Vice-chair Appeals Committee of the European Patent Office

Vice-chair Appeals Committee of the European Patent Office

(EXT/22619)

The European Patent Office (EPO) is the second largest public institution in Europe. With headquarters in Munich, a branch at The Hague, sub-offices in Vienna and Berlin and a small bureau in Brussels, it employs approximately 6 200 staff across all four sites and has a self-financed annual budget of over EUR 2.5bn.

The EPO is seeking to appoint a vice‑chair for its Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee is an advisory administrative body charged with reviewing disputed administrative decisions as part of the EPO's formal dispute settlement procedures. It is tasked with preparing reasoned opinions on internal appeals filed by staff – current or former – against adverse decisions or acts by the President of the EPO or the Administrative Council.

Specifics

A vice‑chair must possess the qualifications required for appointment to high judicial office or be a lawyer with experience in the area of employment law acquired at national or international level, who are not EPO employees in active employment and who have not been EPO employees within the past ten years.

Job purpose

A vice‑chair is responsible for the overall conduct of the work of the Appeals Committee and the internal appeal proceedings as defined in the Service Regulations for permanent and other employees of the EPO and the Appeals Committee's own Rules of Procedure. A vice‑chair is guided by the mission to provide a timely, fair and independent appeals process consistent with fair trial principles.

Key tasks and responsibilities/accountabilities

• Managing all Appeals Committee operations and participating in and guiding all written and oral procedural stages of proceedings before the Appeals Committee, up to and including the adoption of reasoned opinions.
• Serving as presiding member of Appeals Committee chambers formed in accordance with the relevant legal framework, involving responsibility for procedural decisions, notably on the holding of hearings, the initiation of test‑case procedures and the consolidation of appeals.
• As presiding member of a chamber, the vice‑chair will encourage and actively facilitate amicable settlements between the parties to proceedings.

Minimum qualifications

• Diploma of completed university studies at master's level or – in exceptional cases – equivalent professional experience.
• Qualifications required for appointment to high judicial office or a lawyer with experience in the area of employment law acquired at national or international level.
• Proven very high standards of performance.
• Impeccable integrity and highest moral standards and authority.
• Experience in employment law mediation or amicable settlement proceedings in the workplace is an asset.
• Procedures before the Appeals Committee can be conducted in any of the EPO's official languages (English, French and German). Candidates are expected to have a very good command of two of the official languages, and the ability to understand a third language would be an advantage.

Remuneration

• Vice‑chairs are paid a flat rate per opinion (or amicable settlement). The flat rate covers preparatory work, hearings (if any) and follow‑up work. Travel costs and daily subsistence allowances are paid separately upon invoice.

Process and timeline

The successful candidate will be appointed for a period of three years, and may be reappointed. Selection will be made on the basis of qualifications and interview(s).

The closing date for applications is 7 September 2026.

It is intended to hold the interviews in calendar weeks 38-39 of 2026.

Key information

• Duration of contract: 3 years
• Location: Munich
• Application deadline: 7 September 2026
• Interviews planned for: calendar weeks 38-39

EEO statement

We welcome all applications for vacant positions. We consider each on its professional merits – regardless of your nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, parental responsibilities, age, religion or belief.