Head, Legislative, Policy and Technology Advice Section

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE\:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

 

 

1. Organizational Setting

 

The post is located in the Legislative, Policy and Technology Advice Section of the Patent and Technology Law Division, Patents and Technology 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 Patents, Utility Models, Trade Secrets, Technology and Integrated Circuits, and for providing Legislative and Policy assistance to Member States in drafting and updating their national legislation in these fields of IP.

 

2. Purpose Statement

 

The incumbent directs, supervises and reviews the work of a team that provides legislative, regulatory and policy assistance to Member States in the design and implementation of balanced legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks in those areas as well as the initiation and implementation of strategies in new areas such as trade secrets.

 

The main role of the incumbent is to independently conduct legal research and analyses on various legal issues related to patents, utility models, technology, trade secrets and layout designs of integrated circuits, and provide authoritative advice and legislative and policy assistance to Member States, and to management and the established bodies of the Organization, as well as Secretariat.

 

3. Reporting Lines

 

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director, Patent and Technology Law Division.

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.   Advises on, and contributes upon request to, the implementation of the Organization´s program in ensuring that the intellectual property normative framework of each member country takes into account the needs and interests of those countries, as well as their compatibility with the multilateral international legal framework;

 

b.   Coordinates and undertakes research, and analyzes the needs of countries, or groups of countries, on patents, utility models, trade secrets, industry standards (SSOs and SEPs) and integrated circuits or other areas of the law as requested;

 

c.   Proposes, designs, plans and monitors projects and programs on policy implementation matters, including related legal assistance;

 

d.   Resolves legal questions and prepares comments on legal texts, drafts bills or other documents submitted by interested countries to the Secretariat on patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits and other areas of related laws and technologies as requested;

 

e.   Provides legal opinions requested by interested countries to the Secretariat on patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits and other areas of related laws and technologies as requested;

 

f.    Explores, initiates, develops and leads studies in strategies in new areas of the law related to patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits, such as industry standards (SSOs and SEPs) and as requested by management;

 

g.   Initiates, develops and maintains contacts with authorities of countries or groups of countries in all regions as well as with the United Nations agencies and other partner institutions;

 

h.   Prepares agreements, studies and working documents related to the above-mentioned activities of the Organization, in particular to patent policy and related intellectual property policy matters;

 

i.    Plans, organizes and leads seminars, specialized meetings and training courses (including preparation of teaching documents and delivery of lectures) on patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuits and other related areas of intellectual property;

 

j.    Serves as secretary of or participates in meetings sponsored or co-sponsored by the Organization. Prepares notes and statements on matters under consideration, formulates and revises legal texts and proposals, and analyzes and clarifies legal issues involved;

 

k.   Represents the Organization in conferences and meetings with other organizations or institutions, as appropriate;

 

l.    Fosters and maintains cordial and cooperative contacts, at different levels, with the public and private sectors of the countries;

 

m.  Prepares work plans, reports, and other administrative documents; and

 

n.    Performs other related duties, as required.

 

 

 

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in law.  A first-level university degree plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the experience required below may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

 

Experience (Essential)

At least ten years of experience and subject matter expertise in patents, trade secrets and related areas of intellectual property, such as industry standards (SSOs and SEPs).  In addition to the above, experience is essential in drafting laws, acts and regulations and writing legal opinions in the areas of patent law, trade secret law and related areas of intellectual property.  Detailed understanding of patent law treaties and patent office rules and regulations.

 

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in the patent legal systems of developing countries.

 

Patent prosecution experience would be a plus.

 

Private practice experience would be a plus.

 

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

 

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of any other United Nations official language.

 

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Strong analytical, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

 

Excellent managerial skills and ability to lead by example and to motivate and support staff towards meeting challenges and achieving objectives, promoting ownership and responsibility at all levels.

 

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

 

Ability, willingness to learn, and agility to respond to change.

 

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and related business and communications tools, the internet and social media. Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies. Ability to drive change and support the transformation of work through the use of new technologies.

 

Excellent time management and work organization skills.

 

A strong attention to detail.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.  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 June 2021 rate of 87.3%

 

P5
Annual salary	$89,837
Post adjustment	$78,428
Total Salary	$168,265
Currency USD

 

 

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

 

Additional Information

 

Initial period of one year, 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.