Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Job Reference: 26149-TA
Grade: P2
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
Contract Duration: 1 year (renewable, subject to continuing needs, budget availability and satisfactory performance, with a maximum cumulative period of two years)
Application Deadline: 17 November 2026 at 12:59 AM
Organizational Context
The position is based in the PCT Client Service Team, PCT Operations Service 2, PCT Operations Division, PCT Services Department, Patents and Technology Sector.
The PCT Operations Division is responsible for receiving, examining formalities, publishing and communicating applications and related documents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), while delivering high-quality customer services to PCT users in all 10 official PCT publication languages.
The successful candidate will serve as a focal point for small and medium-sized clients, provide customer services to applicants and offices, and carry out complex processing and examination duties in at least two languages for international patent applications.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Client Advisor will be responsible for:
- Liaising and communicating with Intellectual Property Offices, including the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), to strengthen cooperation and collaboration with WIPO.
- Serving as the focal point for small and medium-sized clients by analysing frequent defects, providing proactive advice and delivering dedicated training to ensure high-quality customer service.
- Examining formal requirements of international applications, related documents and correspondence, particularly those filed in Chinese, ensuring compliance with established standards and timely follow-up.
- Monitoring late and non-payment of fees and taking appropriate action, including blocking applications and sending reminders.
- Responding to complex customer queries and resolving problems, including those relating to ePCT, while providing timely follow-up to PCT users and authorities.
- Assisting with sorting, identifying, prioritising and distributing work within the team, ensuring that assignments are completed within deadlines.
- Proposing improvements to workflows and work processes based on quantitative and qualitative targets.
- Carrying out publication preparation and review work, ensuring that publication and republication assignments are ready for international publication within established deadlines.
- Participating in the testing of PCT electronic systems and tools and proposing improvements.
- Participating in presentations on PCT operational practices during missions and meetings.
- Keeping up to date with changes in procedures, rules, regulations, work processes and relevant IT tools.
- Training and coaching junior and new staff and providing input on developments relating to the PCT system, IT tools and PCT rule changes.
- Performing other related duties as required.
Requirements
Education
- First-level university degree.
Experience
- At least three years of relevant professional experience with patents, including experience in an intellectual property office or a comparable working environment.
Languages
- Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English and Chinese.
Job-Related Competencies
- Ability to communicate effectively with people from technical and business fields.
- Excellent understanding of the PCT and the ability to explain or provide training on its rules, regulations and procedures.
- Ability to use IT tools and systems for data capture and transmission, quality control and customer services.
- Strong client orientation and ability to deliver high-quality customer service.
- Results-oriented approach.
- Excellent time management and work organisation skills, with adaptability to new environments, tasks and demands.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Integrity when handling confidential and sensitive data.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment.
Organizational Competencies
- Communicating effectively.
- Showing team spirit.
- Demonstrating integrity.
- Valuing diversity.
- Producing results.
- Showing service orientation.
- Seeing the big picture.
- Seeking change and innovation.
- Developing yourself and others.
Salary and Benefits
The annual salary for this P2 position is estimated as follows, based on the October 2026 post adjustment rate of 80.3%:
- Annual net salary: USD 50,377
- Post adjustment: USD 40,453
- Total annual salary: USD 90,830
Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official United Nations exchange rate. The post adjustment is variable and subject to change.
Additional Information
- Temporary appointments are renewable, subject to continuing organisational needs, budget availability and satisfactory performance, with a maximum cumulative duration of two years.
- Applications from qualified women and nationals of unrepresented WIPO Member States and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged.
- WIPO reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than the advertised grade.
- Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide scanned copies of identification and relevant academic qualifications.
- Additional testing or interviews may be used during the selection process.
- Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references, and additional background checks may be required.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official WIPO recruitment portal.
Application Deadline: 17 November 2026 at 12:59 AM. The deadline is based on the local time zone of the applicant’s location.