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 Blue Dot Network Secretariat

The Blue Dot Network (BDN) is a global certification framework for quality infrastructure projects that are aligned with international standards. Its primary aim is  to contribute to closing the critical gap between the current levels of infrastructure investment and the investment needed to promote sustainable economic development while integrating social and environmental considerations, and ensuring debt sustainability, value for money, inclusiveness, resilience, integrity, and transparency.

The Blue Dot Network was developed by the governments of Australia, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The private sector and civil society have been closely engaged in the process through an Executive Consultation Group composed of over 200 senior leaders from business, civil society, trade unions and academia.

Approved by the OECD Council in December 2023, the Blue Dot Network Secretariat is an independent entity, hosted by the OECD, which serves to operationalise the Blue Dot Network initiative under the direction of the BDN Steering Committee. As such, it will function independently of the OECD, while operating under OECD rules and procedures.

Job Description

The Blue Dot Network Secretariat is seeking a Head of Secretariat to lead the implementation of the Blue Dot Network. Her/his main responsibilities will be to manage the Secretariat’s programme of work to promote BDN certifications; ensure robust infrastructure project certification criteria; and oversee independent project certifications. The Head of Secretariat will participate in a global dialogue with investors, project owners, MDBs, DFIs, governments and standard setters in order to operationalize existing international infrastructure standards in a clear and consistent manner at the project level, thereby increasing transparency and comparability of infrastructure projects, strengthening the pipeline of quality bankable infrastructure projects around the world, mitigating risk for investors, and serving to bring infrastructure investment to where it is most needed. The selected candidate will possess a broad knowledge and understanding of infrastructure investment and development issues.

In this role, the selected candidate will: have line management responsibility for the programme of work and budget for the BDN Secretariat, and for a team of enthusiastic professionals working on standards for the certification of quality infrastructure projects; overseeing the certification process with 3rd party certifiers; ensuring that the BDN criteria are updated to take into account evolving international standards and good project practices; promoting the certification among contracting authorities, developers, investors and other infrastructure stakeholders; and managing a digital platform for the collection and management of infrastructure project data to drive continuous improvement of the BDN. The responsibilities of the BDN Secretariat may also include supporting capacity building at the project level to meet BDN criteria, and collaborating with other like-minded initiatives to ensure that data and practices collected inform the global evidence base on quality infrastructure.

The selected candidate will be responsible for reporting to the BDN Steering Committee and liaising with relevant OECD directorates and external stakeholders. S/he will also be responsible for collecting and assessing the lessons learned from an initial two-year incubation phase of the BDN’s development, during which the BDN will test, and, where necessary, adjust the certification process, develop the functions and capacity of the BDN Secretariat, put in place the necessary systems, processes, and infrastructure, and build-up certification capacity, including systems and processes for identifying and mitigating potential risks. On the basis of this aseessment, s/he will make recommendations to the BDN Steering Committee and to the OECD Council for the structure and working methods of the BDN Secretariat. S/he will work under the general supervision of the BDN Steering Committee, with an administrative reporting line to OECD senior management.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Lead the work of the Blue Dot Network by communicating its vision and value proposition to financers, project developers, civil society organisations, governments, international organisations, and other infrastructure stakeholders. Promote their engagement in BDN, including through membership, partnerships, proposal of projects for certification, engagement on coordination and updating of criteria, capacity building, and analysis and sharing of data and lessons learned.
• Manage the core outputs of the Secretariat to ensure their timely delivery and coherence with other work in the field, including:
  • Manage risks through the conduct of due diligence of projects requesting certification.
  • Establish and manage a digital platform for the collection and application of project data.
  • Build and maintain a group of qualified third-party certification entities.
  • Implement a mechanism to recognise complementary certification schemes, and the safeguards and due diligence processes of MDBs and DFIs.
  • Ensure a consistent application of certification criteria.
  • Communicate BDN certifications.
  • Ensure the regular monitoring of certified projects, including timely reaction to events that may affect their certification.
  • Update and further operationalize the criteria as standards and data evolve.
• Manage a highly qualified, enthusiastic, multicultural team and be accountable for the quality, timeliness and relevance of the Secretariat’s outputs. Contribute personally to these outputs through intellectual leadership, coaching and staff development, including by mobilising and managing resources to support the Secretariat’s work. Build a collegial and productive working atmosphere.
• Organise and support meetings of the BDN Steering Committee, the Executive Consultation Group and other advisory and stakeholder groups as required.
  • Monitor and report to the Steering Committee on the progress of BDN’s KPIs, proposing corrective measures where necessary.
  • Be accountable for the smooth organisation of meetings, preparation of high quality background materials, and facilitating dialogue, consensus building and a productive exchange of views among participants.
• Develop options for the long-term sustainable financing of the Blue Dot Network Secretariat and activities.

