Patent Information Specialist

Location:  Geneva, Switzerland

Working time: 100%

Contract: Permanent

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

The Patent Information Specialist reports to the Head of Patent Information and will be entrusted with the following responsibilities:

Patent landscaping

• Identify relevant patents on products (health technologies) that may be of interest to MPP for in-licensing, undertake patent searches and analyses to inform decision-making at MPP, with a particular focus on biotherapeutics and vaccines.
• Support the identification and analysis of patents that may be relevant to the operations of the WHO mRNA technology transfer programme.
• Prepare IP landscapes and other analytical work, as needed, and make such analysis available via suitable publications, including in collaboration with partner organisations.

MPP PaLs Management

• Contribute to the management of MPP PaLs, including data collection, input, updating, and assisting users in interpreting data.
• Provide input to the design, planning, implementation, and further development of MPP PaLs.
• Promote the use of MPP PaLs among potential user groups including public health organizations, governments, patent agents/attorneys, pharmaceutical companies, civil society, and patient groups.

Policy Team Support

• Support the policy team to further develop collaborations with national and regional patent offices, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, regulatory agencies, and other relevant organisations from which data needs to be gathered for the development of MPP PaLs.
• Participate in meetings organised by external stakeholders to share MPP expertise on the IP/licensing status of different medicines and related issues.
• Work with the Patent Information Manager and other workstreams to establish/develop a patent monitoring and watching system for selected health technologies as per MPP’s mandate.
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Head of Patent Information.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, or another relevant field.
• Training on patents highly desirable.
• Experience in conducting patent search and analysis, preferably in the field of pharmaceuticals, would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of patent law, interpreting patent claims and identifying relevant patents for a given product/technology would be an asset.
• Proficient with usual IT tools.
• Knowledge of patent databases management, including data collection, input and updates would be an asset.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills.
• Ability to interpret and synthetise complex technical information and communicate it in a format that is friendly to non-specialists.
• Diligence and precision with good eye for detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a proven knowledge of professional writing and presenting to internal and external audiences.
• Organised, autonomous, able to prioritise multiple tasks and projects and to work with short timelines.
• Flexible and adaptable to change, with proactive attitude to learn new skills, tools and methodologies.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.
• Fluency in other official UN languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russia, Chinese) is a strong asset.

Personal Qualities:

MPP’s richness lies in its staff: a small dynamic and multicultural team!

To flourish in our team, you must recognise yourself in our values: Respect, Courage, Generosity and Commitment.

Moreover, the Patent information Specialist will need to demonstrate the following qualities:

• Proven ability to embrace diversity and work effectively with variety of stakeholders internally and externally, to achieve common goals.
• Demonstrable personal commitment to the public health goals of the MPP.

MPP respects all individuals regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, HIV status or disability. All qualified applications are welcome.