Program Officer

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 137,951 USD and 180,636 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.

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

a. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the IP for Business Division (IPBD), in the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector. The IPBD acts as the central reference point within WIPO for SME-related IP issues. The Division empowers enterprises to maximize their potential through intellectual property, including by delivering business-oriented content and targeted tools that help businesses build IP strategies. The Division works with SMEs support institutions and other intermediaries and supports the strengthening of innovation ecosystems, including by helping inventors access the patent system and developing the patent drafting profession.

b. Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to drive the management and implementation of the programs of the IP for Business Division such as the development of business friendly IP tools and materials, supporting business to use these tools and assist businesses exploit the IP system in their business strategies.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the IP for Business Division.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Execute the implementation of business friendly tools and materials for using the IP system to support business competitiveness developed and designed in collaboration with the division;

b. Ensure the successful development of specific projects and programs of assistance to help businesses build IP strategies including the development of a methodology based on the analysis of different products and on how IP is deployed in these products to support market penetration and business growth;

c. Manage the delivery of projects and training programs that help businesses build IP strategies, and develop and implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms including carrying out an assessment of identified needs and an analysis of gaps and challenges;

d. Monitor, manage and expediate the implementation of projects for enhancing the use of IP in innovation-based economic growth including determining together with the relevant Member State the ultimate objective(s) sought to be attained, identifying the expected outcomes, the intermediate outputs and activities for attaining those objective(s), ensuring the timely delivery of activities at the required level of quality and at the agreed cost, and finalizing and reporting on the conclusions and follow up as appropriate;

e. Plan and ensure the organization of events for businesses by coordinating with in-house colleagues, engaging with external partners, preparing materials and presentations, and performing other such tasks as may be required;

f. Engage with Member States, regional and international organizations and institutions and relevant internal organizational units so as to facilitate the implementation of programs of assistance, exchange information, ensure consistency with relevant priorities, provide substantive input to corrective decision- making and revisions, and promote the services of the Division;

g. Prepare or draft documents, reports, informational material and other content designed to facilitate the understanding of how the IP system may support the appropriation of the results of inventive, innovative and creative activity and their exploitation;

h. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

A first-level university degree in law business management, international relations, economics, engineering, science or related field.

Education (Desirable)

Advanced level degree in IP management or law.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of relevant professional experience in an international or national setting, in one or more of the following areas: IP law, project management, development/ technical assistance or public administration.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of at least one additional UN language, particularly French.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Project management skills.

Good knowledge of the business and administrative procedures of national IP institutions, universities and industry, particularly SMEs.

Ability to represent the Organization and to provide information and guidance.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the ability to adapt to new technologies.

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

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of assisting businesses build IP strategies.

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

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 December 2023 rate of 82.7%

P3

Annual salary

$62,692

Post adjustment

$51,846

Total Salary

$114,538

Currency USD

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

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

Additional Information

Temporary appointments are renewable, subject to continuing needs, availability of budget and satisfactory performance with a maximum cumulative length of two years.

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.