Communications Manager

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. The Directorate carries this out by providing statistics, analysis and policy advice to countries on a wide range of educational topics.

EDU is looking for an experienced Communications Manager with drive and creativity who will be responsible and co-ordinating the communications activities of the Directorate, aimed at increasing the visibility and impact of EDU’s work both within and outside the OECD. The selected candidate will lead and manage EDU’s communications team and will report to the Director.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership

• Support the advancement of the strategic orientations of the Secretary-General, in particular as they relate to communications.
• Define and supervise the implementation of the Organisation’s corporate communication strategy with a view to enhancing the relevance, visibility and impact of their Directorate’s work on policy makers, policy shapers and society at large, under the guidance of the Director(s) working in collaboration with the Senior management of the Public Affairs and Communications Directorate (PAC).
• As a member of the Senior Communications Board, participate actively in the Organisation’s evolving approach to communications, so as to enhance its impact and legitimacy as a global player, e.g. by promoting a more interactive engagement with partners and audiences, the continued digitalisation of content and the development of targeted messaging.
• Improve the Education and Skills Directorate’s understanding, mapping and monitoring of its audiences, and participate in the corporate impact evaluation efforts.
• Promote the effective use and ongoing improvement of communication tools and processes.
• Work closely with Directorate project managers and Heads of Division to promote a strategic approach to communications throughout each project, ensuring that their analyses and findings are conveyed in such a way as to have a broad impact, and that the use of resources for communication initiatives is optimised.
• Work horizontally with other Directorates and Centres/Units for joint communication purposes.
• Ensure messages are coherent and consistent across all policy areas, well aligned with the Organisation’s strategic priorities and supported by effective planning and co-ordination.
• Support Director(s) in leveraging the strategic complementarities within and across directorates.
• Manage, innovate and implement end-to-end campaign strategies and outreach plans to raise the profile of the Directorate’s work areas and promote its key priority themes and issues.
• Develop strong visual identities for projects and materials.
• Oversee all published physical and digital materials and the Directorate’s online/social media presence.
• Oversee the maintenance and further development of the Directorate website.

Management

• Manage the Directorate’s team of communications officers.
• Oversee the Directorate’s budget and resources for communications, promote the professional development of staff and help them contribute the best of their talents to the implementation of the corporate communication strategy.
• Ensure co-ordination and quality control, the mainstreaming of best practices and the promotion of an impact-driven and evidence-based approach.
• Ensure adherence across the directorate to corporate guidelines and business processes related to communications and dissemination.
• Demonstrate a commitment to excellence by ensuring high standards of recruitment, performance management, project planning and management, effective working methods and a working environment conducive to teamwork, continuous learning, and innovation.
• Establish, implement and monitor criteria for results management and evaluate the impact of the different communications activities.

Representation and Liaison

• Represent the directorate in international dialogues on education and skills.
• Build, manage and expand strategic communication partnerships with other major organisations and key stakeholder groups active in the education and skills areas.
• Oversee and take a leading role in the management and liaison with external partners to deliver high‐profile public publication launches and events on the EDU agenda.
• Stay abreast of OECD-wide substantive priorities related to education and skills.
• Represent the directorate on the Organisation’s Senior Communications Board. Establish effective operational links with the Organisation’s Directorate for Public Affairs and Communication (PAC) including the various OECD offices in Berlin, Mexico, Tokyo, Washington, Istanbul and forthcoming Kyiv-based one.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic background

• An advanced university degree in a relevant field such as communications, media or international relations, or another relevant discipline.

Professional background

• A minimum of five, preferably seven years’ relevant work experience in the area related to education and skills, with proven experience of handling communications, devising campaign strategies and public relations, with government, business and/or the media.
• Significant experience of providing strategic leadership and advice at senior management level.
• Demonstrated experience in change and project management, especially of an inter-institutional collaborative nature.
• Experience in commissioning and adapting content to make it accessible to a broad range of target audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Ability to innovate, bring new ideas and creative approaches.
• Strong storytelling skills with proven ability to produce clear and engaging content.
• Proven experience in managing staff.

Tools

• Excellent IT skills, including web tools and platforms, and other internet technologies and social media.
• Experience with IT collaborative platforms (e.g. e-share) 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.

Core Competencies

• For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important\: Achievement focus, Drafting skills, Team leadership, Client focus, Influencing, Strategic networking and Strategic thinking.
• Please refer to the level 3 indicators of the OECD Core Competencies.

Contract Duration

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

What the OECD offers

• Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at either 6 415.29 EUR or 7 915.72 EUR, 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.
• Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.

Selection Process

For retained candidates, written tests/video-recorded interviews and panel interviews are planned.

Please note that our Rules and Regulations stipulate that the mandatory retirement age is 65.

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.