Legal Officer Medicines Patent Pool
Medicines Patent Pool
Geneva, Switzerland
ABOUT THE MEDICINES PATENT POOL
The Medicines Patent Pool (“the Pool”) was created to improve the health of people living in low- and middle-income countries. Our goal is to increase access to quality, safe, efficacious, more appropriate and affordable medicines, focusing on HIV/AIDS. We do this by negotiating with patent holders to share their intellectual property with the Pool, and then licensing it to other manufacturers to facilitate the production of affordable generic medicines. In addition to reducing the prices of medicines, the Pool aims to facilitate the development of HIV medicines that are better-adapted for resource-limited settings: examples include medicines that do not require refrigeration, special formulations for children, and ‘fixed-dose combinations’ that combine multiple medicines into one pill and ease treatment for patients and treatment providers alike.
The Pool is an independent legal entity based in Geneva, Switzerland, established with the support of UNITAID. UNITAID is an innovative global health financing mechanism, whose mission is to contribute to scaling up access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries.
For more information, please see our website, www.medicinespatentpool.org.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Legal Officer will contribute to all legal and strategic matters relevant to the Pool's work, under the supervision of the General Counsel.
Responsibilities include:
- Participating in patent licensing negotiations with patent holders;
- Contributing to preparation of engagement and negotiation strategies;
- Reviewing and drafting licence agreements;
- Liaising with external legal consultants regarding research projects;
- Liaising with potential and current licensees;
- Performing legal and other research; drafting reports and memoranda on issues relevant to the Pool's work;
- Contributing to the Pool's policy, communication and advocacy efforts;
- Liaising with local Swiss counsel on matters related to non-profit foundation law in Switzerland;
- Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel.
KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS:
The Legal Officer should have:
- Strong knowledge of patent law within the international framework;
- Strong knowledge of intellectual property licensing;
- Excellent research and writing skills;
- Experience in negotiating and drafting legal documents;
- Strong knowledge of issues related to intellectual property and access to medicines in developing countries;
- Excellent attention to detail.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
- Organised, autonomous and able to work with short timelines;
- Collaborative and supportive approach to teamwork;
- Sensitivity to different cultures and work styles;
- Demonstrable personal commitment to the public health goals of the Patent Pool.
EDUCATION AND SPECIAL TRAINING
Postgraduate degree in law. Degree in public health or other relevant area preferred.
EXPERIENCE (LENGTH AND NATURE)
At least five years experience practicing law, with at least three of these years in a field relevant to intellectual property law. Experience practicing law in a developing country, either in a commercial setting or within a non-profit setting strongly preferred.
USE OF LANGUAGES
Fluency in English is required. Oral and written proficiency in a second language is strongly preferred.
APPLICATION DETAILS
Women and people from Developing Countries are encouraged to apply.
When applying for the position, please indicate whether you currently have Swiss employment authorisation.
Please send a cover letter and C.V. to recruitment@medicinespatentpool.org by 21 January 2012.
Medicines Patent Pool
150 route de Ferney
1211 Genève
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