Contract Term: Permanent
Location: PSI Head Office, Ferney-Voltaire, France, OR Geneva, Switzerland OR major accessible European centre (for an exceptional candidate)
Travel required: occasional
Team: General Secretary
Overall responsibilities:
Operating at the intersection of the political, administrative and governance functions at the highest level, the position supports and assists the General Secretary to:
- fulfil PSI’s constitutional requirements and provide good governance
- maintain excellent affiliate relations, and
- develop and implement strategy and monitor and co-ordinate operations.
Key responsibilities of the position include:
Governance
- Manage the planning, preparation and co-ordination of PSI constitutional bodies across departments and regions
- Monitor and advise on governance matters including composition of governance bodies, and ensure compliance with governance requirements as set out in the constitution
- Oversee reporting and preparation of policies for decision making, and ensure accurate minutes
Affiliate relations
- Co-ordinate political aspects of affiliate relations including membership functions such as managing membership applications, withdrawals and monitoring arrears
- Co-ordinate affiliate and external requests
- Support GS and staff with political liaison with EPSU and European affiliates
Monitoring and planning
- Continuously scan for internal and external threats and opportunities and identify, advise and manage risk
- Ensure coherence and monitor implementation of governance, work programs and strategy across HO departments and regions
- Support the GS in whole of organisation planning
Strategic Projects
- Co-ordinate or lead development and implementation of strategies in areas of the GS political or organisational priority
- Co-ordinate whole of organisation responses to ad hoc or urgent priorities (such as solidarity actions or support to affiliates in need) including attacks on affiliates or unexpected geopolitical events
Political Support
- Assist the GS with political duties such as speeches, co-ordination of briefings, preparations for meetings and political aspects of travel
- Collate, oversee or draft memos, letters, policy, reporting and strategic documents for GS
- Provide strategic political and organisation advice to the GS
- Liaise with staff, affiliates and external partners
Other duties as assigned by General Secretary
Supervision: The position will report to the General Secretary
Staff management: NIL
Cross-functional links:
The position will work in close collaboration with the heads of HO departments, regional secretaries and staff working on membership, governance and affiliate relations
Employment conditions: PSI Head Office, Ferney-Voltaire, France, OR Geneva, Switzerland OR major accessible European centre (for an exceptional candidate). Final location will be subject to the employability of the preselected candidate (residency, work permit, etc.). Permanent full-time position
Annual gross salary according to PSI compensation (divided into 13 monthly payments) + Secondary Benefits based on PSI Policy. Subjected to local conditions.
Starting date: As soon as possible.
Selection criteria:
Content Expertise:
- Strong understanding of governance functions in a membership-based organisation
- Strong understanding of the support needs of a senior leader in a government, membership based or not for profit organisation or political party.
- Broad knowledge of trade unions across the globe, especially public service trade unions and especially European trade unions
- A degree in social sciences, law, public policy, labour or equivalent experience.
Skills and attributes:
- High level political acumen, ability to maintain multiple and complex political relationships and influence
- High level problem-solving skills to drive creative solutions in political and ambiguous environments
- Ability to identify risks and opportunities, adapt to diverse situations and flexibly and rapidly respond
- Ability to write under pressure, quickly source, synthesise and collate information for succinct briefs in a wide range of areas, often outside your area of expertise
- Strong time management and task coordination skills in an environment without direct supervision and with ambiguity
- Ability to balance urgent tasks with long term strategic priorities
- Ability to establish and monitor organisational plans, budgets and work programs and advise on risks, opportunities and corrective actions
- Strong team player, able to communicate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds
- Ability to act decisively on behalf of a principal without overstepping authority
- Ability to draft timely, accurate reports for internal and external accountability
- Strong attention to detail
- Familiarity with the concepts and operations of membership systems or CRM tools
- Project management skills
- Policy development expertise an advantage
- Demonstrated commitment to gender equality
- Ability to travel
Experience:
- At least 5 years’ experience in the trade union movement, political party, government, civil society or equivalent at the national, regional or global level.
- At least 2 years’ experience in a governance function, or similar experience, in a membership based organisation, political party, student organisation or government
- Experience supporting leaders in a political, membership based or government organisation
Languages:
- Ability to write and speak fluently in English is essential.
- Spanish is highly desirable. Other PSI languages such as French, German or Japanese are an advantage.
How to Apply:
Please send a CV and a letter explaining why you are qualified and interested in this position to recruitment@world-psi.org subject "Head of General Secretary Office" by 8 May
Current Positions – PSI – The global union federation of workers in public services
