Intellectual Property Attaché (CHEG22.174)

The United Kingdom Mission to the UN & WTO in Geneva (UKMis) represents the interests and policies of the UK at many international organisations.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the agency of the UK Government responsible for Intellectual Property (IP) policy and rights granting. The successful candidate will support the UKMis IP lead in Geneva, delivering the IPO’s objectives in the Geneva multilateral institutions and reporting on IP-related developments.

The successful candidate will work closely with the UKMis IP lead and trade and economic team colleagues to help deliver the UK’s IP policy priorities across the Geneva IP landscape, in particular in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and World Trade Organization / TRIPS Agreement (WTO/TRIPS).

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the UKMis IP lead in delivering their objectives across international Geneva, in particular in WIPO, WTO/TRIPS, WHO. Support the UKMis IP lead in preparing meetings and engaging with delegations.
• Ensure the UK’s activities on IP in Geneva are consistent and supportive of the IPO’s Strategy and International Strategy, as well as the UK’s Innovation Strategy, and promote the ambition of the UK as a science and technology superpower.
• Support, and lead on aspects of, engagement with other Geneva Missions, the secretariats of the international organisations, civil society and business, to promote the UK’s role and priorities, maintain and increase the UK’s influence and reputation.
• Support, and lead on aspects of, UK representation in the WIPO and the WTO TRIPS Council working closely with Whitehall Departments, in particular the UK’s IPO and the Department for International Trade.
• Identify, for the UKMis IP lead and relevant Whitehall leads, initiatives to promote the UK’s priorities and improve the UK’s footprint in the WIPO and the WTO TRIPS Council.

The UK Mission in Geneva is fully committed to supporting diversity, creating an inclusive workplace and promoting equality. We do not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected characteristic. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and conduct an anonymous recruitment process.

• Fluent written and spoken English (C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages);
• Strong spoken and written communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills;
• Experience of stakeholder engagement;
• Experience of multilateral negotiations.

• Confident navigation of international economic relations;
• Basic knowledge and understanding of intellectual property rights and IP institutions.

This is a 24 months full-time fixed-term contract, 5 working days (40 hours) per week, at Executive Officer (EO) level.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and 3 months’ probation period.

Staff recruited locally by the UK Mission for the United Nations in Geneva are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Swiss employment law.

Please note that you must have the right to work and reside in Switzerland without visa sponsorship. (For information: EU nationals do not require visa sponsorship).

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Switzerland and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the UK Mission will not be able to meet any cost during the Recruitment and Selection process, Security Check nor the costs connected with relocation.

• Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.