Assistant Program 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 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 complementary capacity-building and technical assistance projects and 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 plan, organize and coordinate the administration of sessions of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) and related meetings and activities.  The incumbent also designs and implements capacity building and technical assistance projects, analyzes and interprets data, and recommends corrective action in relation to particular components or phases of projects.

 

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 to exchange, obtain, clarify and discuss information on meetings of the IGC and on project background and standardized aspects of project formulation and implementation.

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

(a)      Plan, organize, coordinate and participate, as a member of the WIPO Secretariat in, sessions of the IGC and related meetings and activities;  prepare working, information and informal documents as needed;  administer and coordinate mechanisms related to indigenous participation;  administer the WIPO Voluntary Fund.

 

(b)      Provide support for the design and planning of capacity-building and technical assistance activities and projects, including internal and external training and awareness-raising activities, seminars and workshops; deliver training and presentations; monitor specific aspects of implementation, identifying project problems and propose actions to expedite delivery of inputs.

 

(c)      Provide information to, keep informed of, and report on the work and programs of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations in relation to IP and GRs, TK and/or TCEs with a view to facilitating coordination and cooperation.

 

(d)      Draft standard memoranda of understanding, studies, terms of reference, reports and other documents to support the work of the Division;  conduct research on assigned topics; provide inputs for and/or update the Division’s publications.

 

(e)      Maintain contacts with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to share information on the Division’s activities including on funding options.

 

(f)       Contribute to the preparation of internal reports, workplans and other administrative documents for the Division.

 

(g)      Follow and report on developments in relevant WIPO Committees and programs;  ensure the regular updating of the Division’s website; and, draft e-updates and content for newsletters, ensuring their timely publication.

 

(h)      Perform other related duties as required.

 

 

Education

       Essential

First-level university degree in law, economics, international relations, development studies or a related field.

Desirable

Project management certification.

Experience

       Essential

       At least three years of relevant professional experience, including experience working in an IP institution or other institution responsible for development cooperation policies and procedures.  Experience in organizing and coordinating meetings and processes.

       Desirable

       Experience in policy and legal analysis in relation to intellectual property, preferably in relation to GRs, TK and/or TCEs.

       Experience in the organization, planning and coordination of intergovernmental meetings.

Languages

       Essential

       Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

       Desirable

       Knowledge of other UN official languages.

Job-Related Competencies

       Essential

Knowledge of development concerns and needs in various countries.

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

Sound knowledge of project management methodologies.

Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team.

Excellent communication, diplomatic, presentation, time-management and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

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

 

 

 

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%

 

P2
Annual salary	$46,026
Post adjustment	$36,591
Total Salary	$82,617
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.