Director, WIPO Japan Office

The Director leads and oversees the WIPO Japan Office to strengthen WIPO’s presence, partnerships, and service delivery in Japan. The role involves aligning programs and resources with organizational priorities, managing Japan Funds-in-Trust, and fostering high-level government and stakeholder cooperation to support WIPO’s global strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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 to improve the quality, timeliness and use of WIPO services for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
• Engage with senior officials of the host government to ensure effective communication and cooperation between Japan and WIPO, advancing WIPO’s strategic goals and supporting management, planning and implementation of activities funded by the Japan Funds-in-Trust and other activities.
• Develop and manage strategic networks and relationships with intellectual property stakeholders in Japan to provide WIPO HQ with feedback and insights on emerging user needs, focusing on improving and growing WIPO’s services.
• Represent WIPO at conferences, seminars, workshops and training sessions in Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries and prepare and present papers on behalf of WIPO.
• Leverage the United Nations presence in Japan to position WIPO as a partner of choice, ensuring coordinated engagement with officials from other UN agencies on projects, administrative and common system matters, and shared priorities.
• Determine priorities and allocate resources to ensure timely, high-quality delivery of work products in accordance with results-based management principles, ensuring key risks are identified, assessed and managed to achieve KPIs.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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 in intellectual property with public entities such as governmental agencies and international organizations (desirable).
• Excellent knowledge of English and Japanese.
• Knowledge of other UN languages (desirable).
• 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.

Skills

• Intellectual Property Management
• International IP Systems
• PCT System
• Madrid System
• Hague System
• Public Sector IP Experience
• International Relations
• Innovation Leadership
• Change Management
• Team Leadership
• Financial Resource Management
• Human Resources Management
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Diplomatic Negotiation
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Analytical Decision Making
• Multicultural Communication
• Presentation Skills
• Political Judgment
• Service Promotion

Languages

English, Japanese