Secretary General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO

This competition is open to members of the public (external competition)
About The Role
Under the direction of the Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Secretary-General for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO plays a leadership role in ensuring that the Commission's work is relevant to both UNESCO priorities and issues specific to Canada. The incumbent is responsible for managing the Secretariat, under the oversight of the Canada Council for the Arts, and mobilizing and promoting the work of its members, its networks, and a wide range of partners from government and civil society.

Specific Responsibilities

• Exercises leadership in developing strategies, relationships, collaborations and initiatives that enable the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to contribute actively and meaningfully to the advancement of UNESCO's values and priorities on the national and international stage.
• Acts as a catalyst to encourage the participation of Canadian governmental and non-governmental organizations in the work of both UNESCO and the Commission by facilitating relations with these organizations.
• Plays a lead role in coordinating UNESCO initiatives and networks in Canada, as well as recommending partnerships and proposing designations by and with UNESCO, all of which can have a significant impact on the reputation and credibility of Canada and the Commission both at home and abroad.
• Provides overall policy direction and strategic leadership for the Secretariat's work, including the negotiation and implementation of a wide range of collaborations with UNESCO and both Canadian and international partners and stakeholders to advance the values and priorities of UNESCO and the Commission in Canada.
• Exercises leadership in consultation and liaison with the Commission's Executive Committee, other committees and working groups, as well as with its members and partners, in order to bring the unique perspectives and experiences of Canadian civil society to UNESCO and governments, thereby supporting the development and implementation of UNESCO's normative instruments, major programmes and networks.
• Exercises leadership in developing and implementing a national and international promotion and visibility strategy to foster and promote UNESCO and its priorities through conferences, events, publications and ongoing communication with stakeholders in government and civil society.
• Provides strategic advice on a range of UNESCO-related issues at the local, national and international levels to Global Affairs Canada, the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO, including the people representing the Government of Quebec at the Delegation, the UNESCO Secretariat, other federal departments, various provincial, territorial and municipal governments, UNESCO-designated networks, and civil society partners.
• Represents the Commission and the Canadian government at the UNESCO General Conference, at high-level meetings, and at a range of events and initiatives, and acts as the Commission's spokesperson.
• Leads the development and implementation of relevant and significant strategies, relationships, partnerships and initiatives to enable the Commission, its networks and other collaborators to actively contribute to the advancement of the values and priorities of UNESCO and the United Nations (UN) system.
• Manages and supervises the preparation of agendas, documentation and logistics for meetings of the Commission's Executive Committee, committees and working groups, as well as its annual general meetings and other initiatives and events under the Commission's auspices.
• Manages the Secretariat's human, financial and material resources with probity and prudence, and with due regard for efficiency, efficacy and economy, under the authority of the Canada Council's policies and administrative controls.
• As a direct report of the Director and CEO, is a member of the Canada Council's Senior Management Committee and undertakes roles and responsibilities as directed by the Director and CEO.

Education

• Undergraduate university degree from a recognized institution, with specialization in one of the fields related to the position or equivalent combination of education and experience or equivalent.

Experience

• Ten (10) years of experience directly related to the main responsibilities of the position or ten (10) years of experience in relation with organizations with similar mandates (in particular United Nations organizations, international non-governmental organizations, etc.) in a Canadian context.
• Seven (7) years of relevant management experience, including leading and supervising employees, and financial and budget management.
• Considerable experience in providing strategic and operational advice to senior management.
• Considerable experience in interacting with civil society.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the international policies and procedures of the Government of Canada and their relationship with UNESCO and the Commission.
• Knowledge of the Canadian and international contexts in which the Commission operates.
• Knowledge of the mandate, activities and programs of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and its accountability framework in relation to the Canada Council for the Arts, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and international organizations within the United Nations system.
• In-depth knowledge of project and program management, communication strategies, and policy analysis and implementation.

Skills & Competencies

• A leadership style marked by an open, flexible and collaborative approach, integrity and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent human resources, financial and administrative management skills.
• Diplomacy, professionalism, judgment and tact.
• Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks, and to clearly communicate the links between the Commission's strategy and UNESCO's objectives.
• Ability to analyze and summarize a large amount of information and use it to develop strategic advice or to present it concisely.
• Ability and skills required to build consensus on sensitive issues.
• Excellent organizational, coordination, time management skills, and the ability to multitask.
• Ability to manage various projects, maintain quality, meet deadlines and meet budget requirements.
• Ability to assess and communicate key findings, including high quality reports.
• Excellent skills in planning, analysis, facilitation, problem solving, organization, team building and negotiation.
• Excellent leadership and management competencies, including team-building and the ability to motivate and engage employees.

Bilingual Requirements
The position requires the use of both official languages. The requirements for the second official language are as follows:

• An advanced level in reading comprehension (C)
• An advanced level in written expression (C)
• An advanced level in oral proficiency(C)
• Important: Please submit your resume and a cover letter clearly demonstrating how you meet the above qualifications for Education and Experience. Please note that selection for further consideration will be based solely on the information provided in your cover letter, resume and application.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is inclusive and accessible to all. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please contact the Council directly.

For people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or TTY users, please use your preferred MRS (Message Relay Service) or IP service to contact us.

The Canada Council for the Arts is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the individuals and communities we serve. We invite applications from individuals with any combination of backgrounds, origins, identities, and forms of self-expression. The Council is committed to enhancing the representation of the following groups within its workforce: Indigenous people, Black people, racialized people, Deaf people, people with disabilities, women, and members of 2SLGBTQI+ and gender-diverse communities.

We encourage you to include information on how you identify in the Voluntary Self-Identification section of the application form. This information is used during the recruitment process to enhance representation of historically underserved and marginalized communities, as per the Employment Equity Act and the Council's ongoing commitment to equity. This information is also used for reporting at an aggregate level.

Please note that all persons requiring accommodation and/or assistance in completing the Canada Council's Careers application process are welcome to contact
the Council
for support.