Principal Examiner

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 Lisbon Registry, Department for Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, Brands and Designs Sector. The Lisbon Registry is responsible for all aspects of the administration, promotion, and further development of the Lisbon System, and for providing support to WIPO Member States in creating an enabling ecosystem for the development and efficient commercial use of geographical indications.

b.    Purpose Statement

The incumbent is required to administer the work of the Lisbon Registry team members dealing with Lisbon transactions, monitor the quality of their work and prepare statistical reports. The incumbent is furthermore required to perform examination, recording, notification and publication of Lisbon transactions (such as applications for international registration of appellations of origin and geographical indications, grants of protection, refusals, renunciations, modifications) and prepare extracts of the International Register, which requires a thorough understanding of the various Acts of the Lisbon Agreement (1967 Act), the Geneva Act (2015 Act), the Common Regulations and the Administrative Instructions. Finally, the incumbent is requested to provide business requirements for further improvement of the IT platform for the electronic submission and management of Lisbon transactions.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Lisbon Registry.

d.    Work Relations

The incumbent collaborates with Lisbon Competent Authorities, users, legal officers, IT developers, financial officers and translators on operational design, development, deployment, and support issues for the Lisbon Registry.

2.     Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Plan and distribute the work of the Lisbon Registry team members dealing with examination, notification and publication of transactions under the Lisbon System and monitor their production, quality and performance;

b.  Perform the examination, notification and publication of more complex applications for international registration of appellations of origin and geographical indications, in particular accessions and accession responses, modifications, corrections, renunciations, refusals, extracts or any other documents received or generated with respect to an international registration;

c.  Prepare statistical reports relating to Lisbon transactions; make proposal for enhancing efficiency and timeliness of work output of the team;  identify training needs and ensure that all staff are proficient in all tasks carried out by the team;

d.  Collaborate with the Director of the Lisbon Registry to ensure that the working procedures comply with the set objectives for production and quality;  identify and make proposals on how to improve the working procedures;

e.  Analyze and identify training needs;  develop training programs both for internal staff as well as for Lisbon Competent Authorities and users;  deliver training and participate in training seminars for internal staff and for the Competent Authorities, as required;

f.   Ensure the daily coordination with ICTD, Finance Division and Translators for a smooth functioning of eLisbon (Lisbon IT System) and efficient treatment of Lisbon transactions;  provision of business requirements to ICTD and Finance Division to further improve the electronic filing and treatment of Lisbon transactions;

g.  Contribute to the work on the manuals and the continuous update thereof; ensure the publication of the Bulletin of the Lisbon System;

h.  Assist the Director of the Lisbon Registry in developing services to stakeholders (both internal and external) in answering their queries, requests for information and addressing general exchanges;  ensure quality with respect to client-service in general and, in particular, through close supervision of the team mail box and by ensuring prompt and accurate follow-up;

i.   Perform other related duties as required.

3.     Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in business administration or relevant field.

Experience (Essential)

At least three years of relevant professional experience in the area of geographical indications.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in an Intellectual Property Office or comparable working environment.

Experience in managing projects, in particular IT projects.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English or French and good knowledge of the other language.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably Spanish.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Good knowledge of the Lisbon System concerning the international protection and registration of appellations of origin and geographical indications.

Good communication skills with the ability to communicate information clearly, both orally and in writing.

Good understanding of processes related to the development and improvement of IT tools in the area of work.

Ability to work within the rules, regulations and procedures governing the area of work.

Meticulous attention to detail and ability to spot irregularities.