Counsellor

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):

External

15-06-2024

Grade 9

Job Category:

Professional

Fixed-term

CHF142,831.00

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, unless specified in the vacancy notice.

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.

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The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill a Counsellor position in the Market Access Division.

General Functions

The Market Access Division handles matters related to WTO schedules of concessions and their modification, tariff negotiations, duty-free treatment for information technology products, quantitative restrictions, rules of origin, customs valuation, pre-shipment inspection, import licensing procedures and trade facilitation. The Division services seven WTO bodies dealing with these issues and provides related expertise and technical assistance. It also supports the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG), which oversees the work of all subsidiary WTO bodies handling trade in goods. It also conducts research and assists other divisions whenever expertise on these topics is sought, for instance in the context of dispute settlement cases and of technical assistance requests. In conducting several of these activities, the Division collaborates with other institutions, such as the World Customs Organization, the World Bank, the OECD, UNCTAD and the IMF.

Reporting to the Director of the Division, the incumbent will have principal responsibility for Rules of Origin and for ensuring that the Division’s work including negotiations related to rules of origin are fulfilled on a timely basis and to a high standard of quality.  The incumbent should also have excellent knowledge of other areas of work falling under the purview of the Market Access Division, as she/he will be required to lead or support work in these areas as required.

The incumbent’s duties and functions will include:

1.         Service the Committee on Rules of Origin. Duties will include all logistical and procedural matters related to the preparation and the conduct of meetings, including the drafting of papers requested by the Chairmen and Members. In this connection, the incumbent may coordinate and may need to chair informal meetings (and consultations) among delegates on substantive and procedural issues; provide information and relevant analysis related to policy or technical issues.  The incumbent will also need to service any negotiations falling under the ambit of this Committee, as well as organize webinars and conferences as needed, including finding speakers, moderating a session or participating as a speaker;

2.         Draft and lead others in the preparation of technical reports, information notes, briefs, summaries, talking points, speeches and other outputs on rules of origin and issues related to other substantive areas of the Division’s work;

3.         Plan, organize, coordinate and conduct economic/legal research and analysis including papers and reports on relevant technical and policy issues pertaining to rules of origin and issues related to other substantive areas of the Division’s work;

4.Coordinate technical assistance activities for the Division, deliver technical assistance and training on rules of origin and other substantive areas of the Division’s work, and contribute to the development of training materials;

5.         Represent WTO at meetings of other public and private organizations, in relation to rules of origin and other areas covered by the Division; serve as speaker or lecturer in various fora, such as seminars and courses; respond to governmental and private inquiries for information and advice; build and maintain relations with relevant governmental, intergovernmental or non- governmental agencies; review and analyse the work of other organizations. 

6.         Build and maintain relationships with WTO Members and external stakeholders.

7.         Maintain close and collaborative relation with colleagues in other Divisions of the Secretariat on issues of common interest and concern.

8.         Assist in Dispute Settlement Panels as required.

9.         Undertake other tasks as assigned by the Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

An advanced university degree in international trade, law, economics, public policy, or international affairs.

Knowledge and Skills:

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of WTO rules, including the economic and legal principles of the WTO Agreement and the Agreements under the ambit of the Division, in particular the Agreement on Rules of Origin; knowledge of related customs matters would be an asset.
• Highly developed technical and analytical skills.
• Excellent policy-oriented research skills.
• High level of drafting skills, including the ability to draft a broad range of outputs, such as technical reports, information and briefing notes, speeches and talking points to tight deadlines is required.

Behavioural Skills:

• High level of maturity, tact and diplomatic skills.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to work swiftly and accurately and meet strict deadlines, while paying close attention to details.
• Collaborative mindset, valuing support from and providing support to team members in achieving individual and collective objectives.
• Experience in managing a diverse team, including motivating team members, setting clear objectives, and overseeing performance.
• Aptitude for resolving conflicts in a constructive manner.
• Ability to initiate and nurture relationships with a diverse range of individuals both within and outside the organization.
• Ability to communicate information clearly to a broad range of specialist and generalist audiences.
• Ability to work as a member of a team, relating to others, while working independently to achieve his/her objectives.

Work Experience:

Minimum of eight years’ relevant work experience is required, including previous experience with committee work.

Languages:

Excellent speaking and writing skills in English (at a level corresponding or equivalent to a minimum of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)); excellent knowledge of an additional working language (French or Spanish) is required.

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.

The initial fixed-term contract for positions up to grade 10 shall normally be two years, which shall be probationary, as per Administrative Memorandum No. 997 (OFFICE(23)/4) on Probation Policy. For Director positions, the Policy on evaluation of directors apply as per Administrative Memorandum No. 978 (OFFICE(17)/29).

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.