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Position Title:Legal Officer
Organization:The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)
Employment Type:Full Time Permanent
Base Salary: US$39,150.00 per annum
Scheduled Date of Entry on Duty: To be determined
Application Deadline:January 31,2015.
Background of the Organization
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)
(hereinafter referred to as “the Organization”), an intergovernmental
Organization, which was established at Lusaka, Zambia, in 1976 by an Agreement
concluded under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for
Africa (ECA) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The Organization was created, inter alia, to promote the development of
intellectual property laws appropriate to the needs of its members, establish
common services and training schemes, and assist its members in the acquisition
and development of technology and the evolving of common views on intellectual
property matters.
The Organization grants and administers Intellectual Property titles on
behalf of the member states and provides Intellectual Property information to
its clientele in the form of search services, publications and awareness
creation. Membership of the organisation is open to all states members of the
African Union (AU) or of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
(ECA).
The present members of the Organization are: Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and
Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of
Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. (Total: 19 states)
The organs of the organization are:
the Council of Ministers,
consisting of ministers who are responsible in the Member States for the
administration of intellectual property matters;
the Administrative Council
consisting of heads of offices, in the Member States, dealing with the
administration of intellectual property; and
the Secretariat (the Office
of ARIPO) headed by the Director General as the principal executive officer of
the Organization.
Applications are invited from suitable candidates to be considered for
appointment to the post Legal Officer of the Organization, the full description
of which is as follows:
Duty Station: Harare, Zimbabwe
Duration of Appointment: Fixed-term contract of two years (renewable)
Scheduled Date of Entry on Duty: To be determined
Principal Duties:
Under the supervision of the Director General, the incumbent Legal Officer
shall have the following tasks;
·
Legal advice to the Organization;
·
Draft all legal documents
within the Organization;
·
Research and collect
documentation, particularly concerning national laws on intellectual property,
and concerning the management of offices and organizations administering such
rights;
·
Assist in and provide advice
on the preparation of draft legislative texts or of comments on such text as
requested by ARIPO member states;
·
Assist in the development,
harmonization and/or modernization of legislative instruments in ARIPO member
states;
·
Assist in the preparation of
policy documents and coordination of intellectual property in the member states
of ARIPO;
·
Participate in the
preparation of reports on activities concerning cooperation for development
activities; and
·
Perform other duties that may
be assigned.
Qualifications required
·
A Master’s Degree in Law or
Master’s Degree in Intellectual Property;
·
A minimum of 5 years work
experience,( at least 3 of which should be in offering Legal advice on
Intellectual Property);
·
Excellent knowledge of oral
and written English. Knowledge of French, Portuguese or other UN recognized
language would be an added advantage;
·
Public Relations, good
interpersonal, presentation and negotiating skills and ability to maintain
effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic
environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
·
Knowledge of Intellectual
Property would be an added advantage;
·
Ability to work under minimum
supervision;
·
Ability to work as a member
of a team; and
·
Good analytical skills
Nationality: To be eligible for appointment, candidates must be nationals of a Member
State of the Organization.
Conditions of Employment:
Conditions of service shall be subject to the ARIPO Staff Rules and
Procedures or be determined by the Administrative Council of the Organization.
Salary and allowances on first appointment shall be those applicable to
Grade L-3 STEP 1 of the ARIPO salary scales of the professional category.
Base Salary: US$39,150.00 per annum
Post Adjustment Allowance: Depending on the rise and fall, in value, of the United States dollar, a
post adjustment index which is presently 52.4% of base salary is applied as a
cost of living allowance.
Dependency Allowances: US$900 per year for a dependent child. Maximum number of children three
(3).
Other conditions include:
·
Payment of travel and removal
expenses,
·
Once off Installation grant;
·
Education grant up to a
maximum of three children;
·
Housing allowance;
·
Contributory medical
insurance scheme;
·
Annual leave of 30 working
days; and
·
Paid home leave every two
years.
Medical Examination: The appointment is subject to a satisfactory United Nations type medical
examination.
Other Conditions of Service: Other terms and conditions of service shall be subject to the ARIPO Staff
Rules and Procedures or be determined by the Administrative Council of the
Organization.
Applications: Applicants should submit detailed curriculum vitae indicating pertinent
personal data, two-passport size photographs and accompanied by certified
copies of relevant certificates and names and addresses of two persons from
whom references can be obtained.
Mode of application:
Applicants should indicate in their personal data, the following:
|i) family name and first names;
ii) date and place of birth;
iii) nationality and detailed
present address;
iv) full names, relationship, sex
and date of birth of dependents;
v) language abilities both
written and spoken;
vi) educational background (main
subjects, institutions, diplomas or degrees and marks of merit;
vii) employment record (present or
most recent employment, previous employment);
(viii) any other relevant
information.
Applications should be sent to;
The Director General
African Regional Intellectual Property Organization
11 Natal Road, Belgravia
P O Box 4228
HARARE
Zimbabwe
Tel: 00 263-4-794065/6
Fax: 00 263-4-794072/3
Applications can also be submitted via electronic mail to:
mail@aripo.org
This vacancy announcement is also available on the ARIPO website www.aripo.org
Deadline for submission of Applications: January 31,2015.
(Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be
accepted.)
ARIPO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
