Deputy Head of Division and Head of Media and Social Media Unit

Company Description

The OECD

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.

Directorate for Communications

Under the guidance of the Secretary-General, the core mission of the redesigned Directorate for Communications (COM) is to maximise the reach and impact of the OECD and its work through clear, evidence-based communications working in collaboration with all directorates. The COM Directorate carries out its functions in accordance with the OECD Communications Strategy and pursuant to Annual Communication Plans for which it is responsible, steering organisational efforts on strategic priorities and supporting policy directorates in their communications to specialised audiences. COM is a centralised communications corporate directorate which provides services, advice and support to a highly decentralised communications environment. Working with communications professionals across the OECD, it drives a coherent communications function, serving as a standard setter for excellence while at the same time measuring communications impact and adjusting efforts as required. It leads on corporate level media, social media, stakeholder and parliamentary engagement; the architecture and implementation of the organisation’s online presence, including multimedia digital content; and the dissemination of OECD publications, while performing an important role in risk identification and management in the public sphere. The Directorate holds as a core value an agile, collaborative and supportive culture marked by positive interaction and accountability among professionals.

Job Description

Within the Directorate for Communication, the mission of the Strategic Communications and Outreach Division (SCO) is to drive the development of comprehensive communications plans, then amplify to policy audiences and the public the Organisation’s key priorities as defined in the Annual OECD Communications Plan and the Strategic Orientations of the Secretary-General. Specifically, the division will work with communicators across the Organisation (ONE communications function) to:

• Support the development of the Annual Communications Plan as led by the Director's Office, incorporating both corporate priorities and directorate plans to reach relevant policy audiences.
• Lead the further development and implementation of specialised communications strategies on key organisational priorities.
• Deliver the OECD’s data, analysis, and recommendations to policy and public audiences through strategic, targeted media and social media engagement and newsletters, coordinating the Organisation's corporate presence and reputation across these channels as well.
• Lead the coordination of corporate engagement with key Organisational stakeholders, including the OECD Global Parliamentary Network and key civil society relationships with Business at OECD, the OECD Trade Union Advisory Council, youth, and others, while informing, supporting, and reporting on directorates’ targeted outreach and engagement.
• Define policies, standards and processes for strategic planning, media, social media and external engagement in co-ordination with the Division on Communications Impact, Standards, and Capacity Building.
• Support the Office of the Secretary-General (OSG) in communications and external engagement by the Secretary-General.

COM is looking for a Deputy Head of Division and Head of Media and Social Media Unit to work in the Strategic Communications and Outreach Division, liaising closely with COM’s production and impact measurement divisions as well as the Office of the Secretary-General and all OECD directorates and bodies.

The selected candidate will work with the Head of Division to oversee coherent management of the Division as a whole and directly lead a team of media and social media professionals to carry out priority communications through media, social media, and newsletters. S/he will work under the supervision of the Head of Division.

Main Responsibilities

People & Well-being Management

• Play a constructive role in the collective success and well-being of the Directorate for Communications, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and encouraging COM colleagues in a culture supportive of their professional objectives and Organisational goals.
• Support the management of the division according to corporate standards in financial and HR management, leading by example, and promoting staff engagement and well-being.
• Assist in setting and leading the team to meet agreed objectives and Key Performance Indicators.

Social Media & Communications Management

• Oversee media and social media activities at corporate level to communicate key messages on OECD priority workstreams.
• Manage a portfolio of media responsibilities for direct management and engagement, including the maintenance of networks, production of media and social media and related communications outputs.
• Keep abreast of and lead the team to respond to emerging trends and technologies across media and social media industries.
• Play a leading role in identifying and mitigating Organisational risk related to media and social media.
• Support communications by the Secretary-General, including crisis management as necessary.

Strategic Management & Liaison

• Partner with the Head of Division to design and ensure delivery on comprehensive and coherent work plans, assignments and outputs for the entire Strategic Communications and Outreach Division, including media and social media, strategic communications campaigns and external engagement activities as well.
• Represent the Head of Division in senior leadership meetings and other management roles as needed.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with other divisions of COM to ensure strategic alignment.
• Work closely with Directorates and key stakeholders to ensure collaborative, coherent and efficient media and social media outreach across the Organisation.
• Manage support staff and other Division staff to ensure the timely and effective delivery of corporate outputs.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced University degree or equivalent in mass communications, public relations, political science or economics.
• A good understanding of complex geo-economic-political issues and strong analytical skills.

Professional Background

• A minimum of 5-7 years’ proven experience in managing large and complex teams.
• A minimum of 8-10 years’ recent experience in outward-facing media engagement in a public service setting. Understanding of the OECD and its context is a plus.
• 3-5 years’ experience in social media management and messaging.
• Prior experience in an international organisation will be an asset.
• Prior experience as a journalist is not required but may be an asset.
• Proven experience and understanding of the OECD's substantive work, its role and impact in the overall framework of international co-operation and domestic policy formulation. Capacity to identify opportunities to increase the visibility of the Organisation.

Core Competencies

• OECD staff are expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned to six core competencies which will be assessed as part of this hiring processes: 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 2).
• To learn more about the definitions for each competency for levels 1-3, please refer to OECD Core Competencies.

Languages

• An excellent written and oral command of one of the two official languages of the OECD (English and French) and working knowledge of, or willingness to learn, the other.
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Additional Information

Closing Date

• This vacancy should be filled as soon as possible, and applications should reach us no later than midnight 20 July 2026 (Paris time).

Contract Duration

• Open-ended appointment, with no foreseen end date.

What the OECD offers

• Monthly salary starts at 10 700.33 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax. Click here to consult the Staff Regulations applicable to officials of the OECD. Please note that from 1 July 2025, all Official appointments will be made under the OECD’s new contractual modalities.
• 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 one grade lower in the specified job family, based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.
• This vacancy may be used to create a pool of candidates for comparable positions, both for open-ended and fixed-term functions.

Selection Process

For retained candidates, the selection process may include a job-based assessment and panel interviews.

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.