Senior Program Officer

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Technology Transfer Section, IP for Innovators Department (IPID), IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector

Contract Duration - 2 years *

Duty Station: CH-Geneva

Final date to receive applications: 09-Jan-2026, 11:59:00 PM CET

a.
Organizational Setting

The Technology Transfer Section (TTS) is located in the IP for Innovators Department, within the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector of WIPO. The Section works with universities, public research institutions, innovation agencies, and government ministries to strengthen institutional and ecosystem capacity for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (K/TT).

The TTS develops tools and resources, supports IP policy and legislative frameworks, and provides evidence and data to help Member States translate research into social and economic impact.

Within TTS, the Evidence and Impact work area leads WIPO’s initiatives on generating and interpreting data on institutional innovation performance. Through diagnostic tools, institutional assessments, metrics, and impact studies, the work area enables governments and institutions to understand systemic and institutional gaps, target investments and reforms, and improve the efficiency and productivity of research-derived IP. The work contributes to WIPO’s broader mandate to support Member States in leveraging intellectual property and innovation for development.

b.
Purpose Statement

The incumbent leads the Evidence and Impact area within the Technology Transfer Section with the purpose to create and leverage data-driven insights to enhance institutional and national innovation ecosystems. The role focuses on strengthening innovation productivity in universities and public research institutions by generating credible evidence, diagnosing systemic and institutional gaps, and curating interventions that support institutional improvement and policy reform.

The incumbent manages the design and implementation of diagnostic tools, metrics, and evaluations, ensuring findings are translated into actionable recommendations for governments, innovation agencies, institutional leaders, and ministries responsible for science, technology, education and industry, which assists Member States target investments, refine policy, and improve institutional practices that underpin effective knowledge and technology transfer.

Responsibilities include overseeing flagship initiatives in institutional capability assessment and performance metrics, and the development of national and regional diagnostic reports, impact case studies and policy briefs, ensuring that evidence leads to demonstrable improvement and impact on innovation systems.

c.
Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head, Technology Transfer Section.

d.
Work Relations

The incumbent works closely with internal stakeholders throughout the organization, as well as with external stakeholders engaged in research, innovation, and policy development such as ministries responsible for science, technology, education, industry, and entrepreneurship; national innovation agencies; universities and public research institutions; and technology transfer offices. The incumbent also collaborates with regional and international professional associations, and partners involved in IP, innovation, and higher education policy.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.
Lead the Evidence and Impact work area
, ensuring the generation of credible evidence and the delivery of interventions that strengthen the innovation productivity of research-intensive organizations such as universities and public research institutions.

b.
Develop and oversee diagnostic tools, data collection methods, and evaluation approaches to assess institutional and systemic capacity for knowledge and technology transfer.

c.
Produce reports and analyses that identify institutional and policy gaps and formulate recommendations for targeted interventions.

d.
Translate diagnostic findings into actionable policy advice and institutional reforms in collaboration with Member States, including…