiences.
• Represent the OECD in relevant international and national settings, deliver presentations and support effective dissemination of the outputs of the projects with the aim to maximise their impact.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree or equivalent in education, sociology, psychology, economics, social sciences, or a similar discipline.

Professional background 

• At least eight years’ experience in leading research projects in the field of education in universities, research institutions, governmental agencies and/or international organisations.
• Demonstrated capacity to work strategically and creatively, strong conceptual and analytical capabilities.
• Strong political sense and effective diplomatic skills with the ability to achieve consensus and interact effectively with multiple high-level experts and stakeholders, and demonstrated track record of policy dialogue with government officials.
• Excellent managerial skills with the capacity to resolve conflicts, ability to plan, co-ordinate and supervise complex projects and to deliver them to schedule and budget.
• Ability to build teams and motivate staff in a multicultural environment. Commitment to equal opportunity and diversity.
• Ability to present complex analyses to non-specialist audiences.
• Excellent writing skills and a capacity to produce high-quality analytical and political work and draft clear and concise reports.

Languages

• Working knowledge of both OECD official languages (English and French) would be an asset.
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Core Competencies

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

Contract Duration

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

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 9 046EUR, 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.
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Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade 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 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.