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.

a.    Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Solutions Design and Delivery Section (SDDS) of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.

The mandate of the ICT Department is to support the Organization’s strategic goals by ensuring the transformation of its information and communication technology systems and structures, with a focus on service excellence, quality, efficiency, and integration.

The Department is responsible for the IT infrastructure and operations management; Enterprise architecture governance; Business solutions design and delivery; and the ICT portfolio and program management.

The Section will have centralized ownership of multiple software applications and manage a diverse portfolio of ICT projects, as well as having responsibility for the continuous improvement of related IT platforms and systems. In addition, the Section will be responsible for the technical activities that facilitate the objectives behind the IP Portal.

b.    Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to convert business requirements and needs into future architecture and design, guide the development and communicate on high-level structures of integrated solutions.

The incumbent provides guidance on the modifications and integration of components and ensures that they take account of existing architectures, strategies, policies, standards and practices. He or she will lead the software delivery team responsible for the Hague Platform and contribute to other projects within the SDDS portfolio.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Solutions Design and Delivery Section.

d.    Work Relations

The incumbent liaises with relevant internal business and technical stakeholders across the Organization and works as well with external stakeholders such as onsite or remote consultants from our IT Long Term Agreements.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.   Leads the design of target architectures for complex and highly secure IT systems, based on business requirements and needs, ensuring viability, stability, and consistency with existing systems.

b.   Performs the development of the above-mentioned designs, by establishing a comprehensive strategy and policy for the architecture components, promoting the discipline to ensure consistency and using appropriate tools, following standards defined by the WIPO IP Portal and WIPO Enterprise Architecture team.

c.   Oversees the development of the Hague Platform, covering all stages of the software development life cycle. Proposes and validates technical solutions.

d.   Produces detailed component specifications and translates these into detailed designs for implementation using selected products.

e.   Supervises the delivery team and manages the resource plan to ensure that the team can meet the business constraints regarding time, scope, and budget.

f.    Monitors and reports on budget usage related to the development, support and maintenance of the Hague Platform.

g.   Provides expertise in digital transformation activities, including adopting emerging technologies and disciplines such as big data, machine learning, data science and data analytics.

h.   Liaises with business representatives to present any options or considerations which require a business decision.

i.    Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field. A relevant first-level university degree plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the experience requested below may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

ITIL foundation and basic project management certification, e.g. Agile, PRINCE2, PMP, etc.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years’ relevant professional experience in system architecture and software development.

Experience with project management, programming and scripting languages.

Experience in working on leading RDBMS platforms (PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.) with large datasets.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience with DevSecOps and CI/CD.

Experience with AWS.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Knowledge and demonstrated experience in integrating diverse application architecture platforms.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work in a team with both business and technical audiences at different levels and in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Ability to matrix manage project teams consisting of internal staff and on- and off-shore resources.

Integrity in dealing with confidential and sensitive data.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and streamlining complex technology processes.

Excellent time management and work organization skills.

Knowledge and understanding of infrastructure, network configurations, physical and virtual servers, etc.

Knowledge of public and private Cloud based architecture and solutions.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of methods and techniques for delivering effective presentations.

Knowledge of methods and techniques for preparing and presenting business cases, requests for proposal (RFP) invitations to tender (ITT) and statements of requirements/work both orally and in writing.

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 2023 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.