The International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), founded in 1930, is a leading global learned society dedicated to advancing the study and practice of public administration. Headquartered in Brussels, IIAS fosters international collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and institutions in the field. Our members and partners include ministries of public administration, schools of government, universities, and international organizations worldwide. Through high-level conferences and events, scholarly publications, and quality assurance in public administration education, we contribute to effective, ethical and innovative governance worldwide.
IIAS has an annual budget of approximately €1.1 million and 7 FTEs. It is a compact organization with global outreach. The International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) and the European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) are centrally supported by the IIAS Secretariat. Two further regional groups, the Asian Group for Public Administration (AGPA) and the Latin American Group for Public Administration (LAGPA), are independently managed.
We are seeking a Director General to lead the Institute in its next phase. This is a full-time post based in Brussels, with regular international travel. The Director General reports to the Council of Administration and works closely with the President. The appointment is for a three-year term, renewable under IIAS statutory provisions, and is offered under Belgian employment law. Benefits are comparable to those in the Brussels public sector.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Implementation: Support the Council of Administration and the General Assembly in shaping and delivering IIAS core activities, including international conferences and events, research publications, accreditation in public administration education, and strategic projects. Develop and oversee the annual program and budget so that they align with agreed strategic priorities.
Operational Management: Provide executive oversight of people, finance and administration in a compact Secretariat. Lead talent acquisition, development, performance and engagement for a multicultural team, ensuring compliance with Belgian employment law and a constructive working culture. Direct financial planning, budgeting, procurement, internal controls and reporting so that resources are used with integrity and value for money, and so that the Council of Administration receives timely, reliable information for oversight. Lead the digitalization of Secretariat processes covering membership, finance, events, publications and communications.
Stakeholder Engagement and Coherence: Build and maintain relationships with members and partners, including governments, universities, schools of government and international organizations. Maintain coherent working relations across IIAS, IASIA, EGPA and the independently managed regional groups, so that the Institute acts as one organization toward its constituency.
Financial Sustainability: Monitor revenue and expenditure, identify opportunities for income diversification and cost optimization, and ensure transparent implementation of the IIAS financial control framework.
International Advocacy: Represent IIAS at global forums and ensure that the Institute contributes visibly to international debates on public administration.
Required Qualifications and Experience (Essential Criteria)
Candidates should demonstrate how they meet the essential criteria. Meeting all criteria is expected; where a candidate does not fully meet one or more criteria, the Council of Administration may consider the overall strength of the profile.
1. Advanced Degree/Professional Standing: PhD in public administration, political science, law, management or a related field, or equivalent senior professional standing.
2. Senior Leadership Experience: Ten or more years of leadership experience in international organizations, associations, NGOs, public sector institutions or academia, including experience in a small or mid-sized organization.
3. People Management: Demonstrated experience in talent acquisition, development, performance management, and staff engagement in a multicultural environment.
1. Procurement and Operational Oversight: Demonstrated experience in procurement and operational direction of an organization.
2. Financial Planning and Control: Demonstrated expertise in financial planning, budgeting, internal controls, risk awareness, and transparent reporting to governing bodies.
3. Revenue Generation and Resource Mobilization: A documented record of success in resource mobilization that diversifies income (membership, partnerships, grants and earned revenue). Candidates must be able to provide quantifiable results for this criterion.
4. International Engagement: Demonstrated international engagement, preferably in multicultural and multilingual settings.
5. Event Management: Experience of international conference and event organization.
6. Digitalization: Demonstrated capacity to lead digitalization of organizational systems and working methods.
7. Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including digital outreach.
8. Board and Governance Experience: Experience of preparing and implementing the decisions of a collegial governing body.
9. Membership Management: Experience of retaining and recruiting members in a membership organization.
10. Language: Fluency in English and French. Proficiency in both languages will be verified as part of the interview process.
Complementary Skills (Desirable Criteria)
The following skills are considered assets.
Familiarity with Belgian governance, administrative systems and legal frameworks.
Familiarity with public administration networks, including ministries, schools of government, and international bodies such as the UN or the OECD.
A record of scholarly publishing and/or of quality assurance and accreditation.
Strategic mindset with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and global impact.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in an international context.
Autonomy and Coherence: Demonstrated capacity to work with entities that have their own governance, respecting their autonomy while maintaining the coherence of the broader Institute.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range is €100,000 – €120,000 gross per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include health insurance and pension contributions.
In addition to salary and benefits, IIAS supports professional growth through conference participation and access to global networks. The role combines a Brussels duty station with a tech-enabled Secretariat and substantial autonomy in implementation, within the framework set by the governing bodies.
Work authorization
Candidates are not required to hold Belgian work authorization at the time of application. The selected candidate must be authorized to work in Belgium at the time of appointment. IIAS will provide sponsorship or legal assistance where needed, subject to Belgian migration rules.
Application Process
Applications should be submitted electronically to OlivierDufour@PageExecutive.com. Please include:
A detailed curriculum vitae highlighting relevant experience.
A vision statement (3–5 pages) outlining your approach to leading IIAS, including financial sustainability, international expansion and member engagement.
At least two letters of recommendation from professional references (e.g., from academic, governmental, or international colleagues). Letters may be submitted after shortlisting.
The deadline for applications is 2 October 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. The appointment is made by the Council of Administration.
IIAS is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, including women and underrepresented groups and regions.
