Program Officer

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.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

1.     Organizational Context

a.        Organizational Setting

The post is located in the WIPO Singapore Office (WSO). 

The WSO is part of a network of WIPO External Offices (EOs) that add clear value, efficiency and effectiveness to the delivery of WIPO’s programs, in line with its Strategic Goals and Results Framework, in a coordinated and complimentary way with WIPO Headquarters. 

The WSO acts as WIPO Service Center for the 10 Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.  As such, the WSO promotes the wider and more effective use of WIPO’s Global intellectual property (IP) Services, tools, knowledge and data.  The Office engages with stakeholders across ASEAN to raise awareness of and increase knowledge about the potential of IP to improve the lives of everyone, everywhere.  The WSO also promotes the more effective use of balanced IP systems as well as the development of balanced and effective IP, innovation and creativity ecosystems to support growth and development.  The Office connects with innovators, creators, small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, research institutions and communities, helping them to successfully leverage IP.  The WSO also fosters increased IP knowledge and skills among stakeholders in the ASEAN region.  In doing this, the Office works closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and other regional institutions, including supporting regional processes concerning IP, innovation and creativity, such as the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Action Plan 2016 - 2030.

b.        Purpose Statement

In close collaboration with the Director and other WSO team members, the Program Officer contributes to the effective implementation of WSO programs and projects, ensuring strong coordination and integration with WIPO Headquarters. The Program Officer also assists in designing and delivering targeted activities and initiatives, while supporting engagement with Member State authorities and a broad range of stakeholders across the ASEAN region. Additionally, the incumbent provides both operational and programmatic support to the Director of WSO to ensure the efficient functioning of the Office and the successful execution of its work program.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the overall supervision of the Director of the WSO.

d.        Work Relations

The incumbent will liaise and work closely with colleagues, both in the WSO and across units at Headquarters, including the Division for Asia and the Pacific, the Division for External Offices Coordination.

The Program Officer will also work closely with stakeholders in ASEAN, including with representatives of the Host Government and Governments in the region.

2.     Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Support the monitoring and reporting of programs and projects that promote the use of intellectual property (IP) for business growth and development across the ASEAN region, ensuring activities are aligned with program objectives and contribute to measurable outcomes for innovators, creators, and relevant stakeholders.

b.  Assist in the design and implementation of the capacity-building activities for innovators, creators, and other stakeholders, including the creative industries, with a focus on raising awareness and building practical skills in IP management, commercialization, valuation, and the use of IP in emerging areas such as digital technologies and data.

c.  Research, analyze and report on the latest developments and trends on IP, innovation and creativity in the ASEAN region and provide recommendations as to how these developments and trends impact mandate implementation and identify opportunities and mobilize collaboration to extend mandate implementation.

d.  Create communication materials, case stories, and key messages to promote understanding of the value of IP for development and support the dissemination of these messages through digital platforms including websites and social media.

e.  Engage with a wide range of stakeholders across ASEAN - including government agencies, donors, private sector entities, SMEs, innovation hubs, creative industry associations, academia, women entrepreneurs, youth groups, and communities - to coordinate and scale-up projects, enhance capacity-building efforts, and ensure synergies and complementarity across programs.

f.   Liaise with representatives of the host country, Singapore, to ensure the smooth and effective functioning of the WSO and delivery of the joint activities under the WIPO-Singapore MOU

g.  Coordinate with WIPO colleagues in the Singapore Office to ensure alignment and smooth implementation of joint activities, particularly in areas related to IP business solutions and dispute resolution services.

h.  Represent WIPO at regional and national meetings and participate in missions and briefings to identify opportunities and mobilize collaboration for further mandate implementation.