Head of PARIS21 Secretariat

OECD - OCDE; Paris; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The OECD – Paris-based Executive Head of PARIS21 provides strategic leadership to the PARIS21 Secretariat and ensures effective design and implementation of its Programme of Work, reporting to the Director of the Statistics and Data Directorate. The role advances the OECD's development agenda and requires strong leadership and diplomatic skills.

Based in Paris with frequent international travel, the incumbent will coordinate with national statistical offices, international partners and donors to

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, development studies or related discipline.
• Minimum ten years of experience managing statistical activities and development programs.
• Proven track record with international or bilateral development agencies and donor relations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to PARIS21 to achieve its objectives.
• Oversee the Programme of Work and Budget, aligning with OECD priorities.
• Lead resource mobilisation and donor engagement for PARIS21 funding.
• Represent PARIS21 in OECD-wide and international high-level fora.
• Manage and develop PARIS21 Secretariat staff, fostering teamwork and inclusion.

Job description

THE OECD – Who we are, what we do

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.

Company Description

THE OECD – Who we are, what we do 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.

PARTNERSHIP IN STATISTICS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY (PARIS21)

The Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21), a hosted entity within the Statistics and Data Directorate of OECD, is a global partnership that promotes the better use and production of statistics to support sustainable development. With a Secretariat of about 20 staff, PARIS21 supports low‑and lower middle‑income countries in strengthening their national statistical systems and enhancing data ecosystems to enable evidence‑based decision‑making.

THE POSITION

The Executive Head of PARIS21 will provide strategic leadership to the PARIS21 Secretariat and ensure the effective design and implementation of its Programme of Work, under the oversight of the PARIS21 Board and its Executive Committee. The incumbent will report to the Director of the Statistics and Data Directorate (SDD) and contribute to advancing the Organisation’s strategic priorities, including the OECD’s global development agenda.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent diplomatic and representational capacities, and deep expertise in development policy and statistical capacity development. The Executive head will position PARIS21 at the forefront of international thinking and practical implementation on data for development, artificial intelligence and data readiness, data use and financing, and strategic planning for statistics. The incumbent will cultivate and maintain high‑level partnerships across the global data ecosystem including with national statistical systems, international organisations, donors, and civil society. Securing funding from both traditional and emerging international development donors will be an important part of the role. He/she will also ensure the efficient management of the Secretariat, foster a collaborative and high‑performing team culture, and represent PARIS21 in international fora, high level engagements, and strategic dialogues.

The position is based in Paris and entails frequent international travel.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic direction to the Partnership to enable the achievement of its objectives.
• Ensure the effective delivery of advocacy messages and promote the culture of evidence‑based policy‑making and decision‑making.
• Engage with key stakeholders involved in statistical capacity development at the country level and in international processes.
• Drive innovation in statistical capacity development, including modernisation of national statistical systems and strengthening of country‑led data ecosystems.
• Strengthen strategic planning for statistics,including the design and implementation of National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), and support efforts to enhance national statistical capacity development, data use and impact.
• Support and facilitate the development of global, regional and national networks to achieve PARIS21 objectives and engage with emerging statistical development initiatives.

Representation, Partnerships and Advocacy

• Represent PARIS21 within the OECD and externally at high‑level international, regional and national fora.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with governments, national statistical offices, international and regional organisations, donors, academia, civil society and the private sector.
• Promote evidence‑based policy making and support efforts to strengthen investment in data and statistics.
• Strengthen PARIS21’s visibility, credibility and influence within the international statistical and development communities.

Management, Resource Mobilisation and Oversight

• Lead resource mobilisation efforts for PARIS21, including engagement with existing and prospective donors, and identification of new funding opportunities.
• Oversee the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Programme of Work and Budget, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and delivering high‑quality results.
• Lead and manage the staff of the PARIS21 Secretariat in support of the Partnership’s business needs. Set objectives and provide guidance on the goals, direction and timing of their work; provide regular and constructive feedback on performance to motivate staff and contribute to their professional development. Develop and maintain good teamwork and ensure effective work methods and project management; implement and maintain arrangements to ensure effective internal communications.
• Build and lead a cohesive, multicultural and multidisciplinary team, promoting excellence, inclusion and diversity.
• Actively manage the Secretariat’s human capital through merit‑based recruitment, performance management, professional development and staff well‑being, in line with OECD rules and values.
• 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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in economics, statistics, development studies or another relevant discipline.
• Minimum ten years of experience related to managing statistical activities with direct experience in statistical capacity development in developing countries. Proven experience in using statistics for development policy‑making would be an advantage.
• At least ten years’ experience in an international, regional or bilateral development agency.
• Proven record of conducting relations at senior level and within a political decision‑making environment. Well‑established contacts with key players and stakeholders in the relevant international communities.
• Excellent knowledge of current national and international development policies and frameworks including the use of statistics in development policies.
• Experience in resource mobilisation, donor relations and management of externally funded programmes.

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 1 November 2026 (CEST).

Contract Duration

• Three‑year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.

Please note that our Rules and Regulations stipulate that the mandatory retirement age is 67.

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 12 672 EUR plus allowances, based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.

Selection Process

All applications are screened based on the criteria for the position. For retained candidates, written and video assessments are foreseen in November 2026, and panel interviews in December 2026 (calendar may be subject to change). A leadership assessment will also be requested by candidates in the final selection stage.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of OECD member countries and nationals of countries eligible to receive Official Development Assistance (ODA), as set out by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC List of ODA recipients), 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 in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.

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