Senior IP Policy Officer

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 176,027 USD and 226,950 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 will be located in the Division of IP and Frontier Technologies (the Division), Infrastructure and Platforms Sector). The Division's primary focus is to bring the international community together to proactively address emerging issues and policy challenges at the global level relating to IP and frontier technologies and building awareness and understanding of frontier technologies and their impact on IP. It also assists Member States, relevant industry and other external stakeholders in knowledge transfer and technology adaptation of platforms and tools for IP administration utilizing frontier technologies. The Division also provides relevant practical resources, including guidance, tools and other means to assist stakeholders in cooperation with other units of the Organization.

b. Purpose Statement

The incumbent will be required to draft and prepare legal documents, conduct complex research and analyses on various issues related to frontier technologies, data and IP, prepare findings and reports, substantively support WIPO’s high level advisory expert group in their work, lead the creation of the technical forum and carry out related tasks as needed.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Division.

d. Work Relations

As AI affects all elements of IP, the incumbent will, under the supervision of the Director of the Division, liaise with different units of the Organization, the WIPO high level advisory group of experts and with external stakeholders.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Lead the preparation and launch of a high-level advisory group of AI and IP experts, independently drafting and preparing related briefings and papers, liaising with experts, and formulating proposals, reports and recommendations.

b. Lead the engagement to develop WIPO as a trusted forum for discussions around common approaches and technical solutions for navigating the new regulatory requirements emerging in the AI space which includes relevant industry bodies and other external stakeholders, liaising with Member States, preparing programs and reports and carrying out related tasks as needed.

c. Draft and prepare legal documents, coordinate and undertake complex research on policy developments on frontier technologies, Al and data, and keep abreast of and advise on the interaction between Al technologies and policies to govern the use of Al.

d. Liaise with Member States and relevant industry and other external stakeholders in relation to policy formulation of frontier technologies, Al and data.

e. Make recommendations based on preliminary findings and reports based on independent research to support WIPO’s high level advisory expert group in their work, and carry out related tasks as needed.

f. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in law. A first-level university degree in the aforementioned subjects plus an additional two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the essential experience mentioned below may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Education (Desirable)

Degree or further qualification with specialization in industrial property law.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of relevant professional experience in the field of intellectual property.

Experience in drafting, legal writing and policy review and development in the field of industrial property at national or international level.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in the IP implications of AI. Experience in the organization of, or participation in formal meetings between representatives of governments, intellectual property offices or similar bodies. Experience working in an international environment. Experience working with public sector organizations.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent legal analysis and drafting In-depth knowledge of IP across the whole range of IP rights. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work within strict deadlines. Ability to conduct research independently and present results in a clear and logical form. Excellent knowledge of the international IP system. Good understanding of frontier technologies, AI and data, in particular the IP issues relating these technologies. Good political judgement and capacity to work well with a range of actors, including WIPO stakeholders. Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint). 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.

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 July 2024 rate of 89.2%.

P4

Annual salary

$75,602

Post adjustment

$67,437

Total Salary

$143.039

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.