Legal/Economic Affairs Officer

Contenuto del lavoro

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI)

External

Application Deadline

09-01-2024

Grade

Grade 6

Job Category

Professional

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Annual Salary

CHF87,841.00

The recruitment policy of the WTO is to seek to attract and retain staff members offering the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the WTO gives full regard to merit and diversity.

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill a position of Economic / Legal Affairs Officer in the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) Unit of the Development Division.

This is an External Vacancy Notice open to external candidates and WTO staff. It is posted on the WTO internal as well as external career site. Eligible WTO staff on short-term, fixed-term or regular contracts and interns must apply through the Workday internal career site.

This is a Fixed-term contract funded through the regular budget. The duration will be two years with the possibility of extension.

The Development Division is the focal point for all policy issues related to trade and development. Among its responsibilities, it monitors and provides input to senior management and the WTO Secretariat as a whole on issues relating to trade and development, services a number of WTO bodies working on trade and development issues and supports relevant negotiations.

General Functions

Under the general direction of the Director of the Division and the direct supervision of the Head of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) Unit, the incumbent will take on the following responsibilities:

• Assist in the planning, organizing and servicing of meetings of the Committees under the responsibility of the CTD Unit, including through preparing briefs, speaking notes, memos and by ensuring the timely issuance of minutes of meetings.
• Contribute to the preparation of Secretariat documents for discussion in the Committees under the responsibility of the CTD Unit.
• Prepare briefing notes for senior management on the status of various areas of work of the CTD Unit and provide technical expertise as necessary on issues being discussed in the Committees under the responsibility of the CTD Unit.
• Undertake research and analysis in areas of trade and development relevant to the work of the CTD Unit.
• Follow work on trade and development issues taking place across the WTO, as well as in other intergovernmental organizations and multilateral fora.
• Contribute to all other work of the CTD Unit as required, including through participation in technical assistance activities.
  

Education

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Advanced university degree in international trade law, development studies, economics, international relations, or a related discipline. A basic university degree in one of the afore-mentioned subjects, combined with professional expertise equivalent to an advanced university degree may be considered.

Knowledge And Skills

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

A good knowledge of WTO Agreements, especially relating to the CTD and to Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) provisions in the different WTO Agreements.

Up-to-date knowledge of latest developments and familiarity with the different trade and development issues.

Knowledge of and experience at national and international levels of trade and development issues, and familiarity with the economics of trade regulation, and their link with economic development, would be an asset.

Ability to conduct research and provide succinct analysis on policy issues, specifically related to development issues.

Good understanding of the varying interests and negotiating positions of Members.

Excellent drafting skills including ability to draft a range of documents accurately, concisely and clearly, including reports, technical documents dealing with trade and development issues and S&DT, speeches, briefing notes, records of meetings, background papers, etc.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.

Behavioural Skills

Ability to work as a team player.

Excellent organizational skills.

Strong communication and presentation skills, specifically to dedicated audiences.

Ability to build working relationships with delegates across the board, as well as colleagues and other stakeholders.

Tact, diplomacy and political sensitivity.

Work Experience

Minimum two years of relevant experience. Experience of working with or in developing countries or other international organizations would be an asset.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English (minimum C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)). Knowledge of either French or Spanish would be considered an asset.

Additional Information

Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.

The recruitment process will be undertaken as per Administrative Memorandum No. 976 (OFFICE(16)/15) on Staff Promotions and external recruitment through Vacancy Notices.

For non-entry level positions, the position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the required qualifications.

The initial fixed-term contract shall be two years, which shall be probationary, as per Administrative Memorandum No. 997 (OFFICE(23)/4) on Probation Policy.

The WTO may use various communication technologies such as video or teleconference for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. The recruitment process may also involve the use of various forms of testing, assessment centres, interviews and reference checks.

Applicants may be required to sit a written examination.

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

Candidates not selected whose performance in the selection process nevertheless shows them to be suitable for a similar position may be kept on a roster for up to 24 months, and may subsequently be called upon as and when the need arises for additional resources.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the closing date – Geneva (Switzerland) time – stated in the vacancy announcement.

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

The WTO is a non-smoking environment.