The Core Competencies summarise the capabilities that are important across all jobs and that we believe collectively contribute to the OECD’s overall success. At the same time, the importance of Core Competencies may vary according to the specific job duties and requirements. The OECD Competency Framework displays fifteen Core Competencies grouped into three clusters.
• The delivery-related competencies • The interpersonal competencies • The strategic competencies
Each level of the Core Competencies has behavioural indicators that highlight how an individual can demonstrate that competency. Behavioural indicators are designed to show the requirements for successful performance.
Level 1 is typically associated with jobs such as Assistants, Secretaries and Operators.
Level 2 is typically associated with jobs such as Statisticians, Corporate Management and Administration Assistants/Officers, Logistics Officers and Documentalists.
Level 3 is typically associated with jobs such as Economists/Policy Analysts, IT Analysts and HR Advisers.
Level 4 is typically associated with jobs such as Senior Economists/Policy Analysts or Managers
Level 5 is typically associated with jobs such as Heads of Division, Counsellors, Deputy Directors and Directors.
Achieving Results
Building relationships
Planning for the future
Analytical Thinking is the ability to identify patterns across situations that are not obviously related, and to identify key or underlying issues in complex situations.
Achievement Focus is generating results by assuming responsibility for one's performance and the correctness of one's interventions, and recognising opportunities and acting efficiently at the appropriate moment and within the given deadlines.
Drafting Skills are based on the ability to respectfully communicate ideas and information (often technical) in writing to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact.
Flexible Thinking involves the ability to effectively adapt to a variety of situations, individuals or groups. It is based on the ability to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the requirements of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organisational or job requirements.
Managing Resources is about understanding human, financial, and operational resource issues to make decisions aimed at building and planning efficient project workflows, and at improving overall organisational performance.
Teamwork and Team Leadership implies working co-operatively with others, being a part of a team, and assuming the role of leader of a team. In the OECD, people work not only with their own teams but also with teams and groups across and outside the Organisation. Therefore they need to work together effectively with interdependent goals and common values and norms to foster a collaborative environment and drive teams in the same direction.
Client Focus is based on the ability to understand internal/external clients’ (e.g. Committees, working groups, country representatives, etc.,) needs and concerns in the short to long-term and to provide sound recommendations and/or solutions.
Diplomatic Sensitivity implies understanding other people. It includes the ability to hear accurately and understand unspoken, partly expressed thoughts, feelings and concerns of others. Included in this competency is an emphasis on cross-cultural sensitivity. Proficiency in Diplomatic Sensitivity requires the ability to keep one’s emotions under control and restrain negative actions when faced with opposition or hostility from others or when working under stress.
Influencing implies an intention to convince others in an honest, respectful and sensitive manner in order to get them to go along with one’s objectives. It can also be the desire to have a specific impact or effect on others.
Negotiating involves the ability to work towards win-win outcomes. At lower levels, this competency assumes an understanding of one’s counterparts and how to respond to them during negotiations. At the higher levels, the competency reflects a focus to achieve value-added results.
Organisational Knowledge is the ability to understand the power relationships within the Organisation and with other organisations. It includes the ability to understand the formal rules and structures including the ability to identify who the real decision-makers are as well as the individuals who can influence them.
Developing Talent means fostering an environment that will encourage professional and personal growth and the transfer of knowledge to future talent.
Organisational Alignment is the ability and willingness to align one’s own behaviour with the needs, priorities, and goals of the Organisation, and to act in ways that promote the Organisation’s goals or meet organisational needs. Organisational Alignment means focusing on the Organisation's mission before one's own preferences or professional priorities.
Strategic Networking involves working to build and maintain friendly, trustworthy and open internal and external relationships and networks with people who are, or might become, important actors in achieving strategic-related goals.
Strategic Thinking is the ability to develop a broad, big-picture view of the Organisation and its mission. Competitive advantage and threats, industry trends, emerging technology, market opportunities, stakeholder focus – Strategic Thinking is where these all come together. Strategic Thinking keeps individuals and groups focused and helps decide where to invest critical resources. It includes the ability to link long-range visions and concepts to daily work.
Distinguishes between critical and irrelevant pieces of information
Gathers information from a variety of sources to reach a conclusion.
Defines ambitious, but realistic, personal goals.
Works while meeting quality and performance standards
Promptly and efficiently completes work assignments.
Tailors communication (e.g. content, style and medium) to diverse audiences.
Writes and presents factual material in a concise manner.
Proposes ways to do things differently.
Understands and recognises the value of other points of view and ways of doing things
Displays a positive attitude in the face of ambiguity and change.
Organises the use of resources to meet expectations and identifies difficulties.
Plans, coordinates and manages internal and external resources to accomplish assignments within the given deadlines.
Initiates collaboration with others and spontaneously assists others in the delivery of their work
Shares all relevant information with others and seeks others' input.
Expresses own opinion while remaining factual and respectful.
Responds to and anticipates client needs in a timely, professional, helpful and courteous manner, regardless of client attitude.
Clearly shows clients that their perspectives are valued
Strives to consistently meet service standards.
Listens actively, considers people’s concerns and adjusts own behaviour in a helpful manner.
Understands the reason behind, or motivation for someone’s actions.
Is attentive when doing projects and assignments, or when interacting with people from different countries and backgrounds.
Expresses negative feelings constructively.
Checks own understanding of others' communication (e.g. paraphrases, asks questions).
Maintains continuous, open and consistent communication with others.
Builds on successful initiatives to gain support for ideas.
Adapts arguments to others' needs/interests.
Identifies main negotiating points of a given issue and engages in negotiation.
Listens to differing points of view and promotes mutual understanding.
Demonstrates understanding of the general environment in which the Organisation operates.
Understands and uses the Organisation's structures, rules and networks.
Knows and respects the Organisation’s Code of Conduct and values.
Takes advantage of learning opportunities provided (e.g. courses, feedback from supervisor or peers) to meet requirements of current job.
Sets clear self-development expectations.
Explains the role and goals of the Organisation and how they relate to own area of work.
Is able to explain how own work relates to the work of the Organisation.
Actively nurtures both formal and informal contacts to facilitate the progress of work by proactively sharing information, best practices, respective interests and areas of expertise.
Identifies current or past contacts that can provide work-related information or assistance
Fosters two-way trust in dealing with contacts (e.g. maintains confidentiality regarding sensitive information).
Identifies new information or data to key decision-makers or stakeholders to support their understanding and decisions.