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 post is located in the Traditional Knowledge Division. The Division facilitates international negotiations on intellectual property (IP) and genetic resources (GRs), traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) and undertakes a wide range of capacity-building and technical assistance activities for the benefit of Member States, regional organizations and indigenous and local communities.

 

b.  Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to act as a technical specialist on IP and TCEs and contribute to formulating legal and policy advice to Member States, regional organizations and other stakeholders on issues related to TCEs, as well as GRs and TK, and provide secretariat services to the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), assisting in the substantive and administrative facilitation of the negotiations. The incumbent also contributes to the design, organization and implementation of capacity-building and technical assistance activities.

 

c.  Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Traditional Knowledge Division.

 

d.  Work Relations

The incumbent works closely with other WIPO programs and Member States, the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations and other stakeholders, especially indigenous peoples and local communities.

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

(a)      Prepare drafts of working, information and informal documents for the IGC, and assist with the preparations for, and provide substantive and administrative support, as a member of the WIPO Secretariat, to the IGC process and related meetings.

(b)      Conduct research on specific topics related to IP and TCEs, as well as GRs and TK, where precedent and/or practice exists;  analyze and present results, prepare drafts of related studies and reports;  draft, review, edit and provide input to legal opinions and other documents, such as correspondence, courses, official publications, information resources and other materials.

(c)      Contribute to the design, planning, organization and implementation of, and participate in, practical capacity-building and technical assistance activities and projects, including internal and external training and awareness-raising activities, seminars, workshops and practical projects.

(d)      Keep informed of and report to the Director on the work and programs of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations in relation to IP and TCEs, as well as GRs and TK, with a view to facilitating coordination and cooperation.

(e)      Draft terms of reference for consultants; review the work of consultants and interns tasked with undertaking studies and other activities.

(f)       Represent the Organization at conferences and meetings organized by Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as other institutions or entities, by providing information and technical assistance based on established policies and guidelines; facilitate dialogue and liaison among stakeholders and follow-up on meeting outcomes.

(g)      As assigned by the Director of the Division, coordinate the work for particular segments or aspects of the Division’s activities undertaken by ad hoc teams.

(h)      Perform other related tasks as required.

 

 

 

Education

       Essential

       First level university degree in law.

       Desirable

       Post graduate specialization in intellectual property law, preferably related to TCEs.

 

Experience

       Essential

       At least six years of relevant professional experience, including in the field of intellectual property law.

       Desirable

       Experience at the international level in policy and legal analysis and capacity-building in relation to IP and TCEs.

       A record of publications in relevant areas.

 

Languages

       Essential

       Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

       Desirable

       Good knowledge of French and/or Spanish.

 

Job-Related competencies

       Essential

Ability to analyze legal questions and draft legal texts.

Ability to design, organize and implement capacity-building projects and other practical technical-assistance activities.

Sound knowledge of applicable legal principles of intellectual property law.

Communication skills with the ability to present clearly and logically in written and oral form.

Organizational and time management skills and the ability and drive to complete tasks within strict deadlines.

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

       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.

       Desirable

     Familiarity with the activities and procedures of the United Nations system.

 

 

 

1.  Communicating effectively.

2.  Respecting individual and cultural differences.

3.  Showing team spirit.

4.  Managing yourself.

5.  Producing results.

6.  Embracing change.

7.  Respecting ethics and values.

 

 

 

Mobility\:  Candidates appointed to an international position with WIPO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

 

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.  The post adjustment (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change without notice in accordance with the rates as set within the UN Common System for salaries and allowances.  The figures quoted below are based on the March 2017 rate of 79.5%

 

P3
Annual salary	$58,583
Post adjustment	$46,573
Total Salary	$105,156
Currency USD

 

 

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.