Deputy Executive Director of the IEA

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.

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an intergovernmental organisation with 32 member countries committed to advancing security of energy supply, economic growth and environmental sustainability through energy policy co-operation. The IEA operates as an autonomous body within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The IEA seeks opportunities to work with an increasing number of non-member countries of growing importance to  global energy markets.The Agency aims to foster the contribution of the energy sector to economic development and environmental sustainability.

The IEA seeks to recruit the Deputy Executive Director of the IEA, who will provide leadership and strategic direction to leverage the IEA’s comparative advantage. As a key member of the Senior Management team of the IEA, s/he will be responsible for supporting  the Executive Director manage the Agency and implement its work programme.  The Deputy Executive Director will work under the guidance and authority of the Executive Director to whom s/he reports. S/he will work closely with the senior management team of the IEA, providing guidance and support to the IEA’s work in the co-ordination and management of its programme of work and budget and its Committees, Working Parties and Expert Groups.

S/he will work in the Executive Office, and head the Office of Global Energy Relations, and supervise the Energy Data Center. S/he will also be required to promote horizontal work and foster co-ordination and joint work with other areas of the IEA and collaborate to support corporate priorities.

Leadership

Support the advancement of the Strategic Objectives of the IEA:

• Ensure the development, promotion and implementation of the Executive Director’s Strategic Objectives, including enhanced engagement with key partners and other non-member economies and “horizontal” (multidisciplinary) work.
• Extend the position of the IEA as the leading player in energy analysis, energy policy dialogue and identification of evidence-based policies to meet global energy challenges.
• Ensure effective internal co-ordination with other parts of the OECD Secretariat on issues of common interest.
• Assist the Chair of the Standing Group on Long-Term Cooperation.

Actively participate in the overall management and administration of the IEA Secretariat:

• Contribute to maintaining high standards of personnel and financial management and to mobilising support and voluntary funding for the work of the IEA from a variety of sources.
• Lead, inspire and develop a highly professional multicultural and multidisciplinary team. Promote high performance and professional satisfaction through scrupulous recruitment, effective work methods and sound performance management, including professional assessments, as well as by maintaining good communications and a positive working atmosphere.
• Provide direct supervision to the Heads in the Office of Global Energy Relations  and the Energy Data Center.

Representation and liaison

• Represent the Executive Director at high-level meetings and conferences involving senior policy-makers and representatives of business, industry, academia and NGOs.
• Build collaborative and collegial working relationships with people inside and outside the IEA.
• Act in place of the Executive Director as requirested.

Management and Coordination of the Office of Global Energy Relations

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for the Office of Global Energy Relations (GER) in line with the objectives and priorities of the Agency and its member countries, in particular, responding to the challenges arising from the fundamental shifts in global energy markets. In that function, he/she assists the Chair of the Standing Group for Global Energy Dialogue.
• Identify emerging challenges and develop and implement strategies through which the Office of GER can assist member and partner countries to respond to these challenges.

• Exercise critical oversight of the analytical and policy content of the GER’s reports and programme proposals ensuring that they make an effective contribution to global energy governance and that they are consistent with the Agency’s overall strategy and messages.

• Exercise oversight for the overall management and administration of GER as well as the development of its programme of work. Ensure the delivery of relevant rigorous and timely data and analysis. Assist to secure voluntary funding sufficient to support ongoing projects and to enable the IEA to respond to new challenges as appropriate.
• Ensure the impact of the Office’s work so that its policy recommendations, messages and analysis are reflected and used in global energy discussions and dialogue with member and partner countries, energy-related international organisations and fora, business as well as civil society.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Professional Background and Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in economics, energy policy or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Extensive practical knowledge and experience at a senior level of energy policies, through high level public service work experience in a national administration or an international organisation.
• Excellent understanding of current international energy policy issues, as well as of the implications of the economic crisis and the role of the emerging economies in the global economy.
• Proven management skills and proven ability to motivate and manage a high-performing, multidisciplinary and multinational team. Formal management experience and training would be an advantage.
• A proven record of good diplomatic and negotiating skills at senior level and within a political decision-making environment, a proven capacity to create consensus as well as the ability to interact effectively with multiple high-level stakeholders.
• Well-established contacts with key actors and stakeholders in the energy policy relevant international communities.
• Strong analytical skills and good knowledge of public policy/economic issues. Extensive knowledge of energy economics and markets, energy industries, technologies, government energy policy-making and regulation.
• Outstanding communication skills for the promotion of the achievements of the IEA to a wide range of audiences, in particular to member and non member officials, other key stakeholders and to the media.
• Extensive practical knowledge and experience of working with relevant international and multilateral organizations in the energy field.

Languages

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

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 midnight 17 May 2026 (CET).

Contract Duration

• Two-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, video-recorded interviews are foreseen for June 2026 and panel interviews are planned for September 2026. 

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.

The OECD promotes an optimal use of resources to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.

Learn more about what we offer and why the OECD is a great place to work.

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