SECONDMENT - Assistant Director, Communications Office

VACANCY NOTICE 1614 

This vacancy announcement pertains to law enforcement and/or governmental officials within INTERPOL's member countries only.

Please read the Conditions of Secondment in force at INTERPOL (shared via the NCB) including the maximum duration of secondment.

Please be aware that your home Administration/Agency/Service/Government will be responsible for all of your salary/remuneration, social insurance, pension contributions, welfare benefits, family allowances, benefits during your assignment at INTERPOL as well as travel, removal expenses related to your arrival at and departure from INTERPOL, and any other related costs depending on your circumstances. It is requested that you obtain in writing, confirmation from your home Administration/Agency/Service/Government that it agrees with these CONDITIONS OF SECONDMENT. This confirmation letter should be forwarded to us THROUGH THE NCB.

INTERPOL is the world's largest international police organization, with 196 member states. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. INTERPOL is now looking for a qualified candidate as a SECONDMENT - Assistant Director, Communications Office within the Communications Office which is part of the​​​​​​ Exec. Dir. Partnerships & Planning.

Job title: SECONDMENT - Assistant Director, Communications Office
Reporting To: Director of Communications
Location: Lyon 
Duration (in months): 36.00 
Grade: 2 
Number of posts: 1
Security Clearance Level: Enhanced
Deadline for application: 21 May 2026

INTERPOL strives to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. To achieve our Diversity goals, we encourage applications from women and nationals of under/unrepresented member countries who are passionate about our mission. INTERPOL's recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant's qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

INTRODUCTION OF THE POST
Under the supervision of the Director of Communications, the Assistant Director, Communications Office will implement the strategy/ies and work programmes of the Communications Office, and oversee its activities to ensure the most effective provision of resources and related services.

PRIMARY DUTIES

DUTY 1 - Implement communications strategy and oversee activities

• Under the supervision of the Director, aligns COM activities and goals with the Organization's priorities and programme strategies, ensuring that information is conveyed in an effective and accessible form to various stakeholders, including policymakers, the international community, media and opinion-makers, strategic partners, the general public, and the internal INTERPOL audience.

• Plan and manage a programme of activities and the effective delivery of online/offline communications products in accordance with business communications best practices, while maintaining accountability and measurable results.

• Identify opportunities to support organizational initiatives and develop communications materials and programs to promote and publicize these activities.

DUTY 2 - Manage the communications team and budget

• Assist in policy developManage and mentor departmental staff to coordinate efforts so as to deliver integrated communications programmes.

• Coach, mentor, and evaluate staff, lead in the recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of training to maintain an outcome-oriented, best practice communications culture.

• Oversee all logistical aspects involving communications materials and purchase of communications equipment.

• Develop and oversee COM's annual budget.

• Develop and implement a department-wide cross-charging mechanism for COM support in externally funded projects.

DUTY 3 - Deliver effective Communications activities

• Coordinate and implement the development of effective internal communication strategies and activities, and support the dissemination of information about key organisational initiatives and successes, in collaboration with other departments including HR.

• Stay abreast of best practices and help set competitive industry standards across all communications platforms.

• Build and foster collaborative and effective relationships with other departments within the organization to stay informed and abreast of new information initiatives, products and services.

• Ensure effective workflow within COM between its different key programmes of activities and delivery of related products and services, both online and offline: corporate and internal communications, content generation and operations support, press, creative design and print.

DUTY 4 - Provide communications policy guidance and advice

• Ensure the delivery of communications programme guidelines and policies, oversee implementation process, and provide quality control for communications programmes on a range of events involving COM's activities. 

DUTY 5 - Position INTERPOL to build effective strategic engagement

• Identify and frame the issues so as to position INTERPOL and build strategic engagement with target audiences, tracking trends and identifying effective approaches.

• Clearly and accurately articulate INTERPOL policies and priorities and explain the Organization's actions to a range of internal and external audiences ensuring that messaging reflects INTERPOL policies and priorities appropriately.

• Identify and develop communications activities tied to funding opportunities from member countries and other partners across all sectors.

• Build relationships with professional counterparts in other professional organizations, advocacy organizations and other community organizations through organizational initiatives and jointly-sponsored communication campaigns and programmes.

DUTY 6 

Carry out all other duties as may be directed by the Director of Communications or designate.

REQUIREMENTS
All candidates will be assessed on the under mentioned requirements. Please only include professional experience for which you can provide official proof of employment (i.e. pay-slip indicating your functional title, work certificates, etc.). You could be asked to provide copies of such documents prior to interviews/tests. Any discrepancies found between the information stated in any of your application documents and the evidence of employment provided, will be considered misrepresentation and may lead to your disqualification from this selection procedure. This is especially important for your current and previous functional titles (they need to be exactly the same as the one in your contractual agreement), exact dates of employment, description of responsibilities and achievements, reason(s) for leaving and part-time work.

Training/Education required

• At least five years' University education (Specialization, Masters or Doctorates) in communications, journalism, marketing, international relations or related field.

Experience required

• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public information, journalism, marketing, international public relations or related area is required, preferably in a law enforcement or security context, with a large governmental, intergovernmental or international organization.

•  Experience in successfully managing and motivating teams is required.

•  Experience of project management in communications contexts is desirable.

•  Experience in planning and managing complex tasks, with only minimum supervision, would be an advantage.

•  Experience in working with computers including knowledge of oral presentation software, business intelligence and word processing softwares.

•  Strong leadership qualities, solid presentation, and interpersonal skills is required and ability to speak in public to different audiences.

Languages

• Professional fluency in English is required, including strong writing and speaking skills.

• Working knowledge of French is an advantage. Knowledge of other official INTERPOL languages (Arabic, Spanish) is desirable.

Abilities required

• Business acumen and strong communication proficiency, both in written and oral form (public speaking, delivery of presentations).

• Sound judgment and strong diplomatic skills, with the ability to draw accurate and appropriate conclusions and suggest a course of action, on both internal and external communications.

• Ability to provide policy, best practice and technical advice on communications services in a complex matrix environment.

• Ability to present and defend difficult positions to senior officials.

• Proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives.

• Drives for change and improvement

• Strong management skills, as defined in the Managerial Competencies for INTERPOL Supervisors. These skills include:

• Leadership: empowers others to translate vision into results;

• Vision: identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks;

• Empowering others: encourages others to set challenging goals;

• Building trust: places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients;

• Managing performance: delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority;

• Judgment/ decision making: high-level decision making.

Aptitudes required

• Personal and professional maturity.

• Ability to maintain objectivity and apply logical, specifically inductive, reasoning.

• Ability to work in teams as well as individually.

• Ability to work persistently and under pressure.

• Good social, specifically multicultural, skills.

• Initiative, creativity (original thinking) and curiosity.

• Ability to develop and maintain professional networks.

• Ability to synthesize ideas and issues.

• Good listening skills.