Senior Legal Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE\:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local date and time.

a.    Organizational Setting

The position is located in the Central Services Division (CSD) of the Corporate Management and Transformation Sector (CMTS). The Division is responsible for the strategic and operational procurement of goods and services, individual consultancies, travel and event arrangements, campus sustainability programs, and the continuous modernization, maintenance, and facility management of WIPO Headquarters infrastructure.

b.    Purpose Statement

The Senior Legal Officer serves as the lead commercial and regulatory legal counsel for CSD, ensuring that all operations, tendering exercises, and contractual commitments strictly adhere to WIPO's regulatory frameworks while proactively mitigating operational, financial, and reputational risk.
The primary purpose of this role is to enable the Organization to secure vital commercial and technological capabilities through robust, agile, and legally sound contracting. By steering high-stakes commercial negotiations, serving in a senior governance capacity on the Contract Review Committee (CRC), orchestrating audit compliance, and anchoring the Division's enterprise risk register, the incumbent acts as a strategic legal partner who safeguards WIPO's institutional interests, ensures accountability and value for money, and upholds operational continuity.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the Director of the Division, with functional accountability to the High-Level Officer for Procurement (HLOP) for dedicated assignments and advice on specialized commercial frameworks or regulatory matters.

d.    Work Relations

The incumbent serves as legal advisor across all sections of CSD, coordinating closely with the Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC) on institutional governance, disputes, and regulatory matters. The role acts as Secretary to the CRC and serves as the primary focal point for internal and external audits, evaluations, and enterprise risk management initiatives.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

a.   Commercial Contracting and Strategic Procurement Support\:

Provide lifecycle procurement legal advice on drafting, negotiating, and concluding complex commercial agreements (contracts, Long Term Agreements, SLAs, MoUs, settlements) with particular focus on IT/Cloud/AI technologies, construction, and campus facility management. Engage directly in negotiations with suppliers whenever needed.

b.   High-Level Legal Advice and Policy Guidance\:

Advise Sector leadership, the Director of CSD, and the HLOP on interpreting, applying, and updating WIPO’s rules and regulations, Office Instructions and other administrative issuances from the Division.

c.   Policy Research and Process Improvement\:

Research procurement and contracting policy trends, especially in IT, construction, and emerging technologies; propose best-practice improvements and coordinate related sector initiatives under HLOP/Director guidance; update and improve the Division's regulatory documentation.

d.   Guidance and Legal advice\:

Provide advice to CSD personnel and across WIPO on the rules and regulations of procurement, travel and premises.

e.   Coordination and Dispute Representation\:

Coordinate the Division’s legal activities with the Office of Legal Counsel and participate regularly in meetings on complex legal issues; in collaboration with the Office of the Legal Counsel, represent the Organization before any arbitral or administrative hearings resulting from a procurement action.

f.    Governance and Committee Secretariat\:

Serve in a senior secretarial capacity for the Contract Review Committee and related boards or task forces to advance sound managerial and legal practices for WIPO.

g.   Institutional Representation\:

Represent CSD and CMTS at specialized meetings, internal bodies, and committees, deliver presentations and prepare high-level legal documentation.

h.   Risk Management Focal Point\:

Act as the Division's risk management focal point and advise the Director on the management of legal and business risks; review and report on the identified risks and associated mitigation plans; manage the inclusion of the Division's risks in WIPO's Enterprise Risk Management tool.

i.    Audit Focal Point\: Act as the Division's audit focal point, advising the Director on the management of any ongoing audits or evaluations and the implementation of agreed management actions; maintain the Division's inputs in the relevant digital audit management software platform and portal of audit recommendations.

j.    Perform other duties as required.

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in law, preferably with an emphasis on commercial law, contract law, international law, or public procurement law.

A first-level university degree in law plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the experience requested below may be acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of progressively responsible professional legal experience in contract drafting, complex negotiation, and legal advisory services.

Experience in drafting procedures and regulatory frameworks.

Experience with legal advice in the context of public or private procurement.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in an international environment, such as in international or multinational organizations.

Experience in drafting/reviewing commercial contracts in the latest IT technologies (including AI) or services such as Cloud or managed services.

Experience in Swiss commercial law (Code des obligations).

Experience in building/construction contracts.

Experience in risk management and audit management.

Experience in service in the capacity of Secretary of key committees.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English or French and good working knowledge of the other since WIPO contracts are drafted in both languages.

Language (Desirable)

Excellent knowledge of both English and French.

Working knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent legal drafting and attention to detail.

Excellent negotiation skills, business acumen and commercial awareness.

Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with an ability to prioritize and to meet deadlines.

High level of client-orientation.

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.

Proficiency in modern workplace productivity suites (Microsoft 365).

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Proficiency in enterprise procurement platforms/ERM tools, and an ability to leverage digital and AI-enabled productivity tools effectively as applied to legal drafting and legal research.

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.

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 September 2026 rate of 83.7%

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

Additional Information

Temporary appointments are renewable, subject to continuing needs, availability of budget and satisfactory performance with a maximum cumulative length of two years.

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 your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here\: http\://www.whed.net/. Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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.