Qualities and Qualifications:

The successful candidate should possess the following pre-requisites:

• Firm commitment to the work and objectives of APEC;

• Extensive public sector experience (in government/semi-government organisations), with a good track record;

• Hold/have held the rank equivalent to that of a senior public servant of Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ambassador or higher;

• Proven senior management experience;

• Good understanding of international and regional affairs;

• High political acumen and keen sense of political sensitivities of Member Economies;

• Proven public communications skills and is media savvy;

• Strong inter-personal and diplomatic skills; and

• Past experience in multilateral work, preferably in trade or economic-related areas.

Accountability:

The Executive Director is accountable to the APEC Senior Officials. He/she will submit a proposed work programme for the year ahead and an annual work report of the previous year to the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM). He/she will be appraised by the SOM Chair, in consultation with all Senior Officials.

Key Functions and Job Description:

The Executive Director's major functions are to:

1. Serve as a neutral voice, who acts and speaks for the interests of all 21 Member Economies.

2. Act as APEC's spokesperson, promoting APEC's work and achievements to the public, media, business and relevant international/regional institutions.

3. Facilitate the timely and effective execution of APEC's work programme as mandated by Leaders and Ministers, effectively supporting APEC's agenda intersessionally, maintaining the momentum of APEC's work between the SOMs as well as from year to year;

4. Ensure that the Secretariat serves as the repository of institutional memory, providing continuity in APEC's work and activities.

5. Be responsible for the effective management of the Secretariat - rationalising administrative functions, instilling efficiency and financial discipline, and adopting a forward-looking approach to organisational and financial matters to ensure continuity and consistency.

6. Be responsible for the performance and output of all Secretariat staff, including the Programme Directors.

He/She is:

1. Responsible to the APEC SOMs and all meetings of APEC Ministers and Leaders, when they are in session.

2. Take charge of the Secretariat and be responsible for discharging all the duties and responsibilities entrusted to him/her by the APEC SOM, Ministerial Meetings and Leaders' Summits.

3. Initiate, advise, coordinate and implement APEC activities:

   1. Develop and provide the regional perspective on subjects and issues before APEC;

   2. Ensure the timely and efficient implementation of endorsed APEC projects and initiatives;

   3. Conduct and collaborate in approved research activities, and convene meetings of officials and experts as required; and

   4. Plan, programme, coordinate, harmonise and manage all approved capacity building activities.

4. Serve as spokesperson and representative of APEC on all matters, including:

   1. Conducting consultations with Member Economies, private sector, non-governmental organisations and other constituencies of APEC;
   2. Coordinating APEC dialogues with international/regional organisations; and
   3. Promoting APEC's work and achievements to the public, media, business and relevant international/regional institutions.

5. a. Serve as Secretary to all APEC Ministers' Meetings.

   2. Report to the APEC Ministerial Meeting on all aspects of cooperation, which APEC and the Secretariat are engaged in, and offer related assessments and recommendations.
   3. Participate in and provide technical support to all APEC SOMs.
   4. Participate in and provide technical support for the Ministers' Responsible for Trade meetings, APEC Finance Ministers' Meetings, and other APEC Ministerial meetings.
   5. Participate in and provide technical support for the APEC Business Advisory Committee meetings.

6. a. Ensure that APEC sub-fora and other similar bodies are informed of the directives of the APEC SOMs and relevant current developments in APEC activities.

   2. Act as the channel of formal communications between: (i) APEC fora, sub-fora and the SOMs; and (ii) the Secretariat and other international/regional organisations and Governments.

7. Administer funds established for APEC cooperation.

8. Prepare the annual budgets of the Secretariat for the approval of the Budget and Management Committee.

9. Act as the custodian of all APEC documents.

10. Be responsible for the Secretariat's security.

11. Prepare an Annual Report of the previous year and a Work Programme for the year ahead for submission to the first APEC SOM each year.

12. Address communications directly to Member Economies.

13. Ensure organisational discipline in the Secretariat and have authority to recruit, terminate or promote staff under the provisions of this Agreement and such other Rules and Regulations that may hereafter come into effect.

14. Exercise the administrative and financial powers vested in the Executive Director under the provisions of this Agreement, and such other Rules and Regulations that may hereafter come into effect.

15. Carry out any other duties assigned by the APEC SOM.