Director, Internal Oversight Division

The Director, IOD, will be appointed for a non renewable fixed-term of six years. S/he shall not be eligible for any future employment in WIPO.

 

 

 

1. Organizational Setting

 

The post is located in the Internal Oversight Division (IOD). IOD serves to assess in an independent manner, WIPO operations and activities based on risks and relevance to WIPO management and constituencies with a view towards promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the Secretariat’s work. IOD provides stakeholders assurance on the adequacy and effectiveness of WIPO’s governance, risk management, and control processes through the conduct of independent and objective oversight activities; to conduct audits; evaluations; advisory assignments; and investigations into allegations of wrongdoing and misconduct; and to facilitate the adoption and implementation of best practices related to assurance and oversight.

 

2. Purpose Statement

 

The main role of the Director, IOD is to contribute to the efficient management of the Organization and the accountability of the Director General to the Member States. S/he is responsible for providing leadership, direction and management for the oversight functions of IOD, namely, internal audit, investigation and evaluation, including the direct supervision of senior Section heads, and ensuring oversight is focused on added value to the Organization.

 

3. Reporting Lines

 

Reporting administratively to the Director General, the Director, IOD, works in accordance with the provisions of WIPO’s Internal Oversight Charter and has functional and operational independence in the conduct of his/her duties, with the authority to initiate, carry out and report on any action, which s/he considers necessary to fulfil his/her mandate. In the exercise of his/her duties, s/he takes advice from the WIPO Independent Advisory Oversight Committee (IAOC) who shall provide input into the annual performance exercise.

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.   Provide strategic vision, leadership and direction through the creation and promotion of medium- and long-term strategies, policies and frameworks, promoting continuous improvement and added value within the Organization through the integration of oversight findings, lessons learned and recommendations into policy, strategy and program formulation and implementation.

 

b.   Ensure the work of IOD conforms to generally accepted international auditing, investigation and evaluation standards, principles, guidelines and best practices within the scope of the WIPO internal oversight mandate

 

c.   Provide the Director General, Member States, General Assembly and management at large with independent, objective assurance, advice and reporting designed to add value to and improve WIPO’s operations as well as emphasize transparency; support WIPO in accomplishing its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined and objective approach to assess and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of WIPO’s operations, internal control framework, risk management, results-based management and governance processes.

 

d.   Prepare an annual-, risk-, priority- and added value-based oversight plan which will deliver the services and outputs required by WIPO, in consultation with the Director General and the External Auditor. Identify and evaluate significant exposure to risk and develop criteria for effective risk assessment in pursuit of business initiatives.

 

e.   Develop and maintain a quality assurance/improvement program covering all aspects of internal audit, evaluations and investigations including periodic internal and external reviews and ongoing self-assessments.

 

f.    Review and appraise the reliability, effectiveness and integrity of the Organization’s internal control mechanisms, organizational structures, systems and processes, and the effective, efficient and economical use, and the safeguarding of human, financial and material resources of the Organization, ensuring WIPO resources are being used for the purposes intended in an efficient and effective manner.

 

g.   Direct the Division’s portfolio of work and exercise strategic asset management, developing capacities and insights to flexibly deploy resources into value added activities and away from areas without comparative advantage. Assume responsibility for the collective results of the Sections in the Division and ensure appropriate controls for monitoring and reporting, performance management, motivation of staff and other appropriate measures for the optimal utilization of resources.

 

h.   Seek advice from the Independent Advisory Oversight Committee (IAOC) on oversight policies and oversight manuals, on the oversight strategies and work plans, and report quarterly to the IAOC on progress made in implementing the annual work plan and on the follow-up of oversight recommendations.

 

i.    Represent the Organization at high-level meetings within the UN common system organizations, internal and external oversight entities, Member States structures, multilateral financial institutions and other international organizations including to strengthen collaboration and joint programing in view of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

 

j.    Perform such other related duties as assigned.

 

 

 

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree (Masters level) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Audit, Law, Finance, Accounting or other relevant field.

 

One or more professional certification(s) from a recognized auditing or accountancy body (CA, ACCA, CPA, CIA, CFE, CPM, CISA or equivalent).

 

Experience (Essential)

At least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in two or more of the following audit, evaluation and/or investigation, management advisory services, business process improvement, organizational governance and oversight and risk management of which at least five years at senior management and policy making level in an international environment or in the private sector.

 

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

 

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of French or other official UN languages.

 

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Strategic vision to drive and influence oversight reforms; proven ability to innovate and conceptualize complex issues and formulate strategic, realistic, risk informed recommendations for addressing problems.

 

Sound knowledge of international auditing and accounting standards, corporate governance, risk management internal control practices, and evolving best practices, as well as investigative processes.

 

Demonstrated ability to understand the Organization’s business strategies and context.

 

Sound understanding of enterprise solutions, data analytics and digital auditing tools/technologies; ability to drive strategies that leverage technology.

 

Proven ability to lead and manage diverse teams of experts, with strong skills in inclusive leadership, team building and motivation.

 

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; deliver difficult messages with integrity in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; take decisions under pressure and work under tight deadlines.

 

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.

 

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Familiarity with either international organizations, including in the United Nations common system, or the private sector and with intellectual property administration.

 

Strong knowledge of United Nations system policies, rules, regulations and procedures and inter-governmental governance.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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 October 2022 rate of 71%

 

D1
Annual salary	$103,660
Post adjustment	$73,599
Total Salary	$177,259
Currency USD

 

 

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

 

Additional Information

 

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.