Sr. Director, Policy Development - ccNSO Relations

ICANN; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybride; EUR 121 000 - 152 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

ICANN is seeking a Senior Director, Policy Development - ccNSO Relations to lead engagement with ccNSO from our Brussels office or remote work. You will shape policy strategy, oversee a small global team, and coordinate cross-functional ICANN initiatives to advance our mission.

The role demands exceptional diplomacy, senior leadership experience, and a passion for international collaboration. Experience in international policy and executive communication is required, with fluency in English.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of the Internet’s DNS and ICANN policy framework.
• Exceptional negotiation, influence, and mediation skills across diverse backgrounds.
• Proven success in senior leadership and personnel development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a complex portfolio of projects.
• Ability to build trusted relationships at senior levels internally and externally.
• Capacity to travel internationally as required.

Responsabilités

• Lead ccNSO relations and strategic policy development.
• Direct and manage a small global team and develop talent.
• Coordinate cross-functional ICANN initiatives to advance policy goals.
• Represent ICANN publicly and engage community stakeholders.
• Provide executive briefings to the Board, CEO, and senior management.

Connaissances

DNS knowledge

Diplomacy

Team leadership

Portfolio management

Strategic communication

Analytical reporting

Strategic partnership

Strategic agility

Organizational compliance

Innovation and curiosity

Fluency in English

Formation

College degree

Advanced degree preferred

Fluent English

Description du poste

At ICANN, we are looking for a Senior Director, Policy Development - ccNSO Relations to join our Brussels office or work remotely.

ICANN’s Policy Development Support Function

provides secretariat services to ICANN’s community structures (e.g. Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees (SO-AC)) to support their policy or advice development and other areas of work to serve ICANN’s Mission and maintaining their participation and operations in the ICANN Eco-system.

The Senior Director, ccNSO Relations

is the primary relationship manager and strategic lead for ICANN's engagement with the country code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO). In this senior leadership role, the Senior Director leads a small, global team that ensures effective and engaged participation in the ccNSO, coherent policy development, and operational alignment with ICANN's Mission and Bylaws. The role is also responsible for developing and executing complex, cross-functional organizational projects that advance ICANN's Mission and community engagement goals.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Relationship & Policy Leadership

• Serve as the chief liaison and primary point of contact between ICANN and the ccNSO, particularly their leadership council and council chair.
• Facilitate the policy agenda setting, strategy, and work plan execution, providing expert advice to support the development of policy, information sharing or best practices.
• Mediate and drive collaborative results among diverse, complex, technical, and political stakeholders to achieve consensus.
• Identify, communicate and work to mitigate risks or issues to prevent adverse impact on the ccNSO and ICANN .
• Engage with ccTLD participants and coordinate across the ICANN organization to maintain and improve relationships and shared value.
• Provide written and verbal executive briefings and strategic advice to the Board of Directors, CEO, and senior management.
• Represent the organization publicly and make presentations to community gatherings.

Strategic & People Management

• Serve on the Policy Department leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, decision-making, and representing the function on cross-functional initiatives.
• Direct and manage a small, global team of staff, providing guidance, direction, and professional development.
• Identify, develop, and supervise resources and programs that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the ccNSO in its work.
• Partner with colleagues across the function to develop and maintain best practices and effective use of resources.
• Lead the development and implementation of significant, complex, cross-functional organizational projects and programs that support ICANN's policy development and/or community engagement efforts.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions)

• Expert Knowledge: Deep understanding of the Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS), and ICANN's policy framework, particularly knowledge of the ecosystem in which the country code top level domain registries operate.
• Diplomacy: Exceptional negotiation, influence, and mediation skills, with a track record of resolving complex, high-stakes challenges across diverse cultural and political backgrounds.
• Team Leadership and Management Experience: Proven success in senior leadership and managerial roles, including guiding, motivating, and developing personnel.
• Portfolio Management: Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee a complex portfolio of projects, activities, and services concurrently, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, producing high quality deliverables, and meeting desired timelines.
• Transparency & Accountability: Commitment to work productively in a highly visible and transparent manner, in an environment where all proceedings are recorded and shared publicly.
• Analytical Reporting: Ability to prepare and deliver reports, presentations, and speeches to internal and external international executive level audiences.
• Strategic Partnership and Organizational Alignment: Ability to build trusted relationships at senior levels internally and externally, and across functions, ensuring high-quality collaboration and prioritizing the overall success of the organization.
• Strategic Agility and Judgment: Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, remain flexible and pragmatic in changing conditions, and demonstrate sound judgment and perseverance when faced with complexity.
• Organizational Compliance: Strong capability in adhering to relevant organizational processes and procedures, and the ability to competently use prescribed management and collaboration tools or software.
• Innovation and Curiosity: Track record of continuous learning, improvement, and thoughtful experimentation of better ways to work. A desire to truly understand.

Education And Experience Requirements

• Experience: Minimum twelve (12) years of relevant experience in national or international policy development, policy implementation, or government relations.
  • This must include at least five (5) years of management experience.
  • Prior international experience is required.
• Significant exposure to executive management and a board of directors is strongly preferred.
• Education: College degree required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Language: Fluency (written and spoken) in English is required. Fluency in any other official United Nations languages is strongly preferred.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in a normal office environment with limited privacy and some exposure to background noise or remote
• International travel is required to support ICANN-related meetings as requested for lengths of 7-10 days for each trip, approximately three times per year, likely on different continents, plus some additional travel.
• Comfort level with an international work environment that requires availability at times outside normal business hours

Targeted Base Salary Low

• €121,104/year

Targeted Base Salary High

• €152,493.60/year

Note: The salary range provided here is a general estimation for the position at the time of posting based on the primary location. Salary ranges vary based upon geographic regions and countries. Final compensation packages take into consideration of a variety of factors including but not limited to a candidate’s location, work experience, knowledge, skills and other compensable factors.