UX Lead

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is a specialized agency of the United Nations. WIPO was established in 1967 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization aims to promote the protection of intellectual property worldwide through cooperation among states and in collaboration with international organizations. WIPO has a diverse workforce of over 1,000 employees from various countries, working in multiple locations globally to support its mission of fostering innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

Job Overview:
The UX Lead position is situated within the Digital Initiatives Unit of the Information and Communication Technology Department (ICTD) at WIPO. This role is pivotal in driving the organization's digital transformation by ensuring that user experience (UX) is at the forefront of WIPO’s external digital ecosystem. The UX Lead will be responsible for coordinating user experience research and design, integrating user insights into the development of WIPO’s business applications, and advocating for user-centric design practices across the organization. The incumbent will work closely with various stakeholders to deliver UX initiatives that align with WIPO's strategic goals, ensuring that the user experience is not only effective but also enhances overall satisfaction and engagement with WIPO’s digital products.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The UX Lead will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to: developing and overseeing the implementation of WIPO’s UX strategy, establishing governance frameworks with stakeholders, defining user research standards, advocating for user perspectives in design processes, providing expert advice on improving user experiences, driving product innovation through high-quality designs, participating in product development meetings, fostering innovation by integrating market trends into UX strategies, ensuring compliance with usability and accessibility standards, overseeing external UX consultants, defining and monitoring key performance indicators for UX initiatives, and planning workshops to promote user-centricity within the organization.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in User Experience Design or a related discipline. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. Additionally, certification in user research, service design, accessible design, or sustainable design is desirable. Essential qualifications also include at least seven years of progressive professional experience in UX design, particularly in user research and leading large-scale digital initiatives. Experience in comparable multilateral or international organizations is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in User Experience Design or a related field. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by relevant professional experience. Desirable educational qualifications include certifications in user research, service design, accessible design, or sustainable design, which would enhance the candidate's profile for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressive relevant professional experience in UX design, with a strong emphasis on user research. Candidates should have experience leading large-scale digital initiatives, demonstrating their capability to manage complex projects and deliver impactful results. Experience in international or multilateral organizations is also beneficial, as it indicates familiarity with diverse working environments and stakeholder engagement.

Languages:
The essential language requirement for this position is excellent written and spoken knowledge of English. Knowledge of other UN languages, particularly French, is considered desirable, as it would facilitate communication within the multicultural environment of WIPO and enhance collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a limited-term fixed-term appointment for an initial duration of two years, with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions. The selected candidate may be required to relocate to different functions or duty stations as needed. The total annual salary for this position is approximately $139,419 USD, which includes a net annual salary and a post adjustment based on the cost of living. Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official exchange rate of the United Nations. WIPO encourages applications from qualified women and nationals from unrepresented Member States and underrepresented geographical regions. The organization reserves the right to appoint at a lower grade than advertised if necessary.