Director, WIPO Nigeria Office at World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation. We are a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 192 member states.

Our mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. Our mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO in 1967.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director, WIPO Nigeria Office

Job ID: 21271-FT_LT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: P5
Contract Duration: 2 years (maximum cumulative length of 5 years)

Purpose Statement

• The Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office is responsible for managing the human and financial resources of the Office, undertaking strategic planning for the activities of the Office to position important organizational programs as leading in the field, ensuring cohesion, value and effectiveness in program delivery in support of national development goals, and providing effective coordination and cooperation with the host government.

Organizational Setting

• This post is located in the WIPO Nigeria Office, located in Abuja. The WIPO Nigeria Office is part of the network of WIPO External Offices that adds clear value, efficiency and effectiveness to the delivery of WIPO’s programs, in line with its Strategic Goals and Results Framework, in a coordinated and complimentary with WIPO Headquarters.
• The WIPO Nigeria Office, through close engagement with the Nigerian Government and IP stakeholders in Nigeria, promotes knowledge of intellectual property and the accessibility, awareness and strategic use of IP in support of innovation and creativity for economic, social and cultural development in Nigeria.

Reporting Lines:

• The incumbent works under the supervision of the Deputy Director General of the Regional and National Development Sector.

Work Relations:

• The Director of the WIPO Nigeria Office liaises closely with the Office of the Deputy Director General, Regional and National Development Sector, the Division for Africa, and other Sectors and Divisions in Headquarters, connecting WIPO’s services, databases, tools, platforms and products with beneficiaries in Nigeria in a coordinated, effective and efficient manner. 
• The Director also coordinates with colleagues in other External Offices to contribute to and benefit from best practices across the network.

Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

• Manage and lead the activities of the WIPO Nigeria Office, and strategically plan WIPO’s services and initiatives in Nigeria in the field of industrial property and copyright to meet WIPO’s strategic goals. 
• In particular, ensure the implementation of activities to facilitate the use of IP for development in cooperation with the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders and in support of national development goals.
• Oversee the management of people and financial resources of the WIPO Nigeria office. Develop and implement the work plan for the WNO based on national needs, WIPO priorities and available resources. Ensure the consistent application of results-based management (RBM) and WIPO rules, procedures and processes.
• Build and strengthen cooperation with key IP stakeholders in Nigeria, including SMEs, women and youth; identify opportunities, establish frameworks for interaction, and grow and leverage these relationships to further mandate implementation; develop strategic communication strategies for the Office.
• Develop and enhance relations with officials from other United Nations agencies, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and participate in activities of the common system to create effective networks and build synergies for mandate implementation.
• Anticipate and analyze needs and trends in Nigeria and provide detailed reports and recommendations to senior leadership on the impact of these on the implementation of the Office’s mandate, evolution in IP related fields, and innovation and creativity ecosystems in Nigeria.
• Ensure effective coordination and cooperation with all Sectors and units across the WIPO Secretariat so that program delivery is efficient, coherent and non-duplicative.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements
Education (Essential):

• Advanced University Degree in International Relations, Law, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other relevant field. 
• A First-Level University Degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential):

• At least 10 years of relevant and progressively responsible experience, including in the fields of public administration or management.
• Experience working on innovation, creativity and intellectual property issues.

Language (Essential):

• Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable):

• Knowledge of other UN official languages or of local languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential):

• Good knowledge of the subject areas dealt with by the Organization, in particular intellectual property.
• Good knowledge of Nigeria, particularly issues surrounding the IP, innovation and creativity ecosystems in the country.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively and efficiently manage people and financial resources.
• Ability to build and enhance internal and external partnerships and promote synergies.
• Excellent diplomatic, representation and communication skills, including in an international context, and an ability to deliver messages effectively to diverse audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks, conceptualize new approaches and promote new ideas.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Sound judgement; ability to quickly assess complex and fast-moving situations and developments and provide targeted and innovative advice.
• Discretion and integrity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable):

• Knowledge of intellectual property issues and developments, particularly at the international level.

Organizational Competencies:

• Communicating effectively.
• Showing team spirit.
• Demonstrating integrity.
• Valuing diversity.
• Producing results.
• Showing service orientation.
• Seeing the big picture.
• Seeking change and innovation.
• 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.

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 December 2021 rate of 50.1%

P5:

• Annual salary: $88,162
• Post adjustment: $44,169
• Total Salary: $132,331

Application Closing Date
11:59:00 PM, 10th January, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Additional Information

• Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions.  The selected candidate will be subject to an overall term of five years with no possibility of renewal beyond that term. This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).
• 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.

Note

• 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.