Senior Counsellor, Future of Intellectual Property (IP)

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 204,886 USD and 256,769 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

1. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Office of the Assistant Director General for Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector (GCPS). The Sector covers issues relating to traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources; leads efforts to work with other United Nations (UN) agencies and international organizations on cross-cutting global issues with an intellectual property (IP) aspect; builds on and expands partnerships with stakeholders, including those from international, business and civil society sectors; and reaches out to new stakeholders such as the youth.

2. Purpose Statement

By its nature, the IP system is situated within a dynamic context, revolving around cutting-edge ideas, fast evolving business models and new ways of creative expression. All these have a medium to long-term impact on the IP system. It is important for WIPO as the global agency for IP, innovation and creativity to build the capability to think systematically about these issues. The incumbent will therefore focus on cutting-edge issues around the future development of IP and the global IP system, including in the context of emerging global challenges. He or she will provide research, insights and policy advice on such issues, including through building a global network of like-minded thought leaders, that would be useful to policy-makers, industry, thinkers and other stakeholders who are interested in the future direction of the global IP ecosystem.

3. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector.

4. Work Relations

The incumbent interacts with relevant Secretariat units and external partners, in particular those with comparable functions and areas of work.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Formulate and develop conceptual approaches and policy frameworks, including by drawing on futures thinking and similar approaches, that identify the broad issues on the future development of IP and the global IP system around which WIPO wishes to engage the global community.

b. Establish and lead strategic engagement with a broad range of external stakeholders, policy makers, research organizations and think tanks on issues relating to the future of IP, including the rise of intangible assets and implications for the global IP system; the future role of national IP Offices; and cross-cutting issues with other units in WIPO such as those relating to IP and frontier technologies, or IP and global challenges.

c. Foster and maintain cordial and cooperative contacts with relevant think tank-related mechanisms, in particular those from other inter-governmental and similar organizations, establish networks and strengthen collaboration with them.

d. Implement a periodic Global IP Perception Survey to assess global attitudes towards IP and the changes in such attitudes longitudinally; as well as derive strategic insights and prepare reports arising from the results of this survey that would benefit international stakeholders.

e. Provide expert guidance and authoritative advice across WIPO on issues relating to the future direction of IP and the global IP system.

f. Ensure collaboration with a number of areas within WIPO responsible for cross-cutting issues, including the Chief Economist; IP and Frontier Technologies; and others, with a view to ensuring horizontal collaboration and strategic alignment on the overall issues relating to the future of IP.

g. Represent the Organization at, and participate in an expert capacity in, international conferences and seminars to present future directions in IP and the global IP system.

h. Formulate and implement the work plan and manage the staff and budget of the Section, and advise the Assistant Director General and other senior officials in WIPO on a broad range of policy issues relating to the future of IP.

i. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

Advanced university degree or post-graduate studies on intellectual property.

Experience (Essential)

At least 10 years of extensive experience in policy making, futures thinking, strategic thinking or policy planning and advice, including five years of experience in topics relating to innovation, creativity or intellectual property.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in spearheading thought leadership or future strategy thinking, whether in a think-tank environment, in the public sector, or in the private sector.

Experience in policy-making relating to IP, innovation or creativity related issues at the national, regional or international level.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of additional UN language/s.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Deep knowledge and understanding of futures thinking, strategic thinking and an understanding of how to apply these to the intellectual property and innovation landscape and ecosystems.

Aptitude for creative and analytical thinking and ability to look ahead, as well as to devise systems and methodologies for cross-sectoral internal communication.

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

Excellent drafting and public speaking skills.

Good interpersonal skills and demonstrated skills of management and team building.

Discretion and diplomacy.

Computer literate, competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and related business and communications tools, social media, information management systems, and ability to adapt quickly to new systems and technologies.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Exposure to policy-making relating to the development of IP, innovation or creative ecosystems at the national, regional or international levels.

Proven capacity and skills in management and coordination at senior level in multinational, multicultural environments. Ability to operate and maintain contacts at all levels with WIPO stakeholders in the international, national, public and private areas.

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 January 2022 rate of 82.1%

P5

Annual salary

$90,664

Post adjustment

$74,435

Total Salary

$165,099

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 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.