Senior 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.

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.

    

   1. 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.

       

      1. Reporting Lines

          

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

          

         1. 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.

            📌 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 ✔

            ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

             

            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.