Director for Legal Affairs

Director for Legal Affairs

OECD – Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Paris, France

Job Description

The OECD is looking for a dynamic and highly qualified Director to provide leadership and strategic oversight of the Directorate for Legal Affairs. As a key member of the Organisation’s Senior Management team, s/he will work closely with the Office of the Secretary General (OSG) and the rest of the Organisation in providing legal and procedural advice on all matters pertaining to the Organisation’s internal functioning as well as its outward-facing policy work.

The ideal candidate will bring vast experience in the domain of legal practice and the law of international organisations, and demonstrate outstanding intellectual leadership and legal thinking, excellent communication skills and a track record of successfully managing international teams. S/he will have high-level networks in the legal domain and strong experience in legal representation. S/he will be an attentive manager, ensuring that her/his team develops to its full potential in a harmonious working environment. The Directorate for Legal Affairs (LEG) provides legal advice and information on institutional and procedural aspects of the OECD’s activities, and coordinates discussions with candidate countries for OECD membership.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership

• Support the advancement of the OECD members priorities as reflected in its Programme of Work and Budget, as well as in the strategic orientations of the Secretary-General, in particular as they relate to institutional and legal matters;
• Support the Secretary-General and senior management of the Organisation in ensuring good governance and full alignment with all aspects of the OECD legal framework. Promote, along with the Office of the Secretary-General, the adoption of sound legal standards and practices across the Organisation;
• Carry out the strategic planning, orientation and oversight of the Directorate’s activities. Ensure that the Directorate provides timely and high-quality legal assistance on all areas of relevance, including staff matters, financial and budgetary matters, procurement, grants, cooperation arrangements, liabilities and dispute settlement, privileges and immunities, personal data protection, intellectual property, public international law and interactions with member and non-member countries and other international organisations and entities;
• Under the supervision of the Secretary-General, present to the Council, or any other body, an opinion on any legal, institutional or procedural matter and address, as appropriate, questions raised by member countries and any other stakeholder regarding the interpretation and application of the basic texts of the Organisation;
• Work with the Office of the Secretary-General, the G20/G7 Sherpa and the Global Relations Secretariat on issues regarding the enlargement of the Organisation and enhancement of its relations with non-member countries;
• Advise the Secretary-General on all matters relating to international law and on the legal content of missions and relations with the press and external entities. If required, accompany the Secretary-General when the latter travels on mission;
• Manage the review and negotiation of agreements of importance to which the Organisation is a party. Ensure the integrity of treaties and legal documents on substantive or policy topics negotiated within the framework of the Organisation;
• Ensure that the Directorate’s work is at the forefront of developments in the discipline of public international law and keep the Organisation on top of all relevant matters;
• Ensure sound interpretation and application of the OECD internal legal framework as well as development and revision of the legal framework as needed.

Representation and Liaison

• Represent the Directorate and the Organisation at internal and external meetings, establishing close contacts and active collaboration with a wide range of colleagues, stakeholders and partners to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency;
• Establish and maintain a network of relationships with other international organisations, national authorities, academia and research institutes;
• Actively contribute to the development, promotion and implementation of enhanced engagement with key partners and other non-member economies and “horizontal” (multidisciplinary) work;
• Lead and oversee policy missions to OECD Member Countries and several non-OECD member economies, involving meetings with Ministers and the high level policy makers.

Management and Co-ordination

• Actively manage the Directorate’s human capital, through merit-based recruitment processes, professional development and performance management of its staff;
• Ensure optimal use of resources, skills and knowledge in support of the Directorate’s business needs;
• Build and lead a cohesive, multicultural and multidisciplinary team, promoting excellence, inclusion and diversity;
• Ensure effective co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation across the Organisation, including with the Office of the Secretary-General and policy directorates to support and contribute to flagship corporate initiatives and horizontal projects;
• Adhere to and promote the highest professional standards and the ethical principles of the OECD’s Code of Conduct in all internal and external matters. Ensure a caring environment where managers promote, respect and support staff in developing their full potential.

Qualifications – Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic and Professional Background

• An advanced university degree in Law;
• Extensive professional experience in legal affairs, at a progressively senior level in an international context, preferably within one or more international organisations;
• Proven senior level experience in drafting and presenting complex legal advice, ideally across multiple areas of legal practice of relevance to the work of the OECD Legal Directorate, including corporate services, the law of international organisations and public international law. Experience of representation before dispute settlement bodies would be an asset;
• Strong knowledge of current national and international policy challenges in member and partner countries, and of the institutional settings across OECD member and Partner countries;
• A proven record of conducting relations at senior level within a political decision-making environment, ability to achieve consensus and interact effectively with multiple high-level stakeholders; ability to influence policy decisions at the national and international level;
• Strong culture of collaboration and a proven champion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace;
• Collaborative and inclusive management style.

Additional Information

Communication and Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of, or a willingness to learn, the other;
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Apply NowDeadline 14 October