Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) Jobs and Vacancies

The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) is a State Corporation under the Ministry of Industrialization established under the Industrial Property Act 2001 to administer and promote industrial property rights (IPRs) in Kenya. 

Its main functions include registration of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models and technovations; promotion of innovative and inventive activities; dissemination of IP information to the public, screening of technology transfer agreements and licenses and offering of training in IPR.

The Institute wishes to recruit staff to fill the following posts:

1. Deputy Managing Director, Technical Services – Grade KP2 (REF No. 1) 1 Position

Qualifications / Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering or any other relevant discipline from a recognized university.
• A Masters degree in the area of specialization or in Intellectual Property from a recognized university.
• Served successfully for a minimum period of three (3) years in the grade of Chief Patent Examiner or Chief Trade Marks Examiner.
• Extensive knowledge and professional experience at national, regional and international levels for ten (10) years in the field of intellectual property.
• Proven ability in the management and supervision of a large number of technical staff.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Overseeing the formulation and implementation of policy concerning the development of industrial property rights in Kenya.
• Efficient and effective organization, direction, administration, management and coordination of activities and programmes in the department.
• Overseeing the development of departmental programmes and  estimates.
• Coordinating monitoring and evaluation of departmental programmes and activities.
• Overseeing the provision of industrial property information to the public.
• Liaising with international intellectual property organisations to promote industrial property protection in Kenya.
• Overseeing the provision of information and documentation services to the Institute.
• Ensuring attainment of departmental performance targets.
• Overseeing the provision of library and registry services to the Institute.
• Overseeing publication activities of the Institute.
• Overseeing provision of patent and Trade Mark services; and
• Any other lawful duties that may be assigned from time to time.

2. Chief Patent Examiner - Grade KP3 (REF No. 2) 1 Position

Qualifications / Requirements

Applicants must have the following qualifications:

• A Bachelors degree in Science, Engineering or any other relevant discipline from a recognized university.
• A Masters degree in the area of specialization or in Intellectual Property from a recognized university.
• Served for a minimum period of three (3) years in the grade of a Senior Patent Examiner or an equivalent position.
• Extensive knowledge and professional experience in the field of industrial property rights including international aspects and be conversant with regional and international treaties and agreements in industrial property rights for at least seven (7) years.
• Demonstrated a high standard of professional competence and administrative ability required for directing and co-ordination of planning and development of industrial property programmes.
• Proven ability in the management and supervision of a large number of staff.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Formulation and implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for the industrial property system.
• Compiling reports on patent, utility models and industrial designs applications and processing.
• Advising the public on issues relating to patents, utility models and industrial designs.
• Overseeing training of staff in the Division.
• Processing of intellectual property applications.
• Provision of technical advice and creation of public awareness on patents,  utility models and industrial designs.
• Undertaking research in the area of field of intellectual property.
• Preparation of outreach documents in liaison with Information and Publication division.
• Undertaking searches; and
• Any other lawful duties as may be assigned from time to time.

3. Chief Trade Mark Examiner - Grade KP3 (REF No. 3) 1   Position

Qualifications / Requirements

Applicants must have the following qualifications:

• A Masters Degree in Intellectual Property or related discipline from a recognized university.
• A Bachelors degree in Science, Engineering, Law, Arts, Economics, Commerce or any other relevant discipline from a recognized institution.
• A management course lasting not less than three (3) weeks at a recognized Institution.
• Served for a minimum period of three (3) years in the grade of a Senior Trade Mark Examiner or an equivalent position.
• Extensive knowledge and professional experience in the field of industrial property rights including international aspects and be conversant with regional and international treaties and agreements in industrial property rights for at least seven (7) years.
• Demonstrated a high standard of professional competence and administrative ability required for directing and co-ordination of planning and development of industrial property programmes.
• Proven ability in the management and supervision of a large number of staff

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Overseeing implementation of Trade Mark policies and procedures;
• Coordinating and supervising activities related to examination and search of Trade Marks, service marks and geographical indications;
• Overseeing the renewal of registration of trade and service marks certificates;
• In liaison with the Information and Documentation Services Division prepare outreach documents for the Division;
• Substantive examination of Trade Mark applications;
• Overseeing staff training and development in the in the Division;
• Giving technical advice on Trade Marks, service marks and geographical indications related issues;
• Undertake research on Trade Mark related issues;
• In consultation with the Legal Services Division, recommend and justify any proposed amendments to legislation governing Trade Marks in Kenya;
• Formulation and design of performance targets for staff within the Division; and
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

