Global Director, Corporate Services - Internal Hiring

Role Purpose

The Global Director, Corporate Services is a pivotal senior leadership role within the World Scout Bureau, responsible for the strategic direction, operational excellence, and integrated management and cross functional alignment of the organization's critical enabling functions: Finance and Administration, People and Culture, and Legal, compliance and Risk. This role ensures the effective and efficient deployment of resources, fosters a thriving organizational culture, safeguards WOSM's legal and reputational integrity, and ultimately supports the global growth and impact of the Scout Movement. The Global Director acts as a key strategic partner to the Secretary General and is directly accountable for ensuring that all managed functions operate in full alignment with WOSM's strategic priorities, values, and governance frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & Management (Overall):

• Develop, facilitate, and implement integrated functional strategies and operations for Finance & Administration, People & Culture, and Legal, Compliance & Risk that are fully aligned with WOSM's global strategy and the WSB’s long-term objectives.

• Provide visionary leadership and direction fostering collaboration between existing function leads, high-performing, and results-oriented environment that support translating WOSM’s strategic goals into coordinated, impactful operational plans.

• Drive continuous improvement and innovation for all managed functions, and across practice team ensuring best practices and efficiency in global operations.

• Identify emerging global trends and risks affecting the three pillars and advise leadership on their implications for people, policy, and operations.

• Represent the World Scout Bureau externally on matters related to finance, administration, human resources, and legal affairs as required.

• Champion a culture prioritizing organizational values, transparency, accountability, equity and ethical conduct throughout the organization.

2. Financial Stewardship & Administration Oversight:

• Strategic Financial Planning: Lead the development of the global budget, financial forecasts, and long-range financial plans in collaboration with the Director of Finance & Administration.

• Resource Management: Ensure robust financial controls, prudent resource allocation, and optimal utilization of WOSM's financial assets across all global operations.

• Income, restricted funding and forecasting: In collaboration with the Global Director, External Relations, Partnerships and Business Development, ensure the effective and efficient tracking, reporting and monitoring of income and restricted funding management, including forecasting and reporting.

• Risk Mitigation (Financial): Oversee the identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial risks, ensuring compliance with international financial regulations and audit requirements.

• Operational Efficiency: Enable administrative efficiencies and cost-effectiveness across all World Scout Bureau operations.

• Reporting: Ensure timely, accurate, and comprehensive financial reporting to the Secretary General, SMT, WOSM Governance, and relevant stakeholders.

3. People & Culture Leadership:

• Talent Strategy: Oversee the development and execution of a comprehensive global people strategy that attracts, develops, engages, and retains diverse top talent for the World Scout Bureau.

• Organizational Development: Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance organizational culture that reflects the WSB's values and promotes employee well-being and engagement.

• HR Policies & Systems: Oversee the development and implementation of effective global HR policies, compensation and benefits structures, performance management systems, and learning and development initiatives.

• Succession Planning: Lead strategic workforce planning and succession initiatives to ensure organizational sustainability and leadership continuity.

4. Legal, Compliance & Risk Management:

• Legal Compliance: Ensure WOSM's adherence to all applicable international, national, and local laws and regulations across its global operations.

• Risk Framework: Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of a robust global risk management framework, identifying, assessing, and mitigating operational, reputational, legal, and strategic risks.

• Contract Management: Oversee the negotiation, review, and management of significant contracts and agreements, safeguarding WOSM's interests.

• Dispute Resolution: Guide the manage and provide strategic oversight for legal disputes, litigation, and regulatory inquiries.

• Intellectual Property: Ensure Protection of WOSM’s intellectual property and brand globally.

• Foster strategic cohesion between risk and compliance strategies across legal, finance, and HR championing, globally consistent risk culture aligned to organizational values.

5. Accountability to WOSM Governance:

• Reporting & Advice: Provide strategic advice, comprehensive reports, and recommendations to the Secretary General, World Scout Committee, sub committees and other relevant WOSM governance bodies on matters related to finance, audit, ethics, and constitution.

• Policy Implementation: Ensure the effective implementation of policies and decisions made by WOSM governance.

