Head (Mark and Design)

 

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 International Patent Classification Section of the International Classifications and Standards Division. This Division is responsible for the establishment, maintenance and dynamic updating of international classifications and standards to bridge the gaps between IP offices working in different systems and languages and to enable efficient data flow. The four international classification systems that facilitate and simplify IP searches, organizing information concerning inventions, trademarks, and industrial designs into indexed, manageable structures for easy retrieval are\: the International Patent Classification (IPC), the Nice Classification (for marks), the Vienna Classification (for figurative elements of marks), and the Locarno Classification (for industrial designs). The WIPO standards facilitate access, use, international exchange and dissemination of IP information among stakeholders in the world.

 

b.               Purpose Statement

 

The main role of the incumbent is to manage the work of the section and play a lead role in the formulation and implementation of an updated and refined Nice, Locarno and Vienna system, and to organize the provision of secretariat services to the Committee of Experts and the Working Group of those Unions (hereafter “relevant unions”).

 

c.               Reporting Lines

 

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director, International Classifications and Standards Division. 

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.     Provide support to the Director of the International Classification and Standards Division in the Nice, Locarno and Vienna Classifications (hereafter “relevant classifications”) related issues, including program and budget perspective of those unions.

 

b.     Develop and update the strategy on development on relevant Classifications through coordination with member states under the general policy instruction by the Director.

 

c.     Serve as Secretary, and supervise the organization of sessions of, the Committees of Experts and their Working Groups of the relevant unions; ensure the timely preparation of proposals and other required documentation, supervise the organization of e-forum discussions, and oversee the drafting of session reports.

 

d.     Prepare the Section’s workplans, set performance indicators, determine priorities, assign work and monitoring implementation, ensuring the timely and quality delivery of work products in accordance with commitments and results-based management principles and supervise the staff of the Section, monitor and provide regular feedback on performance; conduct performance evaluation meetings and ensure timely finalization of performance evaluation exercises.

 

e.     Supervise the preparation and timely publications of the relevant Classifications; supervise the follow-up on any other decisions taken by the Committees of Experts and the Working Groups and coordinate internal activities on the maintenance and development of the classification systems.

 

f.      Supervise the drafting of business specifications of the IT systems of the marks and design classifications, and their improvements, their operation and further development and contribute to IT projects as a senior user; supervise the maintenance of the WIPO marks and design classifications website.

 

g.     Supervise the planning and organization of seminars, workshops and training courses relating to the relevant Classifications; liaise with work units throughout the Organization for the planning and implementation of capacity building activities.

 

h.     Develop and maintain contacts with Member States, IP authorities, industry, research institutions and organizations providing IP information services with a view to investigating the needs of users of the relevant Classifications; identify opportunities to strengthen cooperation and advocate WIPO services; supervise the provision of technical and procedural advice on the use of and developments of those Classifications.

 

i.      Represent WIPO at meetings convened by Member States and other stakeholders and provide authoritative opinion on relevant Classifications matters.

 

j.      Perform other related duties as required. 

 

 

 

Education

Essential

Advanced university degree in law, economics, international relations, science, engineering, business, commerce, linguistic, literature, art or other related field. A first-level university degree in one of the afore-mentioned fields plus two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the years of experience mentioned below may be acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.

 

Experience

Essential

At least nine years of relevant professional experience, including in the use of trademark and industrial design classification systems at the international level. Experience in supervising staff, developing and managing projects with the timely achievement of results.

 

Desirable

Experience in coordinating meetings at international level.

 

Languages

Essential

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

 

Desirable

Knowledge of French or other official UN languages.

 

Job Related Competencies

Essential

Excellent knowledge of at least one of the relevant Classifications and good knowledge of the other two.

Excellent knowledge of the procedures and functioning of the Committee of Experts and Working Groups of the relevant Unions.

Supervisory skills.

Excellent time management and organizational skills.

Ability to explain the rules, regulations and procedures governing the area of work.

Analytical skills.

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

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

 

WIPO Managerial Competencies

 

1. Creating a stimulating work environment.

2. Planning and managing resources.

3. Promoting change, innovation and learning.

4. Building and promoting partnerships.

5. Leading WIPO to the future.

 

 

 

Mobility\:  WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization.  Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

 

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 November 2017 rate of 72.3%

 

 

P4
Annual salary	$70,647
Post adjustment	$51,078
Total Salary	$121,725
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.