Director, Hague Legal and Business Development Division

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.

 

 

a.    Organizational Setting

 

The post is located in the Hague Legal and Business Development Division of the Hague Registry. The Development Division is composed of the Hague Development and Promotion Section and the Hague Legal Affairs Section. The Division plays a lead role towards enhancing the global positioning and wider and more effective use of the Hague System through the expansion of its user-base and membership and the optimal and continuing development of its legal framework.

 

 

b.    Purpose Statement

 

As Director of the Division, the incumbent is responsible for the overall management and direction of the Division and of the technical areas within its purview. The incumbent also coordinates secretariat services for the Working Group on the Legal Development of the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the Working Group) and the Hague Union Assembly.

 

 

c.    Reporting Lines

 

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

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.   Direct the Division’s portfolio of work and take overall management responsibility for its human and financial resources, determining priorities and allocating resources for the timely and quality delivery of work products in accordance with results-based management principles; ensure that key risks are identified, assessed and managed for the achievement of agreed results.

 

b.   Oversee the planning, development, coordination and implementation of strategies and initiatives to foster greater recognition, understanding and effective use of the Hague System by the private sector and offices of existing Contracting Parties; provide substantive expertise and authoritative legal advice on the implementation and better use of the Hague System and in the resolution of procedural and substantive questions.

 

c.   Lead and coordinate the strategic and technical engagement and negotiations with senior-level officials and representatives of WIPO Member States and other key stakeholders to foster the continued geographical expansion of the Hague System; provide substantive expertise and authoritative legal advice on the implementation of the Hague System.

 

d.   Represent WIPO at senior-level meetings; lead, manage and coordinate high-level advocacy and technical and policy advisory services at the global, regional and/or national levels to advance the development of the Hague System.

 

e.   Steer the balanced evolution of the international legal framework. Coordinate the organization of and act as Secretary to meetings of the Working Group and other meetings; advise the chair and the meeting on matters under consideration; coordinate and oversee the drafting of documents for the Working Group and the Hague Union Assembly.

 

f.    Provide strategic legal and policy advice to senior management on issues of a highly sensitive and complex nature.

 

g.   Consult and coordinate with the Hague Operations Service and other WIPO units in the execution of the above.

 

h.   Perform other related duties as required.

 

 

 

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in law, business management, international relations or other relevant discipline. A first-level university degree in one of the afore-mentioned fields plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the experience requested below may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

 

Experience (Essential)

At least 15 years of professional experience in intellectual property law and administration, including at the international level in a senior management role.

 

Experience in the field of promotion of intellectual property rights.

 

Experience (Desirable)

Experience of working with the Hague System.

 

Professional experience working within a national or regional IP office.

 

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

 

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of other UN official languages.

 

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Knowledge

 

Extensive knowledge of the international IP system.

 

In-depth knowledge of the Hague system and its procedures.

 

Skills and competencies

 

Proven capacity for critical analysis.

 

Ability to communicate complex legal subject-matter to a diverse audience.

 

Strong management skills with the ability to lead and motivate teams.

 

Astute political judgment and excellent negotiation skills.

 

Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.

 

Ability to cultivate innovation and manage change.

 

Excellent communication, networking and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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 August 2023 rate of 87.6%

 

D1
Annual salary	$103,660
Post adjustment	$90,806
Total Salary	$194,466
Currency USD

 

 

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.

 

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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.