VACANCY STATEMENT : Secretary General of IFLA

PRESS RELEASE: for immediate release
October 8, 1998

by IFLA

The present Secretary General of IFLA, Mr. Leo Voogt, will resign as of January 1, 1999 to accept a position elsewhere. The Executive Board of IFLA therefore invites applications and/or nominations for the post.

Essential requirements

• Sound professional and academic background
• Managerial skills, which have been demonstrated at a senior level within librarianship or a related field
• Fluency in internal and external communication and sensitivity to different cultures
• Ability to withstand stress
• Experience in international work
• Fluency in English, familiarity with French, reasonable knowledge of Spanish, Russian and/or German
• In good health, and prepared to travel extensively

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate the various IFLA activities, including the IFLA bureaux (IFLA Headquarters, Regional Offices and other Offices for specific programmes)
• Assume the responsibility for the review, management and further development of IFLA programmes
• Act as financial manager and obtain funding for IFLA activities
• Assist in decision-making by the Executive Board (EB)
• Take decisive action on the basis of EB authorization and guidelines
• Represent IFLA as necessary
• Report to the EB on action taken

It is the intention to fill the post at the earliest possible date in 1999. The level of the position will be comparable to that of a university librarian in the Netherlands. Salary range (before taxes): NLG 9,000 - 12,000 per month, depending on qualifications and experience.
The Netherlands' tax authorities offer substantial benefits for non-nationals.

The post is full-time and initially the appointment will be made on a five-year contract, which may be renewed.
The post is located at IFLA HQ at the Royal Library in The Hague, Netherlands. Further information may be obtained from the present IFLA SG, Leo Voogt, or the IFLA Treasurer, Derek Law (tel: +44 (0) 141 548 4619, fax: +44 (0) 141 552 3304, e-mail: d.law@strath.ac.uk).

Applications in writing must include a comprehensive curriculum vitae with a photograph of the candidate, a 250-word statement on the candidate's views on IFLA as an organization, and the names and addresses of 3 professional referees or reference statements. The letter should include the possible date when candidates would be available to take up the appointment.

Applications should reach the following address, in a sealed cover marked "Confidential" by November 27, 1998, at the latest:

All applications will be treated in strictest confidence. Shortlisted candidates will be notified about interviews at the beginning of December. The interviews are expected to take place in the weekend of 12/13 December. The IFLA Executive Committee is also very interested in receiving names of possible candidates. Confidential suggestions can be forwarded to the IFLA Treasurer, Mr. Derek Law (see address particulars above).

A more extensive profile of the position is available on request and will be posted on IFLANET http://archive.ifla.org/V/press/sgprof.htm