Senior Legal Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was established in 196

• WIPO's mission is to promote the protection of intellectual property worldwide through cooperation among states and in collaboration with international organizations. The organization has a diverse workforce of over 1,000 employees and operates in multiple countries, focusing on enhancing the understanding and use of intellectual property to foster innovation and creativity. WIPO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and plays a crucial role in shaping global intellectual property policies and practices.

Job Overview:
The Senior Legal Officer position is situated within the Central Services Division (CSD) of the Corporate Management and Transformation Sector (CMTS) at WIPO. This role is pivotal as it serves as the lead commercial and regulatory legal counsel for the division. The Senior Legal Officer is tasked with ensuring that all operations, tendering exercises, and contractual commitments comply with WIPO's regulatory frameworks. The incumbent will proactively mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks associated with the organization's activities. The primary objective of this position is to enable WIPO to secure essential commercial and technological capabilities through robust and legally sound contracting practices. This includes steering high-stakes commercial negotiations, serving on the Contract Review Committee (CRC), ensuring audit compliance, and managing the Division's enterprise risk register. The Senior Legal Officer acts as a strategic legal partner, safeguarding WIPO's institutional interests while ensuring accountability and value for money in all operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will perform a variety of principal duties, including:

• Providing lifecycle procurement legal advice on drafting, negotiating, and concluding complex commercial agreements, particularly in IT, Cloud, AI technologies, construction, and campus facility management.
• Advising sector leadership and the Director of CSD on interpreting and applying WIPO's rules and regulations.
• Conducting policy research and proposing best-practice improvements in procurement and contracting policies.
• Offering guidance and legal advice to CSD personnel on procurement, travel, and premises regulations.
• Coordinating legal activities with the Office of Legal Counsel and representing WIPO in arbitral or administrative hearings.
• Serving as Secretary to the CRC and advancing sound managerial and legal practices.
• Representing CSD and CMTS at specialized meetings and preparing high-level legal documentation.
• Acting as the Division's risk management focal point and advising on legal and business risks.
• Managing ongoing audits and evaluations and maintaining inputs in digital audit management platforms. 1
• Performing other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in law, with a preference for specializations in commercial law, contract law, international law, or public procurement law. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in law combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be acceptable. Essential qualifications include at least seven years of progressively responsible professional legal experience in contract drafting, complex negotiation, and legal advisory services, as well as experience in drafting procedures and regulatory frameworks. Candidates should also have experience providing legal advice in public or private procurement contexts.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in law, ideally with a focus on commercial law, contract law, international law, or public procurement law. A first-level university degree in law, supplemented by two years of relevant experience, may be considered equivalent to an advanced degree. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of legal frameworks and regulations that govern procurement and contracting processes.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional legal experience. This experience should encompass contract drafting, complex negotiation, and providing legal advisory services. Candidates should also have a background in drafting procedures and regulatory frameworks, as well as experience in public or private procurement contexts. Desirable experience includes working in international environments, familiarity with Swiss commercial law, and expertise in risk management and audit management.

Languages:
Candidates must have excellent written and spoken knowledge of English or French, along with a good working knowledge of the other language, as WIPO contracts are drafted in both. Desirable language skills include proficiency in both English and French, as well as working knowledge of other official UN languages, which would enhance communication and collaboration within the organization.

Additional Notes:
The position offers an annual salary that consists of a net salary in US dollars, along with a post adjustment that varies based on the cost of living. The total estimated salary is $142,048, which is subject to change. Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official UN exchange rate. Temporary appointments are renewable, contingent on ongoing needs, budget availability, and satisfactory performance, with a maximum cumulative length of two years. WIPO encourages applications from qualified women and nationals from unrepresented Member States and underrepresented geographical regions. The organization reserves the right to appoint at a lower grade than advertised. Candidates must provide accurate information during the application process, as any misrepresentation may lead to disqualification or termination of employment. Background checks and additional testing may be required for shortlisted candidates.