Senior Product and Project Manager

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 Context

a.    Organizational Setting

Within the Copyright and Creative Industries Sector, and under the Copyright Management Division, the WIPO for Creators Secretariat plays a critical role in supporting the WIPO for Creators Governance Committee, Product Board and Advisory Board to set the strategy, develop the product, recruit sponsors and implement, in particular, the Creators Platform.  WIPO for Creators is led by the Senior Product and Project Manager, WIPO for Creators, under the guidance of the Director, Copyright Management Division, the Governance Committee and the Product Board.

b.    Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to lead the work of the WIPO for Creators Secretariat and collaborate closely with the WIPO senior management, and staff in other relevant Sectors and partners to develop and deliver on a multi-year Creators Platform product strategy and roadmap, ensuring that development represents value for money and responds to creators’ needs globally.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director, Copyright Management Division (CMD), and with guidance from the WIPO for Creators Governance Committee and Product Board, both chaired by the Director General and with the advice from the Advisory Board, chaired by the Director, CMD.  The Senior Product and Project Manager is an autonomous role with delegated authority to take key decisions in the relevant areas of work.

2.      Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.   Serve as the Creators Platform Senior Product and Project Manager, exercising best practice product and team management responsibility, and due diligence risk taking;

Deliver the platform as defined by the Product Board, and lead the product team, including technical, content, promotion, digital and product UX/UI tracks; oversee the development and maintenance of the Creators Platform and ensure the execution of the product strategy and roadmap; manage requirements, prioritization, and take decisions on features to be implemented; ensure compliance and risk management related to product;

b.   Lead and oversee Creators Platform launch and subsequent releases, in close collaboration with Product Board, partners and relevant WIPO units;

c.   Organize internal consultations and ensure the timely approval of contractors’ deliverables in accordance with Product Board guidance and the Financial Regulations and Rules;

d.   Diligently manage supplier and partner relationships, biennial regular budgets, and the WIPO for Creators Funds-in-Trust, including budgetary signoff for invoices and travel; monitor supplier and product performance against agreed KPIs;

e.   Supervise and coordinate a team responsible for managing the WIPO for Creators Secretariat and Creators Platform product delivery and management, including direct reports and, as their work on the Creators Platform is concerned, technical, content, product UX/UI and social media leads, as well as external consultants;

f.    Coordinate and collaborate with founding partner Music Rights Awareness Foundation, interacting on a day-to-day basis with its Executive management and senior consultant(s);

g.   Lead the development of promotion, fundraising, and marketing campaigns and ensure that industry bodies and relevant WIPO units are consulted on content, product and promotion;

h.   Oversee the organization of the Governance Committee, Advisory Board, Product Board, and Annual meetings, and serve as the Secretary as required;

i.    Oversee stakeholder relations and ensure timely responses to enquiries from external stakeholders;

j.    Represent WIPO for Creators externally at industry events and other for a;

k.   Perform other related tasks as required.

3.      Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree, ideally with qualifications in IT project management. A 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)

Training (ideally certified) in Program Management, Service Management, Agile Product Development, Agile Project or Product Management.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years' relevant experience in the field of product, program or project management.

Proven experience dealing with multiple complex work tracks simultaneously at an organizational level and reporting to senior management.

Experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders.

Experience managing complex IT projects.

Experience (Desirable)

Proven experience implementing Agile and Waterfall projects.

Experience in managing multi-cultural teams, working both on-site and remotely.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of another UN official language.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent ability to understand and navigate complex political dynamics.

Ability to understand and manage consensus among stakeholders with diverging interests to reach common decisions.

Ability to formulate IT business specifications and to work with IT specialists to formulate technical specifications.

 Proven ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

Demonstrated soft skills in critical thinking, creativity, problem solving and adaptability.

Ability to easily grasp and communicate complex ideas.

Ability to work accurately and respect strict deadlines.

Proven stakeholder management skills, including senior level stakeholders and peers outside of the reporting lines.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.