Head, Building Projects Section

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 208,988 USD and 261,909 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.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Building Projects Section, Premises and Infrastructure, Central Services Division, Administration, Finance and Management Sector.

Premises and Infrastructure oversees the management and modernization of all buildings on the WIPO Campus in terms, its infrastructure, and technical facilities.

b. Purpose Statement

The main role of the Head of Section is to fully contribute to the evolving needs of the Organization’s Headquarters premises development, by adapting, renovating, and modernizing them. S/he is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction, and required management for premises related projects, particularly in the context of WIPO heritage building renovation projects. S/he ensures the supervision of a small internal team of staff.

c. Reporting Lines

The Head, reports to the Director of the Central Services Division, Administration, Finance and Management Sector.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent performs the following principal duties:

a. Develop and advise senior leadership on an overall building modernization strategy for the WIPO Campus at its Geneva Headquarters as well as for its External Offices. Considering building technical constraints, local and federal construction norms, rules and laws, WIPO business requirements and environmental responsibility.

b. Ensure alignment and prioritization of the Section’s portfolio of projects/works with the Organization’s strategic goals enabling the Organization to continue to respond to changing business needs as expressed by the management and the staff.

c. Define and oversee a portfolio of projects and works, guiding technical decisions, ensuring budget validation, compliance and monitoring, and leading works completion in terms of cost, quality, timeline, and security. Manage an associated risk register and implement relevant mitigation measures.

d. Lead the Building projects Section staff, developing their skills to help achieving the section’s goals.

e. Manage the Organization’s contractors related to each project, defining terms of reference, participating to their selection, and ensuring contract fulfillment by monitoring their performance.

f. As a project manager and owner’s representative, ensure that all works and premises/facilities comply with architectural and technical standards and norms, advanced environmental benchmarks, health, and safety rules and contractual commitments.

g. Systematically collaborate and proactively coordinate with the Service responsible for premises management and maintenance. Collaborate with other WIPO functions such as Budget, Finance, and Procurement to implement projects compliantly.

h. Provide information to the Member States, including to the General Assembly as well as to various internal and external audit and oversight entities, covering all areas of responsibility.

i. Develop and maintain working relationships with Host Country authorities, at federal, state and city levels in all areas of responsibility, as well as with other relevant Host Country public and private entities.

j. Build and enhance strategic partnerships with other UN agencies across areas of responsibility; represent WIPO at meetings in that context, as well as with other international stakeholders.

k. Undertake any other task as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in Architecture, Construction Science, Construction Management, Engineering, or other relevant discipline. A first-level university degree plus an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

Additional certification and/or extensive experience as a Building Project Manager.

Experience (Essential)

At least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in at least one of the following: architecture, engineering in building-related projects management, of which at least three years in a supervisory role, in an international environment (public or private sector).

Experience (Desirable)

Solid experience in leading and implementing large and/or complex office building construction or renovation projects in Switzerland, managing construction, specialists, and expert contractors.

Understanding and experience of working in compliance with SIA (and/or alike) norms, contracts, and Swiss cantonal/federal construction laws.

Experience of office modernization projects.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English and French.

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent Project Management skills in the context of construction/renovation projects and works.

Excellent ability to manage construction projects from a financial standpoint, from budget forecast to close monitoring.

Very good knowledge of building techniques and installations such as HVAC, Electrical, Sanitary, Building Management Systems (BMS), Energy Management, Fire and Life Safety Systems, as well as Drawings Management systems and tools, etc.

Ability to visualize and advise senior leadership on the impact of strategies on building- and infrastructure-related issues.

Proven ability to lead and manage diverse teams of professional and technical experts, with strong skills in inclusive leadership, team building and motivation; ability to take decisions under pressure and work under tight deadlines.

Excellent judgment with proven ability to handle complex interrelated and/or sensitive and critical issues, strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Ability to skillfully manage potentially contentious interactions and deliver difficult messages with integrity in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Demonstrated high level of diligence, responsibility, integrity, objectivity, and fairness, with the ability to handle confidential and sensitive material and exercise initiative, discretion and sound, expert judgment.

Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal, public speaking and presentation skills.

Ability to manage diverse and multicultural teams.

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 May 2024 rate of 85.9%

P5

Annual salary

$90,664

Post adjustment

$77,880

Total Salary

$168,544

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 fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions. The selected candidate’s appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with no possibility of renewal beyond that term. S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

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.

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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.