Company Description

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, whose mission is to build better policies for better lives. We 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 to establish evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a broad range of social, economic and environmental challenges, from the improvement of 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 Legal Affairs

The Directorate for Legal Affairs (LEG) provides advice and information on the legal, institutional and procedural aspects of the Organisation’s activities and also serves as co-ordinator of the discussions with candidate countries for OECD membership. The Directorate comprises two main sections: the General Legal Affairs Division is responsible for internal legal matters of the Organisation, providing advice on issues such as staff employment, the Organisation’s governance, budgetary and financial matters and dispute settlement. The International Law Division is responsible for substantive and external legal matters concerning the Organisation, providing advice on external relations, accession matters and other areas of OECD policy activities involving legal standards, including its work on anti-bribery.

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.

Core Competencies

Staff in Executive Leadership are expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned to six core competencies which will be assessed as part of this hiring processes at level 3: Vision and Strategy; Enable People; Ethics and Integrity; Collaboration and Horizontality; Achieve Results; Innovate and Embrace Change.

To learn more about the definitions for each competency, please refer to the OECD Core Competency Framework.

Closing Date

• This vacancy will be filled as soon as possible, and applications should reach us no later than midnight 14 October 2025 (CEST).

Contract Duration

• Three-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.
• Please note that the OECD Staff Rules and Regulations stipulate that the mandatory retirement age is 67.

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 15 806 EUR plus allowances, based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.

Process

All applications are screened based on the criteria for the position. For candidates who are screened-in, written tests and/or video-recorded interviews are foreseen in October, and panel interviews are planned for November. A leadership assessment will also be requested by candidates in the final selection stage.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from 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. Our selection processes are merit-based; we strive to enhance diversity both from national and gender perspectives while running fair, transparent and competitive selection processes.

The OECD promotes an optimal use of resources to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.

Learn more about what we offer and why the OECD is a great place to work.

Browse our People Management Guidebook to learn more about all aspects relating to people at the OECD, our workplace environment and on policies supporting staff in their daily life.