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 Global Health area (of work) of the Global Challenges Division, whose objective is to strengthen WIPO’s position as the leading intergovernmental forum for addressing the intersection between intellectual property and global public policy issues.

The Division engages substantively with other UN and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector and civil society in order to lead and inform policy deliberations. It develops practical contributions to demonstrate the benefits of intellectual property in the search for solutions to major challenges facing humanity, including global health.

b.    Purpose Statement

The incumbent is part of a multi-disciplinary team and supports the Head of Global Health in delivering the key projects managed by the unit. The primary focus will be on managing the Global Health Fellows Programs in India and East Africa. This will include coordinate the programmatic aspects as well as working with other departments in WIPO to develop IP courses tailormade to the needs of Med Tech universities and innovators.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of Global Health.

d.    Work Relations

The incumbent will regularly work across the Division and Sector, as well as with a broad range of WIPO colleagues in other Sectors. The incumbent will also work extensively with external partners as required.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Manage the programmatic aspects of the Global Health Fellowship Program in India in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology and Indian Institutes of Technology.  Partner with internal and external experts who will develop intellectual property (IP) courses on the protection and commercialization of Med Tech products;

b.  Partner with external consultants and internal experts to develop and deliver IP courses and training to local universities and students in support of the Stanford Biodesign Program in East Africa, the development of the IP and innovation eco-system to promote the Med Tech sector in LDCs;

c.  Develop and contribute to briefings and papers on emerging IP and Health issues such as Mental Health, Femtech and AI;

d.  In cooperation with other positions in the Unit, implement and monitor the unit’s projects related to One Health AMR, Technology Transfer, Voluntary Licensing and Regional Manufacturing related IP issues;

e.  Assess developments, challenges, and issues in global health, and provide analysis to the Head of Global Health on areas presenting an opportunity for further development, taking into account economic, social, and political conditions;

f.   Support the production of reports and publications related to WIPO’s work in the global health space, ranging from news items to Global Challenges Briefs and global health studies;

g.  Support the Global Health Unit’s activities to promote WIPO coordination with governmental, NGO, industry, and other stakeholder groups on global policy challenges related to health, including organizing global-health focused seminars and side events; and

h.  Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

A first-level university degree in International Relations, Development Studies, Law, Life Sciences or related field.

Education (Desirable)

An advanced university degree in Health or Law.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of progressive professional experience in the areas of project management, stakeholder engagement and policy analysis, ideally in the health sector. This includes working with universities, students, governments and industry in developing countries (preferably in Asia or Africa).

Demonstrated record of establishing and managing multi-sectoral partnerships, meticulous planning and managing diverse stakeholders.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience working on public health in a low-income country.

Exposure to the private sector and/or a UN organization, preferably related to global health and intellectual property.

Experience working with international development partners including the UN system.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Good research and drafting skills producing a broad range of global-health focused publications.

Proven ability to design, implement, and monitor global initiatives, platforms and partnerships.

Results oriented.

Meticulous planning, project management and stakeholder engagement skills.

Strong analytical decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication skills; proven ability to communicate technical subject matter to non-specialist policy makers in both written and oral form.

Good interpersonal skills.

Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensibility and respect for diversity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of organizations dealing with Intellectual Property-related as well as global health issues.

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.

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 October 2024 rate of 95.3%

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

Additional Information

Temporary appointments are renewable, subject to continuing needs, availability of budget and satisfactory performance with a maximum cumulative length of two years.

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.