IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

1. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the WIPO Academy. The WIPO Academy plays a central role in WIPO’s activities adopting an interdisciplinary approach to IP education focusing on its links with trade, innovation, health, applied sciences, information technology, and creative industries. The WIPO Academy offers courses targeting a wide range of beneficiaries including inventors and creators, business managers and IP professionals, policymakers and government officials, students and teachers, as well as WIPO employees. The integration of WIPO’s internal training program within the WIPO Academy is expected to enable employee learning and development to benefit from the Academy’s specialized skills, knowledge, diverse learning modalities (including distance learning), innovative pedagogical techniques, and use of technology. WIPO’s internal learning and development programs focus on a more strategic approach to learning, the need for improved organizational performance and continuous and deliberate digital learning in the face of rapidly evolving business needs.

2. Purpose Statement

The Head of the Internal Learning Program is a new role that will be responsible and accountable for providing specialized professional and technical support to the Executive Director of the WIPO Academy to define a learning strategy that aims to enhance capacity, capability, builds an adaptive learning function, delivers dynamic learning, and promotes shared ownership of a learning culture in order to drive individual and business growth and results.

3. Reporting Lines

The Head of the Internal Learning Program reports to the Executive Director of the WIPO Academy and has a technical reporting line to the Director of the Talent Management Service.

4. Work Relations

The Head of Internal Learning Program will work closely with the Executive Director of the WIPO Academy, while also collaborating closely with the Talent Management Service in the Human Resources Management Department, as well as collaborating with and advising Program Directors and Managers throughout the Organization, and external subject matter experts and counterparts in the training and learning arena.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.   Define and develop a learning strategy and delivery plan to systematically and innovatively address and implement an agile, comprehensive and future focused learning function. Work cross-functionally in close collaboration with Talent Business Partners in the context of workforce planning to identify changing skills needs, and align and integrate business, talent and learning outcomes.

b.   Apply advanced expertise and own knowledge of learning theories and instructional design to build an adaptive learning function. Prioritize digital learning and evolving technologies, provide advisory services to build business and individual capability, and optimize existing/new training products to enhance learning impact and user experience, including the associated data management and processing systems and technological interface.

c.   Oversee and accelerate learning design, development and implementation with strong business insight, and ensure diverse and accessible learning opportunities for personal and professional growth.

d.   Develop and manage an impact measurement tool to monitor alignment with the requirements of the mid-term strategic plan of the Organization i.e. to ensure that: (i) learning resources are better utilized and coordinated; (ii) the learning priorities principally derived from the business strategy correspond to workforce training; and (iii) training is impactful and aligned.

e.   Integrate data-driven technology and ensure the delivery of inclusive, equitable and personalized learning experiences and access to development. Anticipate, plan for and mitigate bottlenecks, risk, and escalations, balancing business needs versus technical constraints.

f.    In line with organizational procurement rules and regulations, and applying strong business acumen, establish, coordinate and implement vendor relations and tenders, and ensure the acquisition of training and learning opportunities from external providers.

g.   Develop and implement collaborations with academic institutions to enhance research-based, innovative, and technologically advanced business management training.

h.   Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in Adult and Organizational Development, Education, Educational Technology, Learning and Development, Instructional Design or related discipline; or first-level university degree in any discipline with an additional two years of relevant experience in lieu of the advanced degree.

Education (Desirable)

Certification in Learning Data Management and KPI Analysis.

Experience (Essential)

A minimum of seven years of experience in the design, development, leadership and delivery of large cross-organizational training and associated digital projects; including technical transitioning to the digital environment such as re-platforming and to the use of online, blended, mobile and other disruptive technologies.

Experience designing a complete Learning analytics framework, and data governance to ensure efficiency, measure impact, optimize costs and improve performance of Learning and Development programs.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience identifying learning pathways and building capability to support long-term business growth and valued personal and professional development opportunities.

Experience in instructional design, micro-learning development, and use of metaverse for training.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of French and knowledge of other UN official languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Learning data management, data judgment and KPI analysis.

Strong understanding of capability frameworks and approaches to deliver future capabilities.

Solid knowledge of learning governance and assurance.

Strong understanding of learning and development context and tools and their linkage to business processes and growth.

Knowledge of assessment and evaluation methods.

Understanding of varied learning styles.

Familiarity with recent approaches in educational technology (on-line, subscription services, immersive technology, AI, automation, nano-learning).

Ability to provide training advice, develop strategic and operational solutions with clients, anticipate constraints in the delivery of training programs and identify and implement solutions.

Ability to cultivate innovation and manage change; proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives and accountability in delivering results.

Well-developed understanding of business models, financials, external learning markets and customers.

Ability to develop strong relationships and influence across all levels of an organization from C-Suite to operational teams; and excellent stakeholder management skills.

Ability to articulate management and organizational principles, in a multi-cultural environment respecting cultural, gender and other behavioral differences.

Ability to handle multiple priorities in an energizing environment, highly organized with a strong sense of ownership and attention to detail.

Digital Literacy.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of the international IP system.

1. Communicating effectively.
2. Showing team spirit.
3. Demonstrating integrity.
4. Valuing diversity.
5. Producing results.
6. Showing service orientation.
7. Seeing the big picture.
8. Seeking change and innovation.
9. Developing yourself and others.

Mobility:  WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization.  Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment.  Please note that this estimate is for information only.  The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice.  The figures quoted below are based on the July 2024 rate of 89.2%

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial period of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance.  No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.  Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.