Director Social Security Development Branch

The International Labour Organization’s global hub for social security know-how, the International Social Security Association (ISSA), is seeking a Director to lead the Social Security Development (SSD) Branch. This is a full-time, onsite role based in Geneva and sits within ISSA’s governance under the ILO umbrella. The appointment is a one-year fixed-term contract, with extension possibilities dependent on funds, ongoing need and performance. The vacancy number is DC/ISSA/D/2026/01 and the Job ID is 13862. The post was published on 2 November 2026, with an application deadline of 2 January 2027 (midnight Geneva time). Internal candidates in line with Annex I and external candidates are eligible; qualified female candidates and applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you cannot complete the online form due to a disability, you can email [email protected].

The ISSA was founded in 1927 under the auspices of the International Labour Organization and today counts more than 340 member organisations in 165 countries. It supports member institutions with knowledge, networking opportunities and activities to promote social security, aiming for good governance, high-quality service delivery and transparent financial management. The Director of the Social Security Development (SSD) Branch reports to the Secretary General and provides leadership for ISSA’s technical activities, shaping knowledge outputs, the content of ISSA conferences and events, and the branch’s overall programme and budget. In this role, you’ll work closely with ISSA Technical Commissions to ensure the relevance and quality of the organisation’s outputs.

The Director of the SSD Branch works as part of a compact management team to align cross-branch development and production goals with ISSA’s programme and budget. The incumbent participates in strategic decision-making and offers technical input to the evolution of ISSA’s activities.

Steering the ISSA knowledge engine

In this role you’ll take full management responsibility for the branch’s deliverables, setting priorities, establishing and monitoring work plans, and guiding staff to maximise results and accountability for performance. You’ll lead the development of the ISSA knowledge base, focusing on the ISSA Guidelines and knowledge resources around technical content as well as training and Recognition programmes, and you’ll craft a long-range plan to ensure the Guidelines cover the key business processes in administration and address members’ priority challenges.

You’ll oversee the production of ISSA publications on technical areas and regional and global reports, including concise pieces on social security administration and reforms, to ensure there’s a steady stream of knowledge products in response to ISSA members’ diverse needs.

You’ll supervise the technical programme for ISSA events, especially International Conferences and global and regional Forums, and you’ll shape capacity-building products and services that match topical priorities and member requirements. You’ll coordinate the preparation and implementation of work plans for the ISSA Technical Commissions, making sure they stay engaged with the ISSA programme and maintain regular contact with their Chairs.

Leading strategic collaboration and governance

You’ll provide strategic input to the ISSA Programme to help them become the leading global knowledge hub in social security administration, guiding the evolution of strategic programmes related to innovation, knowledge production and social security databases, and directing policy analysis activities in response to members’ needs. You’ll oversee the evaluation of the branch’s deliverables and participate in broader ISSA evaluation initiatives, aligning with the organisation’s results-based programming methodology. You’ll also represent ISSA at major international events and tailor knowledge activities to meet the needs of individual or grouped member institutions while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. Other duties may be requested by the Secretary General.

Must-have requirements and nice-to-haves

To be considered, you should meet these essentials and, ideally, bring a few extra strengths that help you stand out.

• An advanced university degree in social science or a related field; a PhD would be an asset.
• At least 15 years of both managerial and technical experience in social security, including substantial international exposure and proven team leadership.
• Excellent command of English and very good working knowledge of one of the ISSA’s official languages (French, German or Spanish); a good working knowledge of a third language would be advantageous.
• A track record in strategic planning, programme management and knowledge management, with demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, manage resources and prioritise work across units; commitment to gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory practice.

Pay, benefits and practical details

This is a full-time, onsite position in Geneva with a fixed-term contract for one year. The appointment is governed by ILO staff regulations and internal rules; extensions depend on available funds, ongoing need for the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance. Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a long-term career at the ILO, and there is no guaranteed renewal or conversion to another type of appointment. The ILO may require medical fitness for the role and, in some cases, conduct background verification. Salary details are not disclosed in this posting. The ILO values diversity and encourages applications from qualified female candidates; applicants with disabilities are also welcome. If you cannot complete the online form due to a disability, please email [email protected].

Eligible candidates include ILO internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations and external candidates. For information about conditions of employment, see the ILO Jobs International Recruitment page.

Advice for applicants

Lead with your depth of experience: in the first lines of your résumé or CV, foreground your 15+ years of managerial and technical work in social security and your international experience, especially where you’ve directed large knowledge projects or teams.

Show actionable evidence of your must-have skills: share concrete examples of developing and guiding knowledge products, such as guidelines and capacity-building programmes, and your track record in coordinating with technical commissions and delivering strategic plans.

Prepare for interviews by detailing how you approach strategic planning, governance and evaluation within a complex programme, and by describing how you would advance ISSA’s knowledge base and policy analysis work to meet members’ needs.

Ask a sharp, job-specific question: for example, inquire about the current priority area for updating the ISSA Guidelines and how the new director would balance guideline development with ongoing regional and global reporting. You could also ask how cooperation with Technical Commissions is expected to evolve in the next triennial programme.

How to apply

All candidates must complete an online application via ILO Jobs. To apply, please visit ILO Jobs and follow the online instructions; reference the vacancy DC/ISSA/D/2026/01 and the Job ID 13862. The application deadline is 2 January 2027 (midnight Geneva time). Applicants may be contacted directly if selected for a written test and/or an interview; assessors and interview panel members may use Skype, video or teleconferencing tools as part of the process. The ILO upholds a strict policy against sexual exploitation and abuse and may conduct background verification for candidates with a substantiated history of SEA or other abusive conduct. The fraud warning is clear: the ILO does not charge any recruitment fees at any stage, and will never ask for bank details. For accessibility, if you cannot complete the online application due to a disability, email [email protected] for assistance.