Senior Legal Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local date and time.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The position is located in the Central Services Division (CSD) of the Corporate Management and Transformation Sector (CMTS). The Division is responsible for the strategic and operational procurement of goods and services, individual consultancies, travel and event arrangements, campus sustainability programs, and the continuous modernization, maintenance, and facility management of WIPO Headquarters infrastructure.

b. Purpose Statement

The Senior Legal Officer serves as the lead commercial and regulatory legal counsel for CSD, ensuring that all operations, tendering exercises, and contractual commitments strictly adhere to WIPO's regulatory frameworks while proactively mitigating operational, financial, and reputational risk.
The primary purpose of this role is to enable the Organization to secure vital commercial and technological capabilities through robust, agile, and legally sound contracting. By steering high-stakes commercial negotiations, serving in a senior governance capacity on the Contract Review Committee (CRC), orchestrating audit compliance, and anchoring the Division's enterprise risk register, the incumbent acts as a strategic legal partner who safeguards WIPO's institutional interests, ensures accountability and value for money, and upholds operational continuity.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the Director of the Division, with functional accountability to the High-Level Officer for Procurement (HLOP) for dedicated assignments and advice on specialized commercial frameworks or regulatory matters.

d. Work Relations

The incumbent serves as legal advisor across all sections of CSD, coordinating closely with the Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC) on institutional governance, disputes, and regulatory matters. The role acts as Secretary to the CRC and serves as the primary focal point for internal and external audits, evaluations, and enterprise risk management initiatives.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Commercial Contracting and Strategic Procurement Support:

Provide lifecycle procurement legal advice on drafting, negotiating, and concluding complex commercial agreements (contracts, Long Term Agreements, SLAs, MoUs, settlements) with particular focus on IT/Cloud/AI technologies, construction, and campus facility management. Engage directly in negotiations with suppliers whenever needed.

b. High-Level Legal Advice and Policy Guidance:

Advise Sector leadership, the Director of CSD, and the HLOP on interpreting, applying, and updating WIPO’s rules and regulations, Office Instructions and other administrative issuances from the Division.

c. Policy Research and Process Improvement:

Research procurement and contracting policy trends, especially in IT, construction, and emerging technologies; propose best-practice improvements and coordinate related sector initiatives under HLOP/Director guidance; update and improve the Division's regulatory documentation.

d. Guidance and Legal advice:

Provide advice to CSD personnel and across WIPO on the rules and regulations of procurement, travel and premises.

e. Coordination and Dispute Representation:

Coordinate the Division’s legal activities with the Office of Legal Counsel and participate regularly in meetings on complex legal issues; in collaboration with the Office of the Legal Counsel, represent the Organization before any arbitral or administrative hearings resulting from a procurement action.

f. Governance and Committee Secretariat:

Serve in a senior secretarial capacity for the Contract Review Committee and related boards or task forces to advance sound managerial and legal practices for WIPO.

g. Institutional Representation:

Represent CSD and CMTS at specialized meetings, internal bodies, and committees, deliver presentations and prepare high-level legal documentation.

h. Risk Management Focal Point:

Act as the Division's risk management focal point and advise the Director on the management of legal and business risks; review and report on the identified risks and associated mitigation plans; manage the inclusion of the Division's risks in WIPO's Enterprise Risk Management tool.

i. Audit Focal Point: Act as the Division's audit focal point, advising the Director on the management of any ongoing audits or evaluations and the implementation of agreed management actions; maintain the Division's inputs in the relevant digital audit management software platform and portal of audit recommendations.

j. Perform other duties as required.

3. Requirements