Job Description
Company Description
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, working to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies improving the economic and social well-being of people worldwide. Together with governments, policy makers, and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to various social, economic, and environmental challenges. From enhancing economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and combating international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data, analysis, experience exchange, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.
SIGMA (Support for Improvement in Governance and Management), part of the Directorate for Public Governance (GOV), is a joint initiative of the OECD and the European Union, primarily financed by the EU. We collaborate with countries to enhance their public administration systems. These include EU candidate countries, potential candidates, and countries from the European Neighbourhood.
SIGMA seeks a Senior Policy Advisor to work with partner countries on public administration reform, focusing on areas such as:
- public service and human resource management,
- organisation, accountability and oversight,
- and the delivery of public services with an emphasis on digital government.
If you wish to apply your experience and expertise to help countries improve their public administration within a stimulating international setting, this position offers an exciting challenge.
The successful candidate will engage with various countries across different policy areas, managing projects often backed by external experts (international and local). The role is varied, likely involving reviewing current situations, recommending improvements for laws, policies, and administrative structures, advising on reform design, coordination, and implementation, presenting work plans and outcomes to ministers and senior officials, and advising beneficiaries and the EC on using EU instruments for public administration reform. Extensive travel to SIGMA partner countries is required. The position might include a country management role.
For more details on the SIGMA programme and available positions, visit www.sigmaweb.org.
Job Description
Main Responsibilities
- Advisory and liaison role
- Deliver high-quality advice to partner countries for designing and supporting reforms, assessing progress, and assisting countries and the European Commission (EC) in designing and managing technical assistance for public governance and administration reforms.
- Collaborate with partner countries to develop joint approaches and facilitate knowledge and information sharing.
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with senior officials in partner countries, the EC, and colleagues in other international organizations.
- Monitor technical discussions in related forums and represent SIGMA in meetings with bilateral/multilateral donors on substantive issues, donor coordination, cooperation, and new initiative development.
- Collaborate and coordinate with colleagues within the SIGMA programme as needed.
- Ensure continuous, active liaison with relevant EC departments, the OECD, and other donors.
- Represent SIGMA in partner countries, EC forums, and other international forums.
- Country management role, analytical and thematic work
- Coordinate SIGMA’s activities in assigned countries, ensuring alignment with agreed priorities.
- Implement and monitor a customized approach to public governance reform, identifying and resolving issues as they arise.
- Lead the monitoring and assessment of country progress against the agreed roadmap and coordinate an assessment report for the EC.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in other countries across SIGMA regions as required.
- Conduct, draft, and contribute to thematic, regional, and country-specific policy papers and other analytical outputs.
- Project management role, work programme and communication
- Participate in designing, planning, and organizing the work programme and budget management.
- Design and manage SIGMA technical assistance and cooperation projects, including operational tasks like budget management, contracting, overseeing external consultants, and managing quality control processes.
- As part of one or more professional groups, contribute to the ongoing development of the Public Administration principles framework, maintaining and expanding SIGMA’s professional expertise and knowledge base; maintain and update personal knowledge and skills through continuous professional development.
Qualifications
Ideal Candidate Profile
Academic background
- Advanced university degree in law, political science, public administration, public management, human resource management, business administration, or other relevant fields.
Professional background
- Minimum of eight years of extensive knowledge and professional experience with public administrations of European Union (EU) member countries.
- Broad experience in initiating, developing, and implementing public sector reform programmes, preferably in civil/public service, HRM, and service delivery/digital government.
- Experience and skills in managing people, projects, and budgets.
- Good comparative knowledge of EU Member states’ public governance systems, with deeper expertise in the areas mentioned above.
- An established professional network within EU Member States.
- Substantial experience advising or interacting with ministers, top officials, and other key stakeholders (e.g., parliamentarians, civil society representatives).
- Experience with outreach, communication, and public presentation in international forums.
- Professional experience as a civil servant or equivalent public sector role in a national/federal or regional administration is advantageous.
- Experience at a senior level in relevant functions is advantageous.
- Experience at a central civil service coordination body is advantageous.
- Good knowledge and professional experience in central government organization and accountability (access to information, oversight bodies, administrative procedures, multi-level governance) and relevant assessment frameworks would be beneficial.
- Good knowledge of the situation in several SIGMA partner countries and experience working there would be beneficial.
Tools
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Package.
Core Competencies
- OECD staff should exhibit behaviors aligned with six core competencies assessed during hiring: Vision and Strategy (Level 3); Enable People (Level 2); Ethics and Integrity (Level 2); Collaboration and Horizontality (Level 3); Achieve Results (Level 3); Innovate and Embrace Change (Level 3).
- Refer to the OECD Core Competencies framework for definitions.
Languages
- Fluency in one OECD official language (English or French), with a commitment to achieve a good working level in the other.
- Knowledge of SIGMA partner country languages is an asset.
Closing Date
- Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Paris time on April 11, 2025. The position will be filled as soon as possible.
Additional Information
Contract Duration: 24-month fixed-term appointment, potentially renewable up to 36 months.
What the OECD offers: Depending on experience, the monthly base salary starts at 10,937.92 EUR, plus eligible allowances, exempt from French income tax. Consult the Staff Regulations applicable to OECD officials. Note: From July 1, 2025, appointments will follow the OECD’s new contractual modalities. Learn more about OECD offerings and work environment. Browse the People Management Guidebook for details on HR, workplace environment, and staff support policies.
Selection Process: Retained candidates may undergo a video interview, job-based assessment, and panel interviews. Indicative schedule: assessment in May, interviews in June.
The OECD is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming applications from qualified nationals of OECD member countries, irrespective of race, origin, beliefs, gender, orientation, health, or disability. The OECD promotes optimal resource use for efficiency and effectiveness, encouraging active staff contribution.
Tagged as: 6 to 10 years
