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Country Co-ordinator EPO - European Patent Office

Munich, Germany

Directorate European Co-operation is responsible for co-operation with existing and future EPO member states (MS). It is looking for a country co-ordinator to strengthen its MS co-operation team.

Main duties

  • Administration of contacts with a selected group of MS, by co-ordinating, maintaining and developing the EPO's working-level relations with the countries concerned;
  • Checking that co-operation projects are in line with EPO co-operation policy and that the allocation of resources between the projects corresponds to the priorities set; monitoring project implementation, reporting;
  • Drafting bilateral co-operation plans (BCPs) together with MS industrial property offices, and supervising their implementation (content, finance);
  • Following-up and analysing EU innovation policy and the work of national public policymakers with respect to research, competition, legislation, trade, patenting and patent information and awareness, and the activities of patent professionals and user groups, so as to integrate this into the BCPs and to support policy opinion-forming within the EPO.

The ideal candidate will have

  • have a university degree in law, business administration, political science or related field;
  • have a good knowledge of patent issues and the EPO;
  • be familiar with co-operation policy, activities, practices and procedures;
  • know about EPO MS national patent offices and the patent and innovation landscape in different MS;
  • have excellent communication skills, both inside and outside the EPO;
  • work carefully, accurately and reliably;
  • be loyal and diplomatic;
  • be a team player, able to work independently within a defined framework;
  • proactively approach the daily challenges which arise;
  • enjoy working in a service-oriented environment.

Knowledge of central and eastern European languages would be an advantage.

Minimum qualifications

Diploma of completed studies at university level or - in exceptional cases - equivalent professional experience. Excellent knowledge of one official language and ability to understand the other two.

Selection procedure

The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of qualifications, possibly supplemented by interviews and/or tests. It is intended to hold the interviews in calendar week 40.

Please apply online, using the online application form, reference number INT/EXT/5329.

Closing date: 15.09.2012.

As the second largest European organisation, the European Patent Office offers a competitive salary, excellent social benefits and varied work in a modern international environment.

More information on www.epo.org/vacancies.