Head of Division – Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Digital Technologies

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.

THE SCIENCE, TECHONOLOGY AND INNOVATION DIRECTORATE

The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Directorate, in line with the strategic objectives of the Secretary-General, helps OECD Member countries and other key economies build an environment conducive to translating science, technology and knowledge into innovation in order to provide solutions and opportunities, and support sustainable and inclusive economic growth and social wellbeing.

The Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Digital Technologies (AIEDT) Division of STI is responsible for undertaking empirical and policy work on AI and emerging technologies including the implementation of the OECD Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence (OECD AI Principles). It includes the OECD.AI Policy Observatory that provides digital products and resources, and builds international dialogue to examine AI policy issues and trends to support countries.  The Division is also responsible for the Global Forum on Technology (GFTech). The GFTech provides a venue for regular in-depth dialogue to foresee and get ahead of long-term opportunities and risks presented by technology and facilitates inclusive, in-depth, multi-stakeholder and values-based discussions on specific technology policy topics among OECD Members and partners, responding to gaps in existing fora.

The Observatory supports the work of the Digital Policy Committee (DPC) and its Working Party on AI Governance (AIGO), including through convening and coordinating a global Network of Experts on AI (ONE AI) and several topic-specific expert groups on AI risk and accountability, AI incidents, AI compute and climate, and AI futures.

THE POSITION

STI is looking for a dynamic and experienced manager to head the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Digital Technologies (AIEDT) Division. The selected person will have line management responsibility for the budget of the Division and for a large team of about 20 professionals and support staff working in a multicultural environment. S/he will represent the OECD in international fora, synthesising and communicating key policy messages and findings. S/he will help advance the Strategic Objectives of the Secretary-General, particularly enhancing OECD’s work on AI and emerging technologies.

S/he will help implement the OECD’s broader goals of better policies for better lives by working closely with staff responsible for other policy areas. S/he needs to be a skilled negotiator who is capable of dealing with multiple inter-institutional relationships, who thrives in a multidisciplinary and multicultural work environment, and who has the capacity to provide intellectual guidance to a highly qualified international team. S/he should exhibit innovative strategic thinking, have a high tolerance for change and uncertainty, and a track record of managing a complex programme of work and budget with multiple stakeholders to deliver high-quality operational outputs to tight deadlines.

As a key member of the management team of STI, the selected person will work closely with the Director and Deputy Director to support, advance and provide strategic direction to the Directorates’s work and work closely with the Office of the Secretary General (OSG) and other parts of the Organisation in the coordination of STI’s Global Relations Strategy and in providing input to horizontal work across the Organisation. 

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

Management

• Manage the Working Party on AI Governance (AIGO), the Global Forum on Technology (GFTech) and the OECD Network of Experts on AI (ONE AI) and their functioning in accordance with the Organisation’s Rules of Procedure.
• Develop and steer the implementation of the programmes of the AIGO with the support of ONE AI and the GFTech and maintain the OECD.AI Policy Observatory as OECD’s “go to” resource on AI trends, policies and data.
• Oversee analysis, development of digital products and resources, and engage in international dialogue to examine AI policy issues and trends and help countries implement the OECD AI Principles. 
• Develop a strategic vision for this work in the context of the overall objectives of the Directorate and of the OECD, including the global relations strategies of these bodies, and develop work plans to foster a high level of participation and debate at their meetings. Build consensus while seeking ways to involve a broad range of stakeholders.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate the work programme activities, including cross-directorate, multidisciplinary and outreach activities. This responsibility includes: providing substantive orientations, reviewing and contributing to drafting policy, analytical, technical and quantitative documents; ensuring high-quality output results and consistency; keeping abreast of new developments in the fields concerned; allocating resources in an appropriate manner; completing work on schedule and phasing out low-priority activities; designing and managing the communications and publication/dissemination strategy for the Division; maximising the impact of the output results achieved.

Representation, liaison and dissemination

• Represent the Directorate and the Organisation at internal and external meetings.
• Ensure co-operation and establish and maintain close contacts with other parts of the Directorate, Organisation, other international organisations, national Delegations, national authorities and statistical offices, industry, academia and non-governmental civil society organisations as appropriate.
• Contribute to the effective dissemination of the work of the Division through the media and other sources.

Leadership

• Lead and manage the staff of the Division. 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 within the Division and good working relations with other divisions and directorates, and with external partners. Seek to exploit the range of skills that exist within the Division, Directorate and across the Organisation.
• Contribute actively, as a member, to the senior management team of the Directorate and the OECD.

Budget management

• Manage the financial resources of the Division, in particular, consultancy contracts, travel and miscellaneous expenditures, and grants/voluntary contributions in line with the Financial Regulations of the Organisation and the Directorate’s internal practices.
• Promote work programme activities so as to raise complementary grant/voluntary contribution funding. Implement the appropriate control procedures to ensure the quality of services and products purchased (including consultant’s studies, conference services, data, etc.).

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in one or more disciplines (e.g., economics, public policy, law) relevant to the work programme of the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Division.

Professional Background

• A minimum of ten years’ experience, at senior level, in more than one of the policy areas relevant to the work programme of the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Digital Technologies Division, preferably acquired in a national administration or international organisation.
• Extensive knowledge of policy analysis of issues relevant to the programmes of work of the DPC and familiarity with the policy issues relevant to the wider Directorate programme of work.
• Passion and vision for undertaking analytical work for the development of digital economy and consumer policies that support inclusive growth and improve wellbeing. Knowledge of a wide range of related policy issues including data-driven innovation, communication regulation, measurement and analysis of economic impacts of digital transformation and issues associated with the protection of privacy and personal data, digital security risk management for economic and social activities.
• Experience of planning, implementing, managing and evaluating work programme projects and of achieving targeted output results. Proven experience in working with inter-governmental committees and working groups. Experience of chairing or acting as a secretary to such a group would be an advantage.
• Proven capacity to design, organise and manage projects and to advise senior management on work programme activities as well as to plan and manage a budget. Strategic vision and ability to identify and prioritise emerging issues.
• Participation in international networks of thought leaders on digital economy and consumer policy related issues would be an advantage.
• Proven ability to present, promote and make OECD work results accessible to wide audiences and translate them into practical solutions.

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and a knowledge of, or a willingness to learn, the other.

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.

Additional Information

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 12,109 EUR plus allowances, based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.
• Please note that the appointment may be made at a lower grade depending on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.

This vacancy will be filled as soon as possible, and applications should reach us no later than 23h59 on 10 December 2024 (Paris time).

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from 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. 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.

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