IP Finance and Valuation Specialist

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 168,113 USD and 216,746 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

The deadline for applications has been extended to October 27, 2021.

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 Context

1. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector (IES). Coordinating with other vertical and horizontal WIPO sectors, IES is responsible for helping Member States develop their IP and innovation ecosystems to drive enterprise and economic growth. IES is also responsible for providing support for researchers and innovators, as well as enterprises, including SMEs, in IP commercialization and otherwise using IP for business growth; issues relating to the emergence of IP as an asset class; and the development of advisory expertise in these and related areas, for example, in national IP strategies. The IP for Business Division (IPBD), and within it the Commercialization Section, partners with governments, industry, and other stakeholders to develop innovation ecosystems that support IP commercialization and business growth through intellectual property.

2. Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to focus on the use of IP and other forms of intangible assets such as know-how and data as a financial asset. It will not only cover issues like IP valuation and IP financing, but other emerging areas as well where IP is treated as an asset class e.g. IP insurance.

The incumbent will have to identify the issues surrounding the use of IP as a financial asset. This will include engaging with a wide range of national, regional and international stakeholders to raise awareness and address these issues at various levels; develop relevant and deployable tools, methodologies and standards; look into the development of skills and capabilities, and ultimately promote the global use of IP as a financial asset.

The incumbent is expected to co-operate and collaborate with other colleagues who are working in the areas of IP commercialization and more generally, who are looking at IP from an enterprise and economic perspective. The incumbent should also have the ability to understand the issues from the lens of enterprises, financiers and regulators.

3. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the IP Commercialization Section.

4. Work Relations

The incumbent will have to work very closely with colleagues within the Sector, and throughout the Organization, who are working in the areas of IP commercialization and more generally, looking at IP from an enterprise and economic perspective. The incumbent will also be expected to engage extensively with those in the Organization who are fronting our relationships with external stakeholders, whether at the national, regional or global levels. This would include colleagues in the Regional and National Development and Global Challenges and Partnerships Sectors.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Identify issues and challenges relating to the areas of IP valuation, IP financing and other issues relevant to the use of IP as a financial asset.

b. Engage with a broad range of national, regional and international stakeholders on these issues. This would include enterprises like start-ups and SMEs, investors and financiers like private equity, venture capitalists, banks and other financial institutions, regulators like IP offices and central banks; and relevant international and UN agencies.

c. Conduct research, undertake studies, and provide insights on issues relating to IP financing, IP valuation and other emerging areas relevant to the use of IP as a financial asset e.g. IP insurance.

d. Bring together stakeholders to look into the issues around the inter-operability and if appropriate, harmonization of methodologies for IP valuation, so as to facilitate the cross-border flow of IP as an asset class.

e. Develop tools and training programs for the building of skills and capabilities in this area.

f. Provide expertise and guidance across WIPO on the issues relating to IP financing, IP valuation and the use of IP as a financial asset.

g. Work closely with any other WIPO colleagues who are dealing with IP commercialization and more generally, looking at IP from an enterprise and economic perspective; as well as with those who are engaging with national, regional and international stakeholders.

h. Perform other related duties, as required.

*For the purposes of this job description, IP shall also include other forms of intangible assets such as know-how and data.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in accounting, economics, finance, business, tax, law, science, engineering or related discipline. A first-level university degree in a relevant field, plus two years of experience in addition to the experience requested below may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of experience in IP financing and/or IP valuation, including in the structuring of transactions with significant IP aspects e.g. transfer pricing issues. This experience can be gained from a consultancy, accounting, valuation, financing, investment or corporate environment.

Significant experience operating independently and executing on both a strategic and operational level.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in IP commercialization and in helping enterprises use IP to bring their ideas to the market.

Experience developing IP-centered financial instruments such as IP bonds or convertible debt offerings.

Experience with IP taxation related issues.

Experience working with venture capital, private equity, inventors, or start-ups.

Experience working with businesses in different countries and sectors, including managing cross-border transactions.

Proven track record of creating and maintaining successful partnerships with external organizations.

Experience in designing software applications in a business environment.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of any other UN official languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Able to communicate effectively not only with those in the financial and investment communities, but also with enterprises and regulators.

Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing, including the ability to clearly convey messages to a wide range of audiences including investors, finance professionals, innovators, creators, legal and business professionals, and government officials.

Ability to break down complex issues, craft potential solutions, and influence others to adopt them.

A desire to collaborate with others to arrive at creative solutions.

Excellent organizational skills, including attention to detail and ability to define specific action plans based on general guidance and deliver results.

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

An intuitive understanding of how to get things done across a complex organizational structure and partner ecosystem, including the ability to build and maintain lasting partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Ability to have “helicopter vision” i.e. be able to look at issues at a technical level and have attention to detail, but at the same time, zoom out quickly to also view issues from a broader policy and strategic perspective.

Ability to engage with senior leaders in industry, government, as well as with senior representatives of international organizations, UN agencies and other stakeholders.

4. Organizational Competencies

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.

5. Information

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 August 2021 rate of 85.8%

P4

Annual salary

$74,913

Post adjustment

$64,275

Total Salary

$139,188

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

A recruitment incentive of up to $35,000 may be paid to the selected candidate, upon first appointment to a position within the United Nations (U.N.) common system and subject to other eligibility criteria, in accordance with applicable conditions and procedures of WIPO.

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.