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.

a.         Organizational Setting

The post is located in the PCT Operations Division, PCT Services Department, Patents and Technology Sector. The PCT Operations Division is responsible for the receipt, formalities examination, publication and communication of applications and related documents filed under the PCT and delivering high-quality customer services to PCT users in all 10 official PCT publication languages.

b.         Purpose Statement

The incumbent is required to carry out processing and formalities examination duties in at least two languages for international patent applications, and provide customer services to applicants and offices.

c.         Reporting Lines

As a member of a PCT Operations Team, the incumbent works under the supervision of the Team Coordinator.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.   Examine in at least two languages formality requirements of standard international applications, ensuring conformity with set standards; process, carry out data entry and check international applications and related documents for completeness, acknowledge receipt, and follow-up as required; forward more complex examination formalities issues to the Examiner/Team Coordinator for follow-up.

b.   Ensure high level of customer services to users and reply to queries in a timely manner. Liaise with PCT users and authorities and provide follow-up as required.

c.   Carry out publication preparation and review work; ensure publication and republication work assignments are in final format for international publication within established deadlines; and inform Team Coordinator of delays or other issues.

d.   Participate in team meetings and provide input towards improving internal work processes and workflows.

e.   On request, participate in customer support on PCT electronic services.

f.    On request, participate in testing PCT electronic systems and tools.

g.   Keep abreast of and work in line with established work processes.

h.   Perform other related tasks as required.

Education (Essential)

Completed secondary education.

Experience (Essential)

At least five years of related work experience.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in formalities processing of patent/trademark/industrial design applications.

Experience in customer service.

Language (Essential)

Mother tongue level of written and spoken Russian and good knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other PCT publication languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Good IT skills for document processing, data management and data search.

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

Client orientation, with ability to deliver high-quality client services.

Ability to work within pre-defined deadlines in an organized and logical manner while maintaining meticulous attention to detail.

Ability to work on own initiative and with a marked sense of teamwork and shared responsibility.

Ability to handle and protect confidential and sensitive data with integrity.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of tools used for customer service.

Ability to use different web browsers.

Ability to use authentication tools.

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 of the Organization. Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions.

Annual salary (Net of tax):  77,571 CHF

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of one year, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions.  The selected candidate’s appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with no possibility of renewal beyond that term.  S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).

Dependency allowances

7,939 CHF per year for dependent spouse;  6,398 CHF per year for each dependent child.

Language allowance

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish: 4,788 CHF per year for two of these languages, and 3,192 CHF per year for one of them.  The allowance is not payable for the mother tongue or the main working language of the staff member.  The grant of this allowance is subject to examination.

General Service posts are generally subject to local recruitment.  Staff in the General Service category is recruited in the host country or within reasonable commuting distance of the Headquarters.

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.