Classifications Officer

WIPO Headquarters, 34, chemin des Colombettes, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland (GE020)

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 Mark and Design Classifications Section of the International Classifications and Standards Division in the Infrastructure and Platforms Sector. This Division is responsible for the establishment, maintenance and dynamic updating of international classifications and standards to bridge the gaps between IP offices working in different systems and languages and to enable efficient data flow. The four international classification systems that facilitate and simplify IP searches, organizing information concerning inventions, trademarks, and industrial designs into indexed, manageable structures for easy retrieval are: the International Patent Classification (IPC), the Nice Classification (for marks), the Vienna Classification (for figurative elements of marks), and the Locarno Classification (for industrial designs). The Section is responsible for the Nice Classification, the Vienna Classification, and the Locarno Classification.

b. Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to participate in the formulation and implementation of WIPO's technical program in the fields of the Nice, Vienna and Locarno Classifications (hereafter "the relevant Classifications"), and to provide secretariat services to the relevant Committees of Experts and Working Groups.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Mark and Design Classifications Section.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent works with relevant work units inside the Organization in particular in the field of Trademarks and Industrial design, and IP Offices of Member States.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Represent WIPO in and provide secretariat services to meetings of the Committees of Experts, and their Working Groups, of the Nice, Vienna and Locarno Unions (hereafter "the relevant Unions"); prepare proposals and other documentation for consideration, and draft specific sections of reports.

b. Organize the discussions on the online systems and e-forum related to the revision of the relevant Classifications.

c. Examine input from concerned work units and provide input to working documents for committees and other bodies; review such documents including their translations; provide training and authoritative advice to trademark and design examiners.

d. Verify the content and conformity with the decisions of the relevant Committees of Experts, of the new versions/editions of the relevant Classifications before their publication; ensure follow-up on other decisions taken by the Committees of Experts and the Working Groups; coordinate the maintenance and development of the website of the Section.

e. Liaise with IT experts for enhancing operational effectiveness and ensuring that related functional specifications of the publication platforms, the e-forum and other IT tools of the Section remain up-to-date.

f. Support the preparation of the Section’s workplan and participate in the monitoring of its implementation; support the preparation of performance reports and strategic plans.

g. Participate in internal and external activities on the maintenance and development of the relevant classification systems.

h. Represent WIPO at meetings, seminars, training courses and exhibitions convened by Member States and other stakeholders on questions relating to the relevant Classifications, by making written and oral presentations and providing authoritative advice on matters relating to these Classifications.

i. As applicable, promote and contribute to the growing use of WIPO Global IP Services.

j. Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in law, economics, international relations, science, engineering, business, commerce, linguistics or other related field.

Studies (e.g. training, courses, certificate) related to intellectual property.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of professional experience in the use of Trademark or Industrial Design classification systems for the examination of trademark or design classifications and/or for establishing the classification of goods and/or services in trademark or design applications.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in coordinating meetings at international level.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French.