4. Corporate Affairs Officer I – Grade KP5 (REF No.4) 1 Position

Qualifications / Requirements

• At least second-class Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Social Sciences, Public Relations or their accepted equivalent from a recognized university.
• Postgraduate Diploma in PR or Marketing from a recognized university.
• Relevant experience of at least three (3) years.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Preparation of press releases, media liaisons, conferences, and press briefs on the Institute’s programmes and activities.
• Implementation of the Institute’s corporate and public relations initiatives.
• Creating awareness to the public on the role and functions of Kenya Industrial Property Institute.
• Implementing corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Receipt of complaints from stakeholders.
• Provision of feedback to stakeholders, and
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

5. Secretary To Tribunal – Grade KP 5 (REF No.5) 1 Position

Qualifications / Requirements

For appointment to this post, an applicant must be in possession of the following minimum qualifications:

• A law degree from any Public University in Kenya or any other recognized University.
• A Diploma from the Kenya School of Law or an exemption by the Council of Legal Education.
• Admission to the Roll of Advocates.
• Applicants from Private Practice and other organizations must have three (3) years relevant experience.
• Serving District Magistrates II who have a combined experience of three (3) years in Private Practice and on the Bench may also apply.
• Must have demonstrated administrative skills, professional competence and integrity in work performance and results.
• Must not have any pending complaint with the Advocates Complaints Commission or the Disciplinary Committee.
• Those in Private practice must be in possession of a current Practicing Certificate.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidates will be answerable to the Chairman of the Tribunal and/or Managing Director of the Institute.

• Discharge duties as directed by Chairman of the Tribunal or Managing Director of the Institute.
• Liase with the Parent Ministry on matters affecting the Tribunal.

6. Legal Officer I – Grade KP 5 (REF No. 6) 1 Position

Requirements / Qualifications

• An Upper second class LLB degree or its equivalent from a recognized university.
• A Diploma from the Kenya School of Law.
• Admission to the Roll of Advocates.
• A current practicing certificate.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Coordinating the implementation of the provisions of all the legislations administered by the Institute.
• Undertaking research on various legal aspects and processes related to the mandate of the Institute.
• Gathering information required to complete court cases.
• Providing legal advice to the Institute.
• Facilitating registration of Trade Marks and Geographical Indications, Technology transfer agreements, Licenses and Assignments.
• Liaising with external lawyers appointed by the Institute.
• Drafting contracts as required by the Institute.
• Attending court proceedings on behalf of the Institute; and
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

7. Senior Trade Mark Assistant – Grade KP 6 (REF No. 7)

1 Position

Requirements / Qualifications

• Higher National Diploma.
• Computer literate and working knowledge of IPAS and other IP databases.
• Knowledge of the national, regional and international Trademark registration systems.
• At least three (3) years as a Trade Mark Assistant I or six (6) years experience on practical aspects of trademark registration processes.
• Accounting skills.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Carry out formality examinations in conjunction with examiners.
• Collect and collate data for inclusion in the Industrial Property Journal.
• Be responsible for implementing performance targets for officers under him or her.
• Custody, maintenance and ensure accuracy of registers to be maintained under the respective Acts.
• Keep record of official and personal searches.
• Undertake official searches as assigned by the immediate supervisor.
• Be responsible for filling of all correspondence and user documents relating to trademark applications.
• Be responsible for effective implementation of post-registration activities relating to trademark matters.
• Be responsible for file movement and tracking within the registry.
• Be responsible for the accuracy and updating of data in the Institute’s IPAS database for the respective registry.
• Be responsible for inducting and training new staff deployed to the registry.

Note: Canvassing, lobbying or reasonable suspicion for canvassing or lobbying for any position shall lead to automatic disqualification.

Interested applicants should send their applications with a detailed Curriculum Vita highlighting academic qualifications and relevant experience and attach copies of relevant academic/professional certificates and testimonials. 

Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) is an equal opportunity employer.

Applications should be marked REF. No…… and submitted to the address below by 28th September 2012.

The Managing Director
Kenya Industrial Property Institute
P. O. Box 51648 – 00200
Nairobi