PCT Digital Services Outreach Officer

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 post is in the PCT Technical Cooperation and Outreach Section (PCT-TCOS) of the PCT International Cooperation Division (PCT-ICD) in the PCT Legal and International Affairs Department within Patents and Technology Sector. The Division supports cooperation with PCT Member State Offices and accession candidates to ensure the effective functioning and understanding of the PCT system. The Section focuses on outreach and technical cooperation, promoting the use of PCT digital tools, including ePCT, through training and targeted activities.

b. Purpose Statement

The incumbent coordinates and delivers international technical cooperation activities to support the deployment and effective use of PCT online services and tools, including ePCT, data exchange with IP Offices and technical support. These efforts drive measurable improvements in adoption, interoperability and user satisfaction, contributing directly to the Section’s workplan. The incumbent also leads targeted promotional and training initiatives and participates in IP events, strengthening stakeholder engagement, building capacity, and increasing global awareness and uptake of the PCT and ePCT systems.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of Section.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent works closely with different areas of the Patents and Technology Sector (PTS), other WIPO Sectors, the Customer Experience Section, Information and Communication Technology Department (ICTD), other IP services such as Trademarks and Design, officials from IP Offices and users of the PCT in general.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Design, implement, and monitor customer-centric capacity-building and outreach initiatives that promote ePCT and other PCT Online services, tailored to the needs of Member States and IP Offices, and aimed at strengthening their ability to effectively and confidently use digital tools for international patent filing. Collaborate with colleagues in Marketing for these activities.

b. Engage proactively with PCT Member States, IP Offices and regional organizations to support the deployment, adoption and enhancement of ePCT and related online platform fostering collaboration on digital transformation in the PCT system.

c. Represent the Organization at national, international, and regional meetings and deliver presentations that highlight the benefits, features and evolving functionalities of ePCT and other PCT digital tools.

d. Provide continuing user support, including resolving difficult problems, advising on the use of new techniques and monitoring Office activities related to data exchange and usage of PCT online services and tools. Keep up to date with new technologies, methodologies and developments in the PCT system for delivering and supporting international cooperation activities.

e. Develop and update ePCT-related training materials, tutorials, and promotional resources, and contribute to seminars, workshops, symposia and training programs that showcase ePCT.

f. Collaborate with internal stakeholders, in particular Marketing, to develop and implement a targeted marketing and promotion strategy for ePCT and related systems, aimed at IP Offices and practitioners, and support the delivery of resulting promotional activities, including seminars, workshops, symposia, and training programs.

g. Prepare internal reports and other documents for the Section and/or the Division (ranging from evaluation and data reports on the deployment of cooperation activities and other working documents), including proposals for promotional material, news, feature stories, editorial, and social media content) liaising with concerned work units in the sector and throughout the Organization on such matters, as required.

h. Foster a culture of providing high-quality customer-focused services by identifying varying customer needs, recommending best practices which can improve customer interactions, and proactively addressing potential issues before they impact the customer experience.

i. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Head of Section.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree, preferably in law, business, international relations, international development, computer science, science, engineering, languages, or another closely related field.

Education (Desirable)

Specialization or further qualification in intellectual property law.
Specialized training or certification in project management, capacity building, or international cooperation.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of progressively responsible and relevant experience, including in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Experience related to development-oriented activities.
Experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Capacity-building, technical assistance, or international cooperation, preferably within the context of intellectual property.
- Stakeholder engagement with national IP Offices, international organizations, or government institutions.
- Designing and delivering training, workshops, seminars, or outreach programs related to intellectual property, legal frameworks, or the use of online patent tools and digital platforms.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in PCT processing and user support activities in an intellectual property Office.

Experience in working in a highly secure environment, involving sensitive information data flows.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other PCT publication languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish).

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Familiarity with PCT electronic systems, such as ePCT and other online tools used in international filing and processing.
Good knowledge of the PCT.
Familiarity with the WIPO mandate and work.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to maintain effective internal and external partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment, with officials at all levels.
Tact and discretion.
Proven ability to design, implement, and monitor global initiatives, including outreach and promotion activities, platforms and partnerships, and track the effectiveness of activities and engagement through established metrics and data analytics.
Good IT skills, including online filing systems, websites, and document management.
Good analytical, research, reporting, and time-management skills.
Strong organizational skills, meticulous planning, project management and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to make the best use of data-driven insights.
Excellent political judgment and capacity to work well with a range of stakeholders.
Strong client-orientation.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-making, monitor performance, and support evidence-based planning and reporting.
Familiarity with structured markup languages and related technologies, including XML, HTML, DTDs, and style sheets.

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%

P3

Annual salary

$64,121

Post adjustment

$54,310

Total Salary

$118,431

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.