SecretariesGeneral

The Secretary-General of an organization is a high-ranking official responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of the entity. This role is typically found in international organizations, government bureaucracies, and other large institutional structures.

In the United Nations (UN), the Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer of the organization and serves as its chief representative. The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly for a five-year term, renewable once. The incumbent is responsible for carrying out the policy directives of the UN member states and facilitating international cooperation on a wide range of issues.

In the European Union (EU), the Secretary-General is a senior official who serves as the external chief of Staff of the European Commission, the administrative body of the EU. The Secretary-General is responsible for advice, coordination, and providing guidance to the Commission on its external relations.

In the United States federal government, the Secretary-General does not exist as an official position. However, there are Under Secretaries and Assistants to the Secretary, who perform functions similar to the international Secretaries-General.

No specific qualifications or experience are required for appointment as a Secretary-General of an international organization. The select candidates are usually exemption experts or high-ranking government officials with vast experience in the field. They often have prior experience in high-level positions in multilateral institutions, diplomatic services, international organizations, or civil service.

Their duties can vary significantly depending on the institution, but generally, they are concerned with maintaining good relations among member countries, ensuring that the organization operates efficiently and effectively, and ensuring that the policies and functions of the organization are executed by the bureaucracy. This can be a no precedence requirement for these employees in the specific department which determines promotion of duties given all these new activities.