Senior Program 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 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.

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 Cooperation on Examination and Training Section in the PCT International Cooperation Division, PCT Legal and International Affairs Department, Patents and Technology Sector. The Division is responsible for the development and implementation of cooperation activities vis-à-vis Offices of PCT Member States in their capacities as Receiving Offices, International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities, and Designated and Elected Offices, with a view to contributing to the efficient functioning of the PCT system and promoting a better understanding of the PCT and the patent system among IP Offices’ staff, practitioners and users, covering inter alia operational, technical, procedural, legal and training activities.

The Cooperation on Examination and Training Section is responsible for the internal and external coordination and provision of technical assistance for substantive examination of patent applications and related training programs for IP Offices of PCT Member States, inter alia developing and least-developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, in particular with regard to the examination of international applications filed under the PCT which have entered the national phase before such Offices. The section is also responsible for the technical assistance and capacity building for substantive examination of patent applications provided through WIPO’s International Cooperation on Examination (ICE) program.

2. Purpose Statement

The incumbent performs internal and external coordination, development, facilitation and performance of international technical cooperation activities related to substantive examination of patent applications (national examination of PCT international applications, Paris Convention route applications and national applications) for IP Offices of PCT Member States, inter alia developing and least-developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, including trainings.

3. Reporting Lines

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

4. Work Relations

The incumbent works closely with different areas of the Patents and Technology Sector as well as with other WIPO Sectors, officials from IP Offices, and other internal and external stakeholders.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Develop and formulate conceptual approaches, strategies and policies for the provision of technical assistance to IP Offices of developing and least-developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, related to the substantive examination of patent applications, notably for the retrieval and utilization of national and international search and examination work products, including the use of work sharing related programs and platforms, such as ICE and WIPO CASE, and others administered by WIPO or other entities from both the public and private sectors.

b. Manage the ICE assistance services to beneficiary offices in retrieving and utilizing external examination work products for patent family members (i.e. carry out and/or oversee the preparation of search and examination reports by donor offices); coordinate the maintenance of the website in relation to ICD services; update ICE forms, update Guidelines for the use of external patent examination work products from other national phases.

c. Develop and formulate, jointly with partner IP Offices, plans to establish a network and mechanism for the continual improvement of international coordination of substantive patent examiner training programs, the sharing of training tools and materials, and the matching of needs for substantive patent examiner training with sponsor IP Offices.

d. Plan, coordinate and implement WIPO’s technical assistance activities in the field of substantive patent examiner training for developing countries and least-developed countries, and countries with economies in transition; coordinate substantive patent examiner training activities reporting to PCT Members States in the PCT Working Group;

e. Manage and contribute, jointly with partner IP Offices, to the development of a learning management systems and a competency frameworks and related model training components/curricula for IP Offices to be used to train substantive patent examiners, define particular needs and design the corresponding training programs; maintain, and/or oversee the maintenance, and expand inventory of available training resources or tools suitable for substantive patent examiner training; coordinate with the WIPO Academy the preparation of distance learning courses for substantive patent examiners.

f. Organize donor conferences to share information on achievements of existing donor IP Offices as well as to establish agreements for long-term setting of standards and expectations regarding resource contributions; develop a high visibility website showcasing WIPO’s services and resources in the field of technical assistance for substantive examination of patent applications and existing substantive patent examiner training programs.

g. Work to develop enhanced access of IP Offices of developing and least-developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, to technologically advanced search and examination systems hosted by other IP Offices, commercial database vendors and/or other non-governmental organizations; make recommendations for and follow up on the improved coordination and provision of such access and the implementation of respective training programs.

h. Make recommendations to the Director on the Division’s programmatic, workforce and financial planning in line with results-based management principles; provide substantive input to strategic planning and policy documents and program performance reports.

i. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Head of Section/Director.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in natural sciences, engineering or related field. A first-level university degree plus an additional two years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

Advanced university degree in law, preferably in intellectual property law; or intellectual property management.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of relevant professional experience including in patent search and examination at national or international levels, including the use of foreign examination results.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience of international, cooperation, coordination and liaising with intellectual property offices, e.g. experience in preparing documents for consideration by intellectual property offices officials and/or international bodies.

Experience in patent drafting and drafting office actions and office actions responses and objections for pending patent applications, as well as in hearings, opposition and appeal procedures as part of patent prosecution.

Experience of working in an international environment.

Experience in competency-based learning management and/or with learning management systems.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other PCT publication languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish).

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective internal and external partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including with officials at all levels. Tact and discretion.

Strong analytical and organizational skills.

Extensive knowledge of patent search and examination strategies, procedures, professional search databases and/or platforms, and further relevant tools.

Extensive knowledge in the field of patent information, e.g. publication policies and standards; examination, publication and other legal status; patent family relations; online sources for patent information and other technical information.

Strong knowledge in patent drafting.

Excellent political judgment and capacity to work well with a range of stakeholders.

Excellent presentation skills.

Strong analytical and organizational skills.

Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Ability to cultivate innovation and manage change; proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives and accountability in delivering results.

Familiarity with WIPO’s mandate and work.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of the international patent system.

In-depth knowledge of the PCT and other international agreements related to IP protection.

Understanding of project management processes.

Good knowledge of e-learning resources and platforms.

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 July 2022 rate of 73.5%

P4

Annual salary

$75,602

Post adjustment

$55,567

Total Salary

$131,169

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.

___________________________________________________________________

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.