Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

The Executive Secretary leads the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, coordinating and implementing IOC programmes including fundraising and financial management. The role involves promoting international cooperation in marine sciences, ensuring alignment with global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda and UNFCCC, and representing IOC in international forums.

Responsibilities

• Implement decisions of the IOC Assembly and its Executive Council regarding the organization of all aspects of the Commission’s work.
• Convene sessions and meetings of the IOC governing and subsidiary bodies in accordance with IOC Statutes and Rules of Procedure.
• Promote, coordinate and implement IOC programmes including fundraising and financial management.
• Engage the ocean science community and appropriate Member State agencies and departments.
• Coordinate and promote collaboration with international organizations concerned with the work of the Commission, especially UN system organizations.
• Ensure proper links between IOC programmes and the 2030 Agenda, SDG 14, UNFCCC, CBD, Sendai Framework, and SAMOA Pathway.
• Coordinate and cooperate with UNESCO programmes undertaking intersectoral activities within the mandate of the Commission.
• Ensure IOC responds to requirements deriving from UNCLOS and other relevant international instruments.
• Direct the work of the staff of the IOC Secretariat.
• Represent or arrange representation of IOC at meetings of other organizations and bodies of interest to IOC.
• Participate in inter-secretariat bodies concerned with the work of IOC.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in ocean sciences or a related field.
• Extensive professional experience in senior executive positions in one or more fields covered by IOC programmes, including substantial assignments at the regional and/or international levels.
• Several years of exposure to the requirements of international cooperation and proven familiarity with the work and activities of the United Nations system organizations and other international organizations in the field of ocean sciences.
• Demonstrated ability to direct processes of change at senior management level with large institutions of national or international scope.
• Knowledge of trends, demands and challenges in ocean sciences and management, including in developing countries.
• Proven leadership and managerial skills, ability to provide leadership, vision and strategic direction needed to ensure that the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission is able to carry out its mandate and achieve its objectives.
• Ability to focus the energies and talents of the Commission’s employees and motivate them to work as a team to achieve the IOC’s objectives.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to identify, analyse, define and communicate priorities and strategies.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with the IOC Officers and Member States, UNESCO Permanent Delegations, UNESCO senior management, IOC’s key stakeholders and partners.
• Ability to act as the IOC’s spokesperson in dealing with governments, media, other organizations, stakeholders and partners.
• Ability to conduct high-level negotiations at the international level.
• Excellent knowledge and drafting skills in one of the Organization's working languages (English or French).
• Desirable: Ph.D. in ocean sciences or a related field.
• Desirable: Good knowledge of the United Nations system.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of the second language (English or French).
• Desirable: Knowledge of other official languages of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Skills

• Ocean Sciences Expertise
• International Cooperation
• Senior Executive Leadership
• Strategic Direction
• Change Management
• International Negotiations
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Fundraising
• Finance Management
• Communications Skills
• Drafting Skills
• UN System Knowledge
• Bilingual Communication
• Team Leadership
• Programme Coordination
• Marine Science Policy
• Representation Skills

Languages

English, French