Senior Policy Analyst, Paris, France 223 views

The OECD is a global economic forum working with 36 member countries and more than 100 emerging and developing economies to make 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. The Organisation provides a unique forum in which governments work together to share experiences on what drives economic, social and environmental change, seeking solutions to common problems.

The OECD Centre for Skills leads the Organisation’s work to help member and non-member countries achieve high-quality learning and training for all, design better skills policies, and turn them into jobs, productivity and growth. The Centre for Skills carries this out by providing statistics, analysis and policy advice to countries on a wide range of skills issues.

The Skills Centre is looking for two Senior Policy Analysts to support the Skills Analysis as well as the Vocational Education and Training and Adult learning teams. In the case of the Skills Analysis team analytical work will be required to expand and deepen the OECD’s cross-country evidence base on skills effective analyses of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) and other databases, to inform policy development and to design, coordinate and deliver the ;OECD Skills Outlook which is the annual flagship publication of the OECD Centre for Skills. In the case the Vocational Education and Training and Adult learning team, a good understanding of Vocational Education and Training systems, as well as adult learning systems, is required in order to provide policy advice to countries on how to improve and modernize their systems and how to ensure that people are equipped with the skills demanded by changing labour markets. Analytical work will also be required to use a broad range of data bases in order to understand changing skills’ needs, the efficiency of VET systems and outcomes.

Both teams develop horizontal work involving several directorates, under the leadership of the OECD Centre for Skills, where this position would be located. The occupants will work under the supervision of the Head of the OECD Centre and lead a team.

Main Responsibilities

Project management

• (a) Skills Analyses: Develop an effective operational work programme for the production and delivery of the annual OECD Skills Outlooks.
• (b) VET and adult learning: develop a strategic plan to engage countries in reviews and a work programme to deliver thematic reports.
• Develop and implement a medium-term analytical plan to deepen the OECD’s cross-country evidence base on skills that fully exploits the policy potential of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), PISA and TALIS, integrates all relevant OECD data and analyses, and identifies evidence gaps to be addressed.
• Identify other data bases and sources of information on skills that can contribute to the evidence-based approach to skills issues. Integrate all this information in ways that are useful to guide the decisions that Governments make concerning skills issues.
• Coordinate the work of all the Directorates contributing to skill analyses and carry out horizontal work by integrating the evidence and the different approaches
• Manage OECD staff, experts, and consultants in order to ensure that programme is implemented on time, to budget and responds effectively and flexibly to emerging issues.
• Ensure that skills-related projects fully involve member countries and other economies within the overall OECD global relations strategy. Design, conduct and disseminate outputs in such a way as to encourage country engagement and attract financial support.
• Support the horizontal nature of work, both within the Secretariat and through OECD governance arrangements.

Supervision and recruitment

• Lead a team of analysts, external consultants, trainees, statisticians and support staff to prepare high quality analytical reports and publications, manage collaborative projects and organise events. Create and manage, where appropriate, networks of experts and consultants in countries.
• Identify, recruit, motivate and supervise team members to ensure the delivery of high quality outputs, a good working atmosphere, effective working methods and good communications.
• Coordinate the work of staff from different Directorates that contribute to the horizontal work undertaken by both teams

Analysis, drafting and publications

• Draft and co-ordinate analytical documents, papers, speeches, presentations and publications that are underpinned by sound theory, empirical analysis and a robust evidence base and in turn lead to the formulation of relevant policy options, constructive policy advice and support effective implementation.
• Participate in the development and drafting of the country reviews, analytical reports and publications, organise workshops, joint co-operative research projects and conferences.
• Promote the full integration of the Survey of Adult Skills results into OECD policy analysis and policy advice, , the medium-term analytical plan and across all other OECD projects where the Survey results would add new insights.
• Integrate information from non-OECD databases and other sources which are required to understand skills systems and how they evolve
• Co-ordinate the drafting and preparation of the, policy reports and publications for different audiences. Develop other materials for use in meetings, workshops and other events as required.

Liaison and outreach

• Tags

  labour market

  political economy

  project management

  vocational education

• Develop and maintain good relations with senior officials in countries, other international organisations, researchers and others working in fields related to skills. Represent the OECD externally and respond to enquiries from Delegations, journalists and other stakeholders.
• Develop effective communications and dissemination of Skills Strategy outputs and adapt key policy messages to meet the needs of different audiences.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree or equivalent in economics, political science, statistics, education or the social sciences.

Professional Background

• Minimum eight years’ experience in policy analysis and project management in government, international organisations or research institute
• Experience in dealing with skills-related policies and experience of dealing with the political economy of reform and/or implementation challenges in countries.
• Demonstrated capacity to work strategically and creatively, strong conceptual and analytical capabilities.
• Capacity to recognise and articulate policy implications and formulating practical policy advice; sure judgement in reading and interpreting the political dimension of the themes being analysed.
• Strong quantitative skills and the capacity to develop, interpret and present insights from statistical analysis in a policy-relevant way.
• Strong political sense and effective diplomatic skills with the ability to achieve consensus and interact effectively with multiple high-level stakeholders, and demonstrated track record of policy dialogue with government officials.
• Excellent leadership skills with the capacity to manage and resolve conflicts, ability to plan, co-ordinate and supervise complex and large projects and to deliver them to schedule and budget. Ability to build teams and motivate staff in a multicultural environment. Commitment to equal opportunity and diversity.
• Ability to present complex analyses to non-specialist audiences.
• Excellent drafting skills and a capacity to produce high-quality analytical and political work and draft clear and concise reports.

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level.
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Core Competencies

• For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important: Achievement focus, Analytical thinking, Drafting skills, Managing resources, Teamwork and Team leadership, Negotiating, , Developing talent, Strategic networking, Strategic thinking.
• Please refer to the level 4 indicators of the OECD Core Competencies.

Contract Duration

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

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 8 567.31 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.

Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.

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.