Associate Program Officer – PCT Legal Support

About the role

The Associate Program Officer supports the Deputy Director and Head of the PCT Legal and User Support Section in handling PCT applications that encounter legal or procedural challenges. Based in Geneva, the role involves case analysis, statistical tracking, and providing users with access to International Bureau files.

Key responsibilities

• Investigate, analyze and prepare recommendations for PCT applications with legal or processing problems.
• Draft letters and internal memoranda to resolve issues raised by applicants, agents, and PCT Operations staff.
• Facilitate access to International Bureau files and issue certified copies of documents.
• Review and comment on procedural texts from various PCT divisions.
• Communicate with the PCT Operations Division on procedural matters and propose data‑informed improvements.
• Maintain statistics on cases received and ensure timely responses to queries.
• Participate in outreach and promotional activities to raise awareness of the PCT system.

Required profile

• Ability to investigate and analyze PCT applications with legal or procedural difficulties.
• Strong drafting skills for letters, memoranda, and official documents.
• Experience liaising with PCT Operations, users, and contracting states.
• Capacity to compile and interpret case statistics.
• Willingness to engage in outreach and training activities.

Required skills