• Transparency & Compliance: Uphold the highest standards of governance, transparency, and accountability in all managed functions, fostering trust with governance bodies and stakeholders.

• Strategic Alignment: Actively participate in strategic discussions and planning sessions with WOSM governance to ensure the operational functions effectively support the Movement's global vision.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Law, Human Resources, or a related field. Master’s degree or professional certifications (e.g., CPA, ACCA, HRCI, equivalent legal qualification) are highly desirable.

• Experience:

  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a global, multi-cultural organization, with at least 5-7 years in a senior leadership role overseeing diverse functional areas (e.g., finance, HR, legal).

  • Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, financial management, risk management, and organizational effectiveness.

  • Proven track record of successfully leading and developing high-performing teams, particularly with multiple direct reports.

  • Experience working with or within a complex international NGO or non-profit organization, ideally with a strong understanding of volunteer-led governance structures.

  • Familiarity with international legal frameworks, HR best practices, and financial reporting standards.

Core Competencies

• Focus on Results: Driven by outcomes and committed to achieving organizational goals. Consistently delivering on time & to the highest quality to maximize impact.

• Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding, and evolving global environment.

• Leadership and Decision Making: Develops own analytical and creative thinking, motivation & commitment to achieve organizational goals. Skilled at aligning diverse functions, stakeholders, and priorities around common goals.

• Support: Continuously develop own knowledge & capabilities to optimize support for the team and stakeholders. Sees the big picture and understands the interdependencies between people, processes, and structures across an organization.

• Interpersonal Relations: Listens intently, displays tact and diplomacy even in challenging situations.

• Collaborative work: Fosters a culture of teamwork, knowledge sharing, and mutual support. Willingly engages with all stakeholders and builds consensus through clarity, credibility, and collaboration.

• Cultural diversity: Adept at working with diverse populations and international stakeholders.

• Integrity: Understands the organization’s objectives, values, and aligns own behaviours to conform.

Functional Competencies

• Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build strong relationships at all levels, including with senior governance members.

• Advanced experience in financial management, audit processes and analytical capabilities.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and change in a dynamic global environment.

• Ability to lead or enable initiatives and delivering integrated results.

• High level of integrity, ethical conduct, and discretion.

Technical Competencies

• Language: Fluent in English is essential, any other command of WOSM’s languages (French, Spanish and Arabic) would be considered an asset.

• Technological Proficiency: understand and leverage technology to improve efficiency and productivity, comfortable in using standard business software (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint), advanced knowledge of Excel required, ability to leverage most digital tools for business (Slack, Google sheets, Dropbox, MS Teams…etc.)

• Strong work experience with financial and HR systems and other IT systems.

• Willing to travel occasionally and to work during the evenings and at weekends.

Summary of employment terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions

The World Scout Bureau (WSB) offers a range of tangible and intangible working benefits. This is a full-time position with 4-years contract.

• Contractual arrangements to be articulated with the World Scout Bureau.

• 40 hours per week, including irregular hours to accommodate different time zones.

• The position will be based in any WSB support centre and will require some travel.

• Flexibility of work from home as per the WSB internal policy.

The offer of appointment will be subject to:

• Verification of relevant qualifications.

• Satisfactory completion of the probation period (three months). Not applicable for internal applicants.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted no later than 23:59 Kuala Lumpur time (GMT+8) on 11 July 2025 and should include:

• A curriculum vitae with full details of education and career history.

• A cover letter outlining your suitability for the role, relating your skills, knowledge, and experience to the requirements of the job description.

• Contact information of at least three people who can provide employment references. For internal applicants, recommendation from the line manager will be requested.

Applications should be submitted using this online application form. Ideally, the Global Director, corporate Services will start as soon as possible.

The World Scout Bureau (WSB) is an equal opportunity employer and strongly believes in and practices diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment where all qualified candidates will receive equal consideration in applying for the job opportunities and subsequent career advancement. Our employment practices are open to everyone, regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. We believe that fostering an inclusive culture and embracing diverse perspectives strengthens innovation and growth within WSB. We encourage people of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented communities, to apply for the job opportunities created and announced by WSB