Conference Manager

Overview

Organize and supervise all WIPO meeting activities efficiently.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in public or business administration, communications, languages, international relations, social sciences or a related discipline.
• At least seven years’ relevant responsible professional/operational experience at international and managerial levels in both meeting/conference and event organization.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and of French.
• Knowledge of other official UN languages.
• Political judgment and ability to anticipate potential sensitivities.
• Strong customer and service focus, solution oriented.
• Excellent people and resource management skills.
• Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.
• Excellent skills in planning, coordination and delivery of services, with the ability to work under pressure, respect deadlines and to handle multiple concurrent projects and activities.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Good level of IT awareness and an interest in keeping abreast of developments in the area of IT.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 173,480 USD and 223,666 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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

1. Organizational Setting

The position is located in the Diplomatic Engagement and Assemblies Affairs Division, Sector of the Director General. The Division is responsible for all engagements with the diplomatic community in Geneva through various avenues such as events and meetings, as well as oversee the administrative, logistical and other aspects of key meetings such as the WIPO General Assemblies.

2. Purpose Statement

The Conference Manager is responsible for the organization of all WIPO meeting activities by ensuring the highest degree of planning and coordination efficiency. The incumbent organizes and supervises the work of the WIPO Conference Team and liaises closely with officials throughout the Organization to advise on conference related procedures.

3. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of and reports directly to the Director, Diplomatic Engagement and Assemblies Affairs Division.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. establish and maintain strong and effective work relationships with WIPO internal and external (Member States, NGOs and IGOs) stakeholders; provides advice and guidance on their specific needs; develop, plan and identify requirements and budgets for arrangements relating to the organization of meetings and of events held on WIPO premises.

b. develop and implement forward-looking, innovative and cost-effective approaches and measures to enhance conference management support and promote new concepts of event management; identify innovative conference management opportunities and consult with key customers and relevant services with a view to enhancing and modernizing working methods. Liaise with the IT Division to continuously improve technologies and systems for virtual participation, electronic documents management and conference registration.

c. ensure the provision of the necessary services required for the WIPO Assemblies, including related events and side events; ensure that a high level of service is provided and take authoritative action to address problems or short falls.

d. respond to queries on rental, organization of meetings and of events, and general information requests.

e. develop policies and standards in relation to the logistical aspects of meetings and events, and oversee their implementation.

f. supervise and monitor the conference team's work.

g. represent the Organization in United Nations meetings on matters relating to meeting/conference and document services.

h. perform other related duties, as and when required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in public or business administration, communications, languages, international relations, social sciences or a related discipline. 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.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years’ relevant responsible professional / operational experience at the international and managerial levels in both meeting/conference and event organization.

Proven ability to organize high-level meetings and a wide range of events with minimum supervision.

Language (Essential)

Excellent command of written and spoken English and of French.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Political judgment and ability to anticipate potential sensitivities.

Strong customer and service focus, solution oriented.

Excellent people and resource management skills.

Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.

Excellent skills in planning, coordination and delivery of services, with the ability to work under pressure, respect deadlines and to handle multiple concurrent projects and activities.

Excellent drafting skills.

Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Good level of IT awareness and an interest in keeping abreast of developments in the area of IT.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet.

4. Organizational Competencies

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.

5. Information

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 2022 rate of 73.5%

P4

Annual salary

$75,602

Post adjustment

$55,567

Total Salary

$131,169

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

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.

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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.

Potential interview questions