Head of the Communications and Digital Office

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    FULL_TIME
  • Posted:
    9 hours ago
  • Category:
    Communication and Advocacy, Management and Strategy
  • Deadline:
    11/12/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

Company Description

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 International Energy Agency (IEA) is an intergovernmental organisation with 32 member countries committed to advancing security of energy supply, economic growth and environmental sustainability through energy policy co-operation. The IEA operates as an autonomous body within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Both the OECD and the IEA seek opportunities to work with an increasing number of non-member countries of growing importance to the world economy.

The Agency aims to foster the contribution of the energy sector to economic development and environmental sustainability.

The Head of the Communication and Digital Office (CDO) advises the IEA Executive Director on communication strategy and leads Agency efforts to ensure that findings and messages from IEA work reach key stakeholders and other target audiences. S/he will have line responsibility for overseeing the budget and the management of over twenty staff. The Head of CDO reports directly to the Executive Director and plays a strategic role in advancing the IEA priorities of the Executive director and the Strategic Orientations of the OECD Secretary-General in the communication area.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

  • Provide strategic advice to the IEA Executive Director in all aspects of communication and dissemination of the IEA’s overall work programme.
  • Lead the implementation of the Executive Director’s digitalization strategy, both within CDO but also in co-ordination with other offices across the IEA.
  • Exercise critical oversight of the quality and content of IEA communication, both digital and other, to ensure consistency and maximal impact.
  • Maintain close co-ordination and co-operation with all relevant IEA offices across the Agency
  • Increase the visibility of the Agency through a strategy of effective communications with key stakeholders, the media and the general public, in order to maximize the value, visibility and impact of the Agency’s work.
  • Support all IEA divisions by providing communications and publications advice, identifying key and emerging energy sector-related messages.

Digital Publishing

  • Advise on and manage all the communications matters for the Agency, with a view to transition to a fully digital strategy.
  • Supervise the production of IEA data, reports and digital outputs, including reassessment of product and pricing strategies. Oversee outsourcing of consultant editors and graphic designers.
  • Oversee re-design and continuously improve the IEA website, as well as the IEA e-commerce site.
  • Develop strategies to increase the dissemination and sales of IEA data, reports, findings and recommendations.

Media Relations

  • Manage broader strategy to integrate traditional press activities with digital communications, co-ordinating social media platforms with press releases, infographics, video, etc.
  • Seek to increase IEA visibility and reach through global media outreach, in countries belonging to the IEA family and beyond.
  • Organise press conferences, webinars and briefings and manage media relations at major international gatherings.
  • Measure impact of media outreach and draw on results to improve strategy.

Management

  • Oversee the CDO work programme and resources and ensure they adequately support the Executive Director’s priorities and correspond to the needs of the IEA member countries in particular.
  • Promote excellence within CDO through effective recruitment, performance management and professional development of staff, including coordinating the contributions of external providers, as needed.
  • Supervise the Agency’s reference and knowledge management centre, including administration of subscriptions to databases, journals, etc.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

  • An advanced university degree(s) in liberal arts, journalism, communications, economics, or other relevant disciplines.

Professional Background

  • At least ten years’ experience at a senior or managerial level in relevant areas such as public information or journalism, including ability to oversee a multicultural team and manage a budget.
  • Proven experience in the definition and implementation of digital transformation strategies.
  • Proven results working with digital communication tools and overseeing website redesign, developing social media, etc.
  • Excellent knowledge of the media and an ability to use this knowledge to convey IEA messages while responding in an accurate and timely fashion to requests for information.
  • Solid understanding of how to develop and communicate technical but focused messages to multiple audiences.
  • Background in energy or other related fields (environment, technology, etc.) would be an advantage.

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 3); Ethics and Integrity (Level 3); Collaboration and Horizontality (Level 3); Achieve Results (Level 3); Innovate and Embrace Change (Level 3).
  • There are three possible levels for each competency. The level for each competency is determined according to the specific needs of each job role and its associated grade.
  • 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 English. Ability to draft and proofread in English. Good knowledge of other language(s) would be an advantage.

Additional Information

Closing Date:

  • Applications should reach us no later than 23h59 on 8th January, 2025 (Paris time).

Contract Duration

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

What the OECD offers

  • Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at 12 109 EUR plus allowances 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.

Salary Information

  • 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.

Selection Process

All applications are screened based on the criteria for the position. For candidates who are retained, assessments by video-recorded interview are foreseen for late January 2025, with panel interviews foreseen to be held in February 2025.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements