Secretary general

Description

Secretaries general head international governmental or nongovernmental organisations. They supervise staff, direct policy and strategy development, and function as main representative of the organisation.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to secretary general:

international organisation chief officer
secretary-general
general secretary
first secretary

Minimum qualifications

Master’s degree is generally required to work as secretary general. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Secretary general is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Secretary general career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to secretary general.

secretary of state
city councillor
mayor
senator
provincial governor

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of secretary general. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of secretary general with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of secretary general.

Project management principles: Different elements and phases of project management.
Bookkeeping regulations: The methods and regulations involved in the process of accurate bookkeeping.
Audit techniques: The techniques and methods that support a systematic and independent examination of data, policies, operations and performances using computer-assisted audit tools and techniques (CAATs) such as spreadsheets, databases, statistical analysis and business intelligence software.
Budgetary principles: Principles of estimating and planning of forecasts for business activity, compile regular budget and reports.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of secretary general.

Apply conflict management: Take ownership of the handling of all complaints and disputes showing empathy and understanding to achieve resolution. To be fully aware of all Social Responsibility protocols and procedures, and to be able to deal with a problem gambling situation in a professional manner with maturity and empathy.
Represent the organisation: Act as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Conduct financial audits: Evaluate and monitor the financial health, the operations and financial movements expressed in the financial statements of the company. Revise the financial records to ensure stewardship and governability.
Delegate activities: Delegate activities and tasks to others according to the ability, level of preparation, competence and legal scope of practice. Make sure that people understand what they should do and when they should do it.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of secretary general. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Government policy implementation: The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.
Legislation procedure: The procedures involved in the making of laws and legislation, such as which organisations and individuals are involved, the process of how bills become laws, the proposal and reviewing process, and other steps in the legislation procedure.
Public finance: The economic influence of the government, and the workings of government revenue and expenditures.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of secretary general. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Prepare presentation material: Prepare the documents, slide shows, posters and any other media needed for specific audiences.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
Build community relations: Establish affectionate and long-lasting relationships with local communities, e.g. by organising special programms for kindergarden, schools and for dissabled and older people, raising awareness and receiving community appreciation in return.
Establish collaborative relations: Establish a connection between organisations or individuals which may benefit from communicating with one another in order to facilitate an enduring positive collaborative relationship between both parties.
Think analytically: Produce thoughts using logic and reasoning in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Manage administrative systems: Ensure administrative systems, processes and databases are efficient and well managed and give the sound basis to work together with the administrative officer/staff/professional.
Implement strategic management: Implement a strategy for the development and transformation of the company. Strategic management involves the formulation and implementation of the major objectives and initiatives of a company by senior management on behalf of the owners, based on consideration of available resources and an assessment of the internal and external environments in which the organisation operates.
Develop international cooperation strategies: Develop plans which ensure a cooperation between international public organisations such as researching different international organisations and their goals and assessing possible alignment with other organisations.
Advise on legislative acts: Advise officials in a legislature on the propositioning of new bills and the consideration of items of legislation.
Build international relations: Build positive communication dynamics with organisations from different countries in order to build a cooperative relationship and optimise information exchange.
Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.

ISCO group and title

1112 – Senior government officials

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Secretary general – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022