Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) Jobs in Kenya

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 innovation and inventive activities, dissemination of IP information to the public, screening of technology transfer agreements and licenses and to offer training in IPR.
The Institute wishes to recruit staff to fill the following posts:

Deputy Managing Director, Technical Services
Grade KP2 (Ref No.2)
1 Position

Qualifications/requirements
  • A Bachelors degree in Science, Engineering, or any other relevant discipline from a recognized university.
  • A Masters degree in the area of specialization or Intellectual Property.
Duties and responsibilities include:
  • Efficient and effective organization, direction, administration, management and coordination of activities and programmes in the department.
  • Supervising and coordinating the formulation, development and implementation of policy concerning the development of industrial property rights in Kenya.
Chief Trademark Examiner

Grade KP 3 (Ref No.3) 1 Position
Qualifications/requirements
  • A Bachelors degree in Science, Engineering, Law, Arts, Economics, Commerce or any other relevant discipline from a recognized university.
  • A Masters degree in Science, Engineering, Law, Economics, Commerce, Intellectual Property or any other relevant discipline from a recognized Institution.
Duties and Responsibility Include:
  • Assisting the Deputy Managing Director, Technical Services in the organization, direction, administration, management, co-ordination, harmonization and supervision of activities of the department responsible for processing of Industrial applications.
  • Assisting in formulation, development, implementation, and review of general and specific policies, strategies, and programmes, for the Industrial Property System.
  • Assist in updating the standard trade mark examination procedure manual.
Chief Patent Examiner
Grade KP 3 (Ref No.3)  – 1 Position
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 Intellectual Property.
Duties and Responsibilities Include:
  • Assisting the Deputy Managing Director, Technical Services in the Organization, direction, administration, management, coordination, harmonization and supervising of activities of the department responsible for processing of industrial property applications.
  • Assist in formulation, development, implementation, and review of general and specific policies, strategies, and programmes, for the industrial property system.
  • Coordinating and supervising examination and search activities in industrial property applications.
  • Preparing patent applications according to the Harare Protocol and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (RC.T).
  • Advising the public on issues relating to industrial property and technology transfer.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Grade KP 3 (Ref No.3) – 1 Position
Qualifications
  • At least an upper second class Bachelors degree in social sciences (sociology, economics, public/business administration and law), commerce or its equivalent from a recognized institution.
  • At least a Masters Degree in Business Administration (accounts option) or a Masters Degree in Economics or its accepted equivalent from a recognized institution.
  • Be a holder of at least CPA II or CPS (K).
  • At least six (6) years post qualification experience of which three (3) years will have been gained in the public sector or a big private sector organization and three (3) years in strategy formulation and implementation in a senior management position.
Duties and responsibilities include:
  • Assisting the Deputy Managing Director in the organization, direction, administration, management, coordination, harmonization and supervision of activities of the Institute.
  • Preparing progress reports for the division.
  • Preparing performance reports on members of the staff under his supervision.
  • Determining the training requirements for the Institute.
Legal Officer 1
Grade KP 5 (Ref No.5) – 1 Position
Qualifications/Requirements
  • An L.L.B. degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution.
  • A Diploma from the Kenya School of Law after successful completion of the council of legal Education Examinations.
  • Admission to the Roll of Advocates.
  • A current practicing certificate.
Duties and Responsibilities Include:
  • Facilitate the implementation of the provisions of all the legislations administered by the institute.
  • Facilitate registration of trade marks and service marks.
  • Screening and facilitate registration of technology transfer agreements and licenses.
Patent Examiner
Grade KP 5 – (Ref No.5) – 1 Position
Qualifications
  • A Bachelors degree in Science, Engineering, or any other relevant discipline from a recognized university.
Duties and responsibilities include:
  • Maintain and process applications as to form and substance.
  • Prepare patent applications for international search and examination.
  • Assist to prepare applications and grants for Industrial Property Rights for publication in the Industrial Property Journal or the Kenya Gazette.
Trademark Examiner I
Grade KP 5 (Ref No.5) – 1 Position
Qualifications/Requirements
  • A Bachelors degree in Science, Engineering, Law, Arts, Economics, Commerce or any other relevant discipline from a recognized university.
Duties and responsibilities include:
  • Receive, examine and process applications for trademarks, service marks and geographical indications.
  • Assist to prepare certificates for registration of trademarks and service marks.
  • Receive and examine applications for renewal, assignments. Licenses, change of name and addresses and prepare the requisite certificates.
Senior Trademark Assistant
Grade KP6 – (Ref No.6) – 1 Position
Qualifications/Requirements
  • Higher National Diploma
  • Computer literate and working knowledge of IP databases
  • Knowledge of the national, regional and international Trademark registration systems
  • At least three (3) years as a Trademark Assistant I or six (6) years experience on practical aspects of Trademark registration processes.
  • Accounting skills
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Carry our trademark 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/her
  • Custody, maintenance and ensure accuracy of registers maintained under the Trademarks Act
  • Undertake official searches as assigned by the immediate supervisor
  • Be responsible for the accuracy and updating of data in the Institute’s automation database for the trademark registry.
Note: KIPI is an equal opportunity employer.
Interested applicants should send their applications with a detailed curriculum vitae highlighting academic qualifications and relevant experience.
Applications should be marked KIPI/Ref No……./2010 and submitted to the address below by 19th May 2010.
The Managing Director
Kenya Industrial Property Institute
P.O Box 51648-00200
Nairobi