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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Good time management and work organization skills.

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

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

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) and web collaborative workspaces (such as JIRA and Confluence); ability to adapt to new systems and tools quickly.

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 2025 rate of 88.7%

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.

___________________________________________________________________

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 your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here\: http\://www.whed.net/. Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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.