Head of Digital Architecture

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.

Job Description

The Executive Directorate (EXD) is the steward of OECD resources, on behalf of the Secretary-General. Our focus is on people and their wellbeing; the effective and efficient management of the budget; the safety and security of staff, Delegations, visitors, and of the OECD's data; maintaining and sustaining physical and digital infrastructure; and enabling the convening power of the OECD through conferences, meetings and events, whether virtual, physical or hybrid. As well as providing corporate services, functions and management support to our staff and Members, we provide integrated, strategic and expert advice on corporate policies and management issues to the Secretary-General, to Council and to Standing Committees, to which we regularly report on corporate matters. We also provide compliance and risk management functions (for management areas under our purview). Ours is a fast-paced environment focused on delivering management excellence across all of our functions.

Within the Executive Directorate, working closely with business partners, the Digital, Knowledge and Information Service (EXD/DKI) designs and provides secure digital solutions, IT and information management services and the technologies to deliver efficient corporate services, meet business partners' needs and to support and enhance the OECD's global role in building knowledge, communicating with the world and interacting with governments to inform and influence policy-making.

The Digital Architecture team is responsible for the global architecture of all platforms, technologies, data models and user interface standards across the Organisation.

As the Head of Digital Architecture, you will lead a team to provide digital architecture expertise and co-ordination, develop robust architecture standards, ensure compliance and support relevant governance entities and strategic goals. In this role, you will be reporting directly to the DKI Head of Service.

Main Responsibilities

Enterprise Architecture

• Provide Enterprise Architecture technical leadership and effectively communicate with all levels of management.

• Ensure that all architectural artefacts and deliverables are developed to the highest quality standards and identify opportunities for asset reuse to reduce overall solution cost and development time.

• Develop a corporate enterprise architecture roadmap and subsequent implementation plan(s) for effective implementation and compliance.

• Develop Digital architecture and Risk Governance on IT solutions for the OECD, managing the Digital Risk Assessment process (DSRA) for technology and solution adoption in conjunction with the Digital Risk Assessment Advisor.

• Define digital capabilities and solution mapping with respect to the high-level user needs.

• Support relevant governance entities and architectural strategic goals (e.g. AI, Cloud, Data, collaboration, etc) in line with the Organisation's Digital and/or Business Strategy.

• Working in conjunction with other EXD/DKI business areas, define, implement and maintain strategies and processes to support governance, anchor and raise awareness of strategic architectural goals with business, and provide business with 24/7 access to Digital Architecture artefacts.

Management

• Work closely with other teams to ensure an integrated cross-practice vision of EXD/DKI products and services; ensure that solutions proposed meet clients' requirements; establish secure architectural standards and ensure compliance; manage digital architecture initiatives and strategic goals. Participate in post-deployment reviews.

• Lead and manage a team - and external resources, as required - to deliver the Programme of Work and ensure service continuity and staff development.

• Assist in the management of EXD/DKI, the preparation of the Programme of Work and Budget and the continuous improvement of practices.

• Manage the unit work programme, including budget planning and reporting on budget, portfolio and service status; define and provide related Key Performance Indicators.

• Keep up-to-date with advances in current and emerging industry trends, related technologies, methodologies and best practices.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in information technology, business administration or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Relevant professional certification.

Professional Background

• Eight years' of experience in managing large, complex digital projects, their implementation, production and maintenance activities and associated budgets. Proven industry expertise with strong business acumen.

• Thorough knowledge of IT project management methodologies and industry frameworks.

• Extensive experience guiding, managing and developing diverse staff and their career objectives in a matrix organisational structure.

• Substantial experience advising on digital strategy and IT trends, and drafting related recommendations or policies.

• Broad knowledge of current and emerging technologies, industry trends and best practices together with demonstrated experience evaluating their strategic value.

• Experience in an international and cross-cultural setting would be preferable.

Tools

• MS365

• MS Azure

• Generative AI (MS Copilot, ChatGPT, Mistral, etc)

• Experience with SDLC and DevSecOps

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level.

• 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 2); Enable People (Level 2); Ethics and Integrity (Level 2); 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

• Applications should reach us no later than Sunday 21st December 2025 23h59 (Paris time).

Contract Duration

• Open-ended contract

What the OECD offers

• Depending on level of experience, monthly salary starts at 10,511.13 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.
• Click here to consult the Staff Regulations applicable to officials of the OECD. Please note that from 1 July 2025, all Official appointments will be made under the OECD's new contractual modalities.
• 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.

Salary Information

• 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

• All retained applicants will be sent a short video-interview assessment, as the first step in the process.
• For candidates retained further, the Hiring Team reserve the right to conduct further assessments
• Panel interviews are planned for Q1 2026.

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.

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