OFFICE( 19)/59 
19-4762 
 
 
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.  
______________________________________________________________________  
 
Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/F/19-47 Issued on:  18 July 2019       
 
Title:  Buyer  Application Deadline:  15 August 2019        
 
Grade:  6 
 Division:  Administration and General 
Services Division  
 Contract Type:   Fixed -Term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 78,768 net per annum  
(approximate)  Duration:  Two years with the possibility of 
extension  
 
Conditions:  In accordance with WTO Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and WTO Pension Plan 
Regulations.  
The World Trade Organization offers an attractive compensation package including 
an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions 
and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance 
scheme, separation grant, and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally 
recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and 
separation, installation gra nt, education grant, rental subsidy, and home leave. 
Additional information on the compensation package is provided on the WTO 
website:  
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/compensation_e.htm.  
 
 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Buyer  in the  Procurement 
Section of  the Administr ation and General Services Division . 
 
INTERESTED APPLICANTS MUST ADD A COVER LETTER WHEN APPLYING FOR THIS 
VACANCY THROUGH THE WTO E -RECRUITMENT SYSTEM. APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A 
COVER LETTER WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.  
 
General Functions  
 
Reporting to the Chief of the Procurement Section and working closely with other members of th e 
Procurement Section and on the basis of the WTO Financial Regulations and Rules, the Procurement 
Policy, and the Manual of procurement procedures and other rules applicable to WTO procurement, 
the incumbent will, within limits of delegated procurement, u ndertake the following responsibilities:  
 
 
1. Plan, develop and manage the various procurement and contractual aspects in the worldwide 
procurement of diverse services and commodities . 
 
2. Advise the Requesting Units on the full range of procurement issues , providing support and 
guidance at all stages of the procurement process including procurement planning, definition of the 
procurement strategy, vendor performance management, contract management, and meeting 
objectives under tight deadlines . 
 
3. Prepare  and issue  invitations to tender and manage/conduct all aspects of bid/proposal 
evaluation: identify method of solicitation, draft tendering documents, identify sourcing strategy  and 
distribute tenders .  
 
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  4. Prepare submissions to the Contracts Committee f or review and subsequent approval by the 
authorized official . 
 
5. Participate in and conduct site visits, bidder’s conferences; participate in contract negotiations , 
meetings with supplier's representatives and assist the internal clients with the preparat ion of the 
relevant documentation . 
 
6. Process Purchase