Program Officer

Overview

Support innovators by developing knowledge resources in IP and innovation.

You have:

• First-level university degree in business administration, public administration, management, international relations, law, information and communication technology, or related field.
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English.
• At least six years of relevant professional experience including in developing information and/or knowledge resources.
• At least three years of substantial professional experience in the field of intellectual property, preferably with a focus on patents.
• Excellent knowledge of intellectual property, in particular patents.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work within strict deadlines.
• Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to draft and deliver presentations to various audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Adaptability to new environments, tasks and demands.
• Knowledge of the use of intellectual property for innovation, including one or more of the following areas: technology and innovation support, technology transfer, IP commercialization.

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 139,444 USD and 182,591 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 position is located in the Technology Information Section of the IP for Innovators Department (IPID) in the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector. The Department is responsible for supporting innovators to use intellectual property (IP) as a tool for growth and sustainable development. The Section is responsible for making available information and knowledge resources to support innovators and entrepreneurs to make informed decisions throughout the innovation cycle.

b. Purpose Statement

The incumbent advises on and substantively contributes to the development, maintenance, and improvement of information and knowledge resources in the areas of innovation and technology support, technology transfer, and IP commercialization, developing partnerships for access to patent databases and scientific and technical content, and ensuring the adoption and effective use of these resources.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Technology Information Section.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent works in close coordination with members of IPID staff, external stakeholders and other areas of WIPO including the Patents and Technology Sector, Regional and National Development Sector, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, and Administration, Finance and Management Sector.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Analyze and assess stakeholder needs and gaps with respect to information and knowledge resources in the areas of innovation and technology support, technology transfer, and IP commercialization, in particular among Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) and technology transfer offices and structures, and develop and/or recommend content for new information and knowledge resources in the above-mentioned areas.

b. Identify and pursue opportunities for developing new information and knowledge resources in the areas of innovation and technology support, technology transfer, and IP commercialization and improve existing resources in these areas.

c. Manage projects and activities for developing, maintaining, and improving information and knowledge resources in the areas of innovation and technology support, technology transfer, and IP commercialization, including WIPO INSPIRE, WIPO Patent Database Reports, WIPO Patent Register Portal, and eTISC knowledge sharing platform.

d. Conceive, plan and organize activities for developing partnerships for access to patent databases and scientific and technical content, within the framework of the Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI) and Access to Specialized Patent Information (ASPI) programs.

e. Represent WIPO in partnership committees and working groups related to innovation support, in particular within the framework of the Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI) and Access to Specialized Patent Information (ASPI) programs, and contribute to the training activities with different stakeholders by preparing and presenting model training resources.

f. Develop, plan and organize promotional and training activities to promote the adoption and effective use of information and knowledge resources in the areas of innovation and technology support, technology transfer, and IP commercialization and resources made available through the ARDI and ASPI programs.

g. Perform such other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in business administration, public administration, management, international relations, law, information and communication technology, or related field.

Education (Desirable)

Studies in the field of intellectual property and innovation.

Certification in project management.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of relevant professional experience including in developing information and/or knowledge resources.

At least three years of substantial professional experience in the field of intellectual property preferably with a focus on patents.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in partnership development.

Experience in providing training and building training materials.

Experience working in an international environment.

Experience in project management.

Experience in working in the public sector.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of intellectual property, in particular patents.

Excellent project management skills.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work within strict deadlines.

Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to draft and deliver presentations to various audiences.

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

Adaptability to new environments, tasks and demands.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of the use of intellectual property for innovation, including one or more of the following areas: technology and innovation support, technology transfer, IP commercialization.

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 November 2024 rate of 90.1%

P3

Annual salary

$64,121

Post adjustment

$57,773

Total Salary

$121,894

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

* Initial fixed-term appointment 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 your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here: http://www.whed.net/. Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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.

Potential interview questions