View Vacancy – SRR – Intellectual Property Attaché C5(L)

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for an Intellectual Property Attaché for a fixed-term contract of two (2) years.

As the UK Intellectual Property Office’s (IPO) lead representative in the Gulf States region (based in the British Embassy Riyadh but working across the region) and with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) network across the region, the jobholder will lead on delivering the UK’s engagement on Intellectual Property (IP) technical issues in this dynamic region.  The role will also serve to strengthen the UK’s relationship with the Gulf States on trade and reflect cross-HMG strategy. Sitting within the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Policy Team, the jobholder will also be involved in future trade work.

This will involve working closely with UK government colleagues, governments across the Middle East region, and UK businesses. It will mean being the British Embassy’s lead technical expert on IP, delivering IP policy and enforcement programme, and promoting IP issues across the region. The jobholder will be responsible for ensuring a coherent approach to the UK’s engagement in the region on IP (covering the 6 GCC markets) and represent industry and Her Majesty’s Government (HMG). The jobholder will also build key relationships with IP attachés in other embassies, work closely with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), the Saudi IP Office, and similarly others in the region; and maintain a network of other important stakeholders.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Act as the UK’s lead technical representative in the Middle East as part of the HMG overseas network in the region.
• Provide technical IP expertise within the GCC and support Trade Policy colleagues in understanding and resolving any issues which impact UK trade and investment.
• Actively seek out and build relationships with diverse stakeholders in the region and, where relevant, the UK, enabling the UK to shape the debate on IP in the region.
• Develop a strong and complementary relationship with colleagues at the IPO and the UK-based Senior Policy Advisor for the region.
• Develop expertise on IP policy development and delivery in the region for specialist and non-specialist stakeholders.
• Provide informed and impartial advice on IP issues to UK businesses operating, or wishing to operate, in the region.  
• Actively seek ways to deliver in market the UK’s International Strategy on IP and HMG policies that include IP, identifying new and emerging trends and opportunities for cross-engagement and collaboration and driving implementation of the strategy
• Support partnership opportunities to increase knowledge and activity on IP enforcement in the region
• Identify opportunities for policy and technical cooperation between the UK and GCC states, including national IP Offices, public bodies, and industry. 
• Organise and coordinate IP-related inward and outward visits, events, meetings, seminars, conferences and the like, including IPO officials, UK Ministers and other official/ non-official delegations. 
• Engage with the GCC Secretariat and individual GCC member governments across relevant departments on domestic and multilateral IP issues, in support of UK interests.          
• Work closely across all teams in the Regional network (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy [BEIS], DIT, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [HMRC], Science and Innovation Network [SIN]) on improving IP messaging and IP in bilateral trade dialogues (including G2G).
• Other pieces of work as required by the IPO, including workshops and conferences in conjunction with colleagues.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.

Key competencies required:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs. Focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet the organisation’s goals and deliver the greatest value. Scanning the political context and taking account of wider impacts to develop long term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value and support economic, sustainable growth.
• Collaborating and Partnering – Being a team player, creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Working collaboratively, sharing information appropriately and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. Being approachable, delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration, building effective partnerships including relationships with Ministers and welcoming challenge however uncomfortable.
• Leading and Communicating – Showing our pride and passion for public service, leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction, integrity and enthusiasm. Championing difference and external experience, supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens. Establishing a strong direction and a persuasive future vision; managing and engaging with people in a straightforward, truthful and candid way, and upholding the reputation of the organisation.
• Building Capability for All – Having a strong focus on continuous learning for oneself, others and the organisation. Being open to learning, keeping one’s own knowledge and skill set current and evolving. Giving clear, honest feedback and supporting teams to succeed. Managing talent and ensuring a diverse blend of capability and skills is identified and developed to meet current and future business needs. 
• Managing a Quality Service – Valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. Effectively planning, organising, and managing time and activities to deliver a high quality, secure, reliable and efficient service, applying programme and project and risk management approaches to support service delivery. 
• Engaging Internationally – Leading internationally, engaging our staff, contacts and international partners to help deliver UK Government objectives, while living the UK Civil Service values and serving the UK public. Understanding UK Government aims in the wider UK and international context and developing productive relationships with those external contacts and partners to help deliver UK objectives. Being aware of cultural sensitivities in your area of responsibility. Valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise.

• Knowledge and understanding of IP policy, process, administration and law within GCC. 
• Knowledge of the regional business environment. Experience of working directly with governments and businesses in the UK and/or Middle East.
• Ability to operate independently as well as with support from the IPO and British Embassies, and at all organisational levels. The regional nature of the role means effective self-management and prioritisation are critical. , 
• Experience of managing external relationships with key stakeholders and building influence with multiple stakeholders in public and private sectors.
• Strong strategic thinking, communicating and influencing, and problem-solving and judgment skills.
• Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure. With a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication. The jobholder will be expected to deliver briefings, papers, presentations and research. 
• Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook).