The Secretary-General’s mandate is distinctive given the scale, complexity, history, mission and reach of ICSID and the World Bank platform.
Specific responsibilities include:
• Ensuring the continued integrity and efficiency of ICSID’s dispute settlement facilities and their responsiveness to the needs of investors and host countries alike.
• Encouraging the coherent development of ICSID arbitral jurisprudence, both procedural and substantive, and the maintenance of uniformly high case-management standards and practices across the Secretariat.
• Ensuring the highest level of probity and economy in the administration of the funds advanced to ICSID by parties to defray the direct costs of proceedings, as well as in the management of the Centre’s budget.
• Keeping ICSID’s Regulations and Rules under review and proposing amendments thereto as appropriate.
• Seeking to ensure that the ICSID Panels of Arbitrators and of Conciliators and the pool of appointees to ICSID proceedings are large and diverse.
• Promoting increased use of mediation, conciliation and other methods of settling disputes amicably.
• Providing advice and intellectual leadership on ICSID and non-ICSID dispute settlement systems and international law relating to foreign investment.
• Representing ICSID in other international fora, particularly in considering new initiatives in international dispute resolution and investment protection.
• Promoting awareness and understanding of ICSID and its objectives through publications, media contacts, and participation in training and educational events.
Other duties of the Secretary-General include setting charges for use of ICSID’s dispute-settlement facilities and the fees of conciliators and arbitrators; certifying arbitral awards for enforcement purposes; registering requests for annulment and other post-award remedies under the Convention; recommending the appointment by the Chair of the Administrative Council of members of annulment committees; formulating budget submissions to the Administrative Council; and exercising ultimate editorial responsibility for ICSID publications.
Candidate Profile
In addition to having a strong work ethic and unquestionable integrity, candidates will have the presence to establish immediate credibility with Senior Management and a diverse group of stakeholders. They will possess outstanding intellect, leadership and strategic abilities, as well as excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
Specific qualifications include:
• Demonstrable professional excellence and substantive legal expertise. Professional qualifications should include a law degree (JD, LLB, LLM, Ph. D. or equivalent) and admission to the bar or equivalent in at least one jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 20 years of relevant experience and leadership in academia, legal practice, and/or in arbitral or similar institutions.
• Experience in arbitration, conciliation, and/or mediation, and in international law, including public international law relating to foreign investment.
• Commitment to the mission of ICSID and the World Bank.
• Ability to drive organizational progress and lead through change; brings systemic, future-focused and holistic thinking, identifies and responds to priorities, opportunities and challenges.
• Ability to address multiple competing priorities in a timely and effective manner.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams of professionals within a demanding, high-profile organization.
• Sustained experience managing and leading large organizations, with a track record of experience in managing legal professionals as a particular advantage.
• Capacity to motivate teams to excel in competitive markets within the context of a public organization.
• Ability to manage, empower, coach, and mentor others and provide consistent, accurate, and straightforward feedback regarding strengths and developmental needs.
• Demonstrate a degree of selflessness and a sense of corporate ethos; have a mindset that values teamwork and organizational needs; measures own success in terms of the achievements of ICSID.
• Possess the interpersonal acumen and communication skills to effectively and proactively discuss complex and controversial topics with a diverse audience, within and outside the World Bank.
• Behave with professionalism, tact and diplomacy and adept at navigating difficult, complex and/or sensitive matters.
• Approachable and energetic ambassador who can inspire and engender trust with internal and external constituents, partners and stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and preferably working knowledge of one or both of ICSID’s two other official languages, French and Spanish.
World Bank Managerial Selection Criteria
• Courage of your convictions
• Leading the team for impact
• Influencing across boundaries
• Fostering openness to new ideas
• Building talent for the future