Head - Policy and Legislative Advice Section

 

The post is located in the Policy and Legislative Advice Section of the Law and Legislative Advice Division, Brands and Designs Sector. This Division is responsible for the implementation of WIPO's strategic goal concerning the balanced evolution of the international normative framework for intellectual property in the area of trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications and the law against unfair competition, and for providing assistance to Member States in drafting and updating their national legislation in the aforementioned fields of IP.

 

 

The incumbent is responsible for providing expert and authoritative legal advice and supervision of the staff and work of the Section  that facilitates normative outcomes for the international law of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications at all levels of the normative hierarchy, including new international treaties, the amendment and updating of existing international agreements and soft law instruments, and which advises Member States in the development of balanced legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks in that area. The main role of the incumbent is to independently carry out policy and legal work  on issues related to trademark, industrial design and geographical indication law,  supervise and review work of Section staff, and provide authoritative advice to senior management, Member States and other stakeholders  on policy and legal issues related to  trademarks,  industrial  designs and  geographical  indications.

 

 

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Senior Director of the Law and Legislative Advice Division.

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

(a)  Lead, plan and control the work of the Section ensuring the effective management and efficient use of all financial, human and other resources; submit planning and budget proposals and activities in conformity with defined outcomes and objectives; supervise, evaluate and monitor individual and team performance levels in accordance with results-based management principles and follow up as appropriate.

(b)   Provide policy and legal advice on issues relating to  trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

(c)   Supervise the activities related to procedures under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

(d)   Develop and implement activities furthering the accession of countries to the Trademark Law Treaty and the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, and provide legal advice in this connection.

(e)    Draft and review  legal instruments, such as treaty texts, agreements and other legislative materials.

(f)     Provide secretariat services to relevant committees and bodies dealing with matters falling within the competence of the Section; prepare notes and statements, formulate and revise texts and proposals, analyze and clarify legal issues and provide authoritative advice.

(g)    Coordinate, approve and undertake research  and studies, particularly in relation to intricate and/or sensitive areas as well as legal precedents.

(h)    Plan, organize and participate in meetings with senior management and external stakeholders on legal aspects of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications, matters of common concern, priorities  and capacity building.

(i)      Represent the Organization at specialized meetings and established bodies of the Organization, provide legal expertise  on all aspects of trademark, industrial design and geographical indication law within overall policy considerations,.

(j)     Perform other related duties as required.

 

 

 

 

 

At least twelve years of relevant professional experience in the field of trademark, industrial design and geographical indication law, including experience at the international level.

 

 

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English, and good written and spoken knowledge of French or Spanish.

 

 

Good written and spoken knowledge of French.

Good written and spoken knowledge of Spanish.

 

 

Excellent knowledge of legal and policy issues in trademark, industrial design and geographical indication law and the respective international treaties.

 

 

 

Ability to manage teams and workloads.

Ability to draft complex legal texts.

Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research independently.

Ability to communicate complex legal subject-matter to a diverse audience and to formulate opinions on complex legal questions.

Excellent organizational skills.

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

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and

PowerPoint and the internet, and the ability to adapt quickly to new software.