Program Management Officer

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.

Organizational Context:

a)       Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Accessible Books Consortium Secretariat of the Copyright Management Division, Copyright and Creative Industries Sector and is based at WIPO HQ in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) was established in June 2014 to implement the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.  ABC is a public–private partnership led by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that brings together key stakeholders. The Marrakesh Treaty benefits persons who are blind, have low vision, are dyslexic or have mobility impairments that impact their ability to read the printed word (“people who are print disabled”).

ABC’s goal is to increase and make available books in accessible formats (such as braille, audio and e-text) through three main activities:

•    ABC Global Book Service (“the Service”), which is a centralized catalogue of over 870,000 accessible format books in 80 languages available for cross border exchange under the framework of the Marrakesh Treaty;

•    training and technical assistance provided in developing and least developed countries for the production of accessible format books;

•    the promotion of inclusive publishing practices with publishers.

ABC has an Advisory Board that is currently comprised of the representatives of 16 organizations, which meet with the ABC Secretariat regularly.

b)      Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to elicit and meet the needs of beneficiaries and authorized entities (AEs) as defined in the Marrakesh Treaty by ensuring that ABC technical platforms and tools continue to be useful for people who are print disabled through the elaboration and recommendation of appropriate solutions.  The incumbent will work closely with members of the ABC Secretariat and ICTD’s Solution Design and Delivery.

c)       Reporting Lines

The Program Management Officer works under the supervision of the Head, ABC.

Duties and responsibilities:

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

(a)     Analyze the needs of AEs, other partners and beneficiaries, with a view to the continuous improvement of the ABC Global Book Service, ABC application programming interfaces (APIs), and other software, including the preparation of the corresponding business and functional specifications for the development of technical enhancements and new functions by the off-shore developers.

(b)     In cooperation with SDD, work with off-shore developers on prototyping, user testing and implementation of technical enhancements and new functions. Participate in regular teleconferences and meetings with the off-shore developers to track progress and ensure that the technical tools are aligned with ABC’s requirements and specifications.  Manage and participate in the user acceptance testing of all new releases.

(c)     Assist with expanding the number of AEs in the ABC Global Book Service, as well as promote the increased utilization of the Service, including the ABC APIs. Prepare relevant communications to prospective and current AEs, other partners and beneficiaries, as well as provide training sessions to AEs in how to use the Service.

(d)     Work closely with SDD in the development, promotion and deployment of ABC partners’ software, including TCS-WIPO Access Infinity library management software and the Dolphin EasyReader application.  Ensure that such software works seamlessly with the ABC Global Book Service and has optimized functionality for people who are print disabled.

(e)     Supervise the integration of new AE collections of accessible format copies of works in the ABC catalogue. Maintain and monitor the ongoing data-harvesting and file exchange of the current AE collections of accessible format copies of works, including analyzing, mapping and cleaning of metadata.

(f)      Prepare and review documents or presentations for events, meetings/ teleconferences with ABC Board members, other stakeholders, as well as Member State delegates and other government officials.

(g)     Assist the Head, ABC in the management and implementation of the main activities of the Accessible Books Consortium.

(h)     Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements:

Essential

First level university degree in business, marketing, information technology or related discipline.

Desirable

Certification in project management.

Certification in business analysis.

Experience

Essential

At least six years of proven professional experience in the public or private sector in business analysis/business development/project management, as well as implementation of technology solutions for business needs. This should include exposure to APIs, web-based technologies, relational and non-relational databases, XML and file transfer protocols.

Experience working within a multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural environment.

Desirable

Experience working in a UN specialized agency.

Languages

Essential: 

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Desirable:

Knowledge of other UN languages.

Job-related competencies:

Essential

Ability to multi-task under tight deadlines, with an attention to detail.

Demonstrated ability to deliver results within a set time period.

Sound political judgment working in a multicultural environment.

Excellent ability to synthesize and present information clearly, accurately and logically, both orally and in writing, for different audiences.

Commitment and dedication to the humanitarian objectives of the Marrakesh Treaty and ABC, as well as sensitivity to disability related issues. 

Good understanding of computer systems design, testing and deployment within a large organization.

Demonstrated ability to draft clear and coherent business specifications and conversely express technical concepts in non-technical terms.

Ease, flexibility and tact in personal contacts at all levels.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, and the ability to adapt quickly to new software.

Desirable

Knowledge and understanding of accessible format standards and the assistive technology used by people who are blind, visually impaired or are otherwise print-disabled. 

Knowledge and understanding of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)