Co-ordination, liaison, representation, dissemination, analysis and advice

• Maintain close relations with the BDN Steering Committee and BDN Members and provide timely and high-quality briefings to them, as well as to the OECD Council and relevant OECD bodies.
• Report to OECD Council and relevant OECD bodies on lessons from project-level practices that are informed by OECD standards.
• Continue building the Executive Consultation Group, and ensure it plays an active role in the global roll-out of the Blue Dot Network.
• Build collaborative and collegial working relationships at senior level with government, the private sector, international and regional multilateral organisations, civil society and research institutions; promote the BDN at investor and infrastructure development meetings.
• Contribute to international discussions and global and regional fora on all aspects of quality infrastructure investment, including changing standards, trends, infrastructure project needs, and how to close the infrastructure financing gap; expand dialogue across the Global South and the Global North on infrastructure investment.
• Develop guidelines and training tools to support infrastructure projects that seek to meet BDN elements, including in some cases organising trainings or other capacity building activities.
• Advise the OECD Secretary General and BDN Member Countries, where relevant, on trends and data emerging from the BDN certification process, as well as the evolution of global infrastructure standards, provide, where relevant insights on policy and regulatory needs, private sector practices, and data needs, collected through the BDN certification process.
• Commission, where necessary, analysis to help further operationalize international criteria, in particular in the evolving area of greenhouse gas mitigation linked to infrastructure activities.

Qualifications

Academic and Professional Background

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. finance, economics, political science, engineering, etc).
• At least ten years’ experience in the infrastructure sector, including a very good understanding of infrastructure planning and finance, infrastructure development and project management, and infrastructure governance, in particular in an emerging market context.
• At least 8 years of senior management experience, preferably in a multicultural environment.
• Experience of working in a senior role in an international organisation, a multilateral development bank (MDB), a leading development finance institution (DFI), a multinational enterprise active in infrastructure, or a global professional services firm would be viewed favourably.
• Considerable knowledge and experience of the political and economic aspects of infrastructure investment, as well as an understanding of environmental, social, governance (ESG) and regulatory trends affecting infrastructure investment.
• Proven ability to engage with senior leaders in both the public and private sector, with experience in outreach and successful fundraising.
• A demonstrated ability to direct and co-ordinate timely responses and to establish and maintain professional contacts within and outside the OECD, in particular with senior people in government, the private sector, international and regional multilateral organisations, stakeholders and research institutions.
• Proven ability to analyse complex national and international policy issues related to infrastructure investment, to manage reputational risk and to prepare persuasive analytical papers and recommendations for dialogue and action at Ministerial-level meetings and other bodies.

Communication and Languages

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

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

Closing Date

This vacancy will be filled as soon as possible, and applications should reach us no later than 23:59 on August 18th 2024 (Paris time).

Contract Duration

• One-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

• Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at 13 645.46 EUR, 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.
• 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

For retained candidates, written tests and/or video-recorded interviews and panel interviews foreseen.

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.