Director General

Organization Information

Reports to: Chairperson of the African Union Commission
Directorate/Department/Organ: Bureau of the Chairperson
Number of Direct Reports: 3
Number of Indirect Reports: 2
Job Grade: D2
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Regular 

Purpose of Job

To assist the Chairperson in the exercise of his/her responsibility for the overall coordination and effective functioning of the Commission, including by supporting, under the authority and guidance of the Chairperson and in full consultation with the Deputy Chairperson and the Commissioners, the operational coordination of the Commission’s Departments and non-elected staff, with a view to ensuring high performance, results and impact.

Main Functions

• Supports the Chairperson in the identification and operationalization of the Commission’s priorities.
• Under the guidance of the Chairperson and in consultation with the senior leadership, supports the translation of the Commission’s priorities into annual targets and goals and the establishment of a Commission-wide framework for monitoring and tracking progress.
• Provides regular reports to the Chairperson of the Commission on portfolio and service delivery.
• Regularly consults and provide briefing  to the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission on service delivery.
• Works closely with the Cabinet of the Chairperson to ensure that the Chairperson’s strategic directions and priorities are effectively reflected in the delivery of the strategic priorities of the Commission.
• Supports the leadership in the implementation of the AU Institutional Reform Agenda and other reform initiatives across the Commission.
• Monitors and tracks progress in the delivery of the Commission’s annual performance targets.
• Consults with and supports other members of the senior leadership team, under the guidance of the Chairperson, to promote strategic coherence and synergy in the implementation of the Commission’s programme and the delivery of high-impact results for the continent.
• Cultivates a knowledge management culture through the promotion of research and publications to ensure knowledge sharing and transfer across the Commission, in coordination with the relevant departments; and
• Carries out his/her Commission-wide coordination and performance monitoring functions under the authority, guidance and direction of the Chairperson.

Specific Responsibilities

• Assists the Chairperson and the Commission in the preparation of the annual report of the Commission to the policy organs.
• Coordinates, under the guidance of the Chairperson and in close consultation with the senior leadership, including the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners, the preparation of the Commission’s annual performance targets for approval through the appropriate processes.
• Convenes, as authorized by the Chairperson, meetings of Portfolio Directors to monitor and track progress in the delivery of the Commission’s annual work plan performance targets.
• Convenes Service Directors’ meetings, in consultation with the Cabinet of the Chairperson, and the Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson, each concerning their respective departments, to monitor and track progress in the delivery of the Commission’s annual work plan performance targets.
• Reports to the Chairperson on progress and challenges in the implementation of the annual work plan.
• Performs any other duties assigned by the Chairperson.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Law, Management, International Relations or a related field from a recognized institution plus fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience with at least ten (10) years served in a senior management role preferably in an inter-governmental organization or national government/public service, international or regional institution, and a minimum of five (5) years of direct supervisory experience.
• The age limit for entry into career service shall not be more than fifty-five (55) years of age.

Required Skills

• Ability to lead and manage complex organizations at the national, regional or international level.
• Proven track record in coordination, consultation and consensus-building across portfolios and in complex institutional environments.
• Ability to set clear standards for accountability, probity, value for money and risk management.
• Ability to propose new ideas to the leadership on improving work across silos in a complementary and synergistic way for a prosperous and peaceful Africa.
• Proven track record of change management and accomplishments at the regional, national or international level with strong resource mobilization, political and diplomatic skills.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead a multicultural team and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Planning and organizing skills.
• Knowledge and working understanding of the African Union.
• Communication, presentation and report-writing skills.
• Proficiency in one of the AU official working languages (French, English, Portuguese, Arabic, Swahili, Spanish) and fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Focus
• Developing Organisational Capability
• Change Leadership
• Strategic Risk Management

Core Competencies

• Building Partnerships
• Drives Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation

.TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of three years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGES:

Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:

Indicative basic salary of US$ 100,017.00 (D2 Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications must be submitted no later than October 26, 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT.

-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor’s degrees (Bac+3), Master’s degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

-The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

-Candidates from least represented and underrepresented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.

Least represented countries: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sao Tome & Princepe, Seychelles, Somalia and Western Sahara.

Under represented countries: Mozambique, Niger, South Africa, South Sudan and Tunisia.