IPO’s mission is to help grow the UK economy by providing an IP system that encourages investment in creativity and innovation

Intellectual Property (IP) is the foundation of innovation and creativity, driving growth and competitiveness for UK businesses and the wider economy. IP rights give businesses, creators, and innovators the protection and strategic advantage they need to expand, build partnerships, invest in future opportunities, and continue innovating.

IP is central to how businesses compete both domestically and globally. A strong IP framework enables businesses to generate jobs and economic growth. It underpins the knowledge economy by allowing ideas to be commercialised—transforming them into products, services, and artistic works that improve lives in the UK and internationally.
 
The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) operates a global network of IP experts across key regions who work closely with UK-based teams, colleagues in British Embassies and High Commissions, as well as partners on the ground. These experts engage with local IP stakeholders, provide guidance to UK rightsholders navigating overseas IP landscapes and liaise with host governments on both domestic and international IP regimes.

As a representative of the IPO in SE Asia (based in Singapore), you will lead efforts to support UK businesses in protecting and commercialising their IP in the region. Your work will include:

• Business Advisory & Engagement: Helping UK businesses—especially SMEs—navigate Southeast Asia’s diverse IP regimes, protect and enforce their IP, and leverage their IP for growth.
• Outreach & education: Raising awareness and building partnerships to create a supportive IP environment.
• Strategic Initiatives: Translating IPO’s International and Southeast Asia strategies into impactful projects that deliver high-quality IP guidance to UK businesses.

For clarity, the 11 markets in SE Asia are Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor Leste. 

Business Engagement

You will act as the primary contact for UK businesses operating in or entering Southeast Asia and front business advisory support on navigating the region’s diverse IP environments and regimes. You will provide tailored IP advice to help businesses (especially MSMEs) to effectively protect, manage, and enforce their IP assets and leverage them for overseas growth and expansion. 

You will lead and support efforts to build and manage a strong network of industry partners, trade associations, non-governmental organisations and allies to promote a conducive IP business environment in SE Asia, especially for IP protection, IP enforcement and IP commercialisation for the benefit of UK businesses.

Government Partnerships 

You will develop partnerships and joint initiatives (e.g. events, roundtables) with UK government departments and agencies such as the Department of Business and Trade (DBT), the Science & Technology Network (S&T), Innovate UK, UK Research and Innovation, Export Academy, and British Embassies and High Commissions in SE Asia to increase businesses IP awareness and export capability.

Policy

You will monitor and analyse IP developments in SE Asia, both regulatory and non-regulatory, and develop regular communications and publications to inform seniors and UK businesses on the SE Asia IP business landscape and implications, as well as formulate recommendations and response strategies.  

This role offers scope for the job holder to develop and implement their own approach to business engagement and communications. We are interested in hearing new and innovative approaches from candidates.

Reporting to the Head of IP, SE Asia, the jobholder will be a part of IPO’s global IP attaché network spanning markets from North America, LATAC, Europe, MENA, India, China, Geneva, and SE Asia; as well as the regional SE Asia IP network/team. It is an exciting opportunity to work for the UK’s interests internationally, unlock new opportunities for UK businesses, shape regional IP developments, and work closely with an extensive network of IP stakeholders and HMG colleagues in SE Asia in support of the UK’s growth agenda.

Business Engagement (60%)

• Advisory: Lead the IP business advisory function, providing IP expert counsel to UK businesses in or wishing to operate in SE Asia. It will include supporting trade missions and events to inform, advise, and support UK businesses on navigating the SE Asia IP landscape, policies and risks. To achieve this, the jobholder will lead an overarching IP business engagement strategy that summarises UK businesses’ key IP concerns and recommend pathways to unlock and integrate resolution exploration into existing Embassy workstreams. 
• Work together as part of a broader team headed at IPO HQ in the UK, collaborating with and reporting to post and UK based teams to support and advise UK businesses to effectively manage their IP assets and leverage it for overseas expansion and growth. 
• Awareness Raising/Education/Outreach (AREO): Lead, develop and implement strategies and initiatives (e.g. events, campaigns, training) to increase IP awareness and knowledge among HMG colleagues and UK businesses in or wishing to operate in SE Asia, working closely with IPO HQ and UK embassies in region.  
• Strategy and Projects: Identify emerging trends and opportunities to enhance delivery of IPO’s AREO activities to maximise impact and effectiveness. Lead development and implementation of relevant strategies and projects (e.g. industry surveys, collaterals, research & data analysis) to actualise and unlock gains.  
• Partnerships: Lead, build and manage an intelligence network of industry partners and allies spanning industry associations, NGOs, chambers of commerce, academia, and like-minded partners for collaborations and to promote a conducive IP business environment in SE Asia with strong focus on IP protection, IP enforcement, and IP commercialisation.     

Policy Analysis (25%)

• Regional Policy: Monitor and analyse IP developments in SE Asia, both regulatory and non-regulatory, and develop regular communications/publications for seniors and businesses to deepen their understanding of the SE Asia’s IP landscape and opportunities for UK growth priorities (e.g. MSMEs, Digital). 
• Develop recommendations and response strategies where necessary to protect and forward UK business interests.   

Events and Visits (15%)

• Events: Lead and organise events to support IPO’s AREO and partnership building efforts, identifying synergies with industry partners or internal HMG departments and agencies. Represent IPO on business related engagements, including at trade fairs, business events and receiving UK business delegations in Singapore.
• IP Visits:  Lead on organising and coordinating IP-related visits to the UK by overseas counterparts from SE Asia, and visits to SE Asia by UK Ministers and IPO officials.
• Overseas Travel: Some occasional overseas travel within SE Asia and to the UK.

Where required, the jobholder will also provide stretch support to the Head of IP, SE Asia to forward UK’s IP interests in SE Asia. 

• Strong knowledge of IP policy, process, administration and legal frameworks within SE Asia. At least 5 years’ IP or IP-related work experience required.
• Experience of working directly with both governments and businesses.
• The regional nature of the role means effective self-management and prioritisation, and the ability to operate relatively independently, are critical.
• Strong strategic thinking, communicating, influencing, problem-solving, and judgment skills. Effective stakeholder and customer relationship management is essential.
• Knowledge of the SE Asian IP business environment is essential.  
• Knowledge of either IP enforcement or IP commercialisation will be advantageous. 
• Familiarity with UK/EU IP policies helpful but not essential.  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Occasional UK travel and regional travels (once or twice a year).

Language requirements:

Expertise in English