Director, WIPO Japan Office

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.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The WIPO Japan Office (WJO) promotes WIPO’s global IP services, including those related to patents, trademarks, industrial designs, arbitration and mediation, as well as its global databases, IP Advantage and multi-stakeholder initiatives. It raises awareness of intellectual property among users in Japan through targeted outreach and service delivery. WJO engages with national stakeholders to support the use and development of WIPO services through stakeholder engagement and feedback, and contributes to broader coordination in Japan, including with other United Nations agencies present in the country. It also implements activities in cooperation with the Government of Japan, including through the Japan Funds-in-Trust. The office maintains a Japanese-language website and delivers seminars, training, publications and local customer support.

b. Purpose Statement

The purpose of the role is to lead and oversee the WIPO Japan Office (WJO) to strengthen WIPO’s presence, partnerships and service delivery in Japan by aligning programs, stakeholder engagement and resources with organizational priorities, while providing strategic insights and fostering high-level government and stakeholder cooperation. The incumbent ensures effective management of Japan Funds-in-Trust and related initiatives, and delivers results through sound resource, risk and performance management, to drive the growth, quality and impact of WIPO’s services in support of its global strategic objectives.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the ADG, Infrastructure and Platforms Sector.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent works in close collaboration with the relevant units across the Organization, including WIPO’s global services, to support growth in these areas and, in coordination with the External Offices network under the Regional and National Development Sector, in order to contribute to and benefit from best practices across the referred network.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Manage and oversee the activities undertaken by WJO to drive the growth and enhancement of WIPO services in Japan, while building and maintaining partnerships and synergies to support WIPO’s strategic goals.

b. Analyze needs and trends in Japan and develop WJO’s Program of Work and Budget proposals and work plans in line with WIPO’s results framework in order to improve the quality, timeliness and use of WIPO services for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights.

c. Engage with senior officials of the host government to ensure effective communication and cooperation between Japan and WIPO, with a view to advancing WIPO’s strategic goals and supporting the management, planning and implementation of activities funded by the Japan Funds-in-Trust, as well as other activities carried out by the Government of Japan and IP stakeholders in Japan.

d. Develop and manage strategic networks and relationships with intellectual property stakeholders in Japan in order to provide WIPO HQ with feedback and insights on emerging user needs, with a particular focus on improving and growing WIPO’s services.

e. Represent WIPO at conferences, seminars, workshops and training sessions in Japan and other countries in the Asia and Pacific region and prepare and present papers on behalf of WIPO.

f. Leverage the United Nations presence in Japan to position WIPO as a partner of choice, while ensuring coordinated engagement with officials from other UN agencies on projects, administrative and common system matters, and shared priorities.

g. Determine priorities and allocate resources to ensure the timely, high-quality delivery of work products in accordance with results-based management principles, ensuring that key risks are identified, assessed and managed to achieve KPIs.

h. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in international relations, law, economics, public administration, management, science, engineering or other relevant field. A first-level university degree plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the experience required below may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential)

At least 15 years of experience in intellectual property, including at least six years at a senior management level.
Experience in the promotion of services related to intellectual property including through cooperation and networks.
Sound experience in at least one of the international IP systems such as PCT, Madrid and the Hague.
Experience working in an international setting.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in intellectual property with public entities such as governmental agencies and international organizations.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of English and Japanese.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Proven ability to foster innovation and lead change in a multinational and multicultural environment.
Demonstrated familiarity with at least one of WIPO's Global IP services, such as PCT, Madrid, and The Hague or of issues connected to the creative economy or cultural industries.
Excellent leadership and people management skills, with a proven ability to inspire, guide, and motivate teams.
Strong capability to effectively plan, allocate, and manage both financial and human resources.
Ability to coordinate and liaise effectively on multi-stakeholder projects for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Excellent diplomatic, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, and the ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relationships in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.
Sound political judgement and the ability to build and promote partnerships with a range of actors at high levels, including internal and external stakeholders.
Excellent negotiation and diplomatic skills.

4. Organizational Competencies

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.

5. Information

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 July 2026 rate of 84.7%

D1

Annual salary

$106,023

Post adjustment

$89,801

Total Salary

$195,824

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

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

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, 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 normally 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”).

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.

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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.