Director General - Nuclear Energy Agency

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 NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is an intergovernmental agency operating within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that facilitates co-operation among countries with advanced nuclear technology infrastructures to seek excellence in nuclear safety, technology, science, environment and law. The Agency implements the priorities of the Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) set by member countries and the Secretary-General in its area of business. The mission of the NEA is to assist its 34 member countries in maintaining and further developing, through international cooperation, the scientific, technological, and legal bases required for a safe, environmentally sound, and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. It strives to provide authoritative assessments and to forge common understandings on key issues as input to government decisions on nuclear technology policies.

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) works across a broad range of policy areas, and its mission is delivered by nine divisions focusing on nuclear safety, technology, science, related environmental and economic matters and law.

THE POSITION

The NEA is looking for a dynamic and visionary Director General to provide leadership and strategic direction in order to leverage the Agency's comparative advantage within the OECD/NEA and beyond. Reporting to the OECD Secretary-General, s/he will be responsible for advancing their strategic orientations in the area of nuclear energy. S/he will work closely with the NEA Deputy Director General and the Agency’s senior management team, providing guidance and support for overall operations of the Agency, including the co-ordination and management of its programme of work and budget, steering committee affairs, and the standing technical committees and their subgroups. The role also requires promoting horizontal collaboration, fostering co-ordination with other areas of the Organisation, and supporting corporate priorities.

The breadth and the complexity of the policy and technical issues for which the Agency is responsible require a highly motivated person who thrives in a multidisciplinary environment, demonstrates innovative strategic thinking and political sensitivity, and can manage a complex programme of work and budget and a diverse international team of scientific/technical experts. The ideal candidate will have an established profile in international debate in the areas covered by the Agency, and the capacity to increase the relevance of the OECD/NEA's work for other key communities, including non-member economies and stakeholders in relevant fields.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

Leadership

• Support the Office of the Secretary-General, the OECD Sherpa, and their teams on targeted policy advice and the Organisation’s contributions in the area of nuclear energy and safety, including to the G20 and G7. 
• Maintain and further the leadership of the NEA in the nuclear field, identifying emerging challenges, contributing to reform agendas and providing timely advice to members and partner countries, in line with the OECD’s global relations strategy.  
• Provide strategic input to the preparation and execution of a rich programme of work in the areas assigned to the Division of Radiological Protection and Human Aspects of Nuclear Safety.  
• Prepare the NEA Strategic Plan and implement the policies and decisions of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy.
• Ensure that the OECD/NEA remains at the forefront of technical and policy knowledge and advice in the nuclear energy field and identify opportunities to increase the relevance and policy impact of its work.
• Enhance the OECD/NEA's position as a leading player in data collection and analysis, joint international research projects, technical and policy dialogue, and the identification of good international policy practices. 
• Oversee the strategic planning, orientation and supervision of the Agency's activities, and exercise critical oversight of the analytical and policy content of reports, policy recommendations and work proposals.
• Collaborate fully in intra- and inter-directorate horizontal projects, including with international bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Representation and Liaison

• Represent the Agency and the OECD at high-level meetings and conferences with senior policy makers and representatives of regulatory bodies, energy departments, industry, research institutes, international organisations and NGOs.
• Lead high-level missions to OECD/NEA and non-OECD/NEA countries and economies.
• Promote collaboration with the Secretary-General's Office and other Directorates/Agencies and effective relations with the Council's standing committees and permanent delegations.

Management and Co-ordination

• Provide strategic direction and vision to the Agency’s work and engage in high-level policymaking across the full range of issues affecting nuclear energy.  
• Steer the development and execution of the Programme of Work and Budget, ensuring coherence with the Organisation’s work. Mobilise and secure voluntary funding to support the Agency’s main policy areas.  
• Build and lead a cohesive, multicultural and multidisciplinary team, promoting excellence, inclusion and diversity in recruitment, performance management and staff development, including fostering a constructive working culture. Demonstrate the capacity to manage a large number of specialists.
• Foster and maintain a culture that delivers high-quality work, effective working methods, active collaboration and good communication.
• 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. 

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic and Professional Background

• An advanced university degree in nuclear engineering or a related scientific discipline, preferably a PhD.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in nuclear energy through work in a national administration, an international organisation, research institute or the private sector.
• Excellent understanding of current international technical and policy issues in the nuclear energy, and of the broader implications of rising energy demand, climate change and the economic pressures. 
• Recognition in the international scientific community as a leading thinker in nuclear energy with broad knowledge of global nuclear science issues both in developed and developing economies.  
• Ability to translate complex analysis into tailored policy advice for member and partner countries.
• A well-established professional network and contacts with key actors and stakeholders in relevant communities. 
• Excellent communication skills, a strong culture of collaboration, and a proven record of fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Additional Information

. Communication and Languages

• Capacity to communicate and interact confidently with media, and to promote the value of the OECD and its output to a range of audiences.
• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of, or a willingness to learn, the other.

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 23:59, 28 June 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 16 090 EUR plus allowances, based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.

Process

All applications are screened based on the criteria for the position. For candidates who are screened-in, written tests and/or video-recorded interviews are foreseen in July 2026 and panel interviews are planned for September 2026. A leadership assessment will also be requested by candidates in the final selection stage.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates who are nationals of NEA or 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 to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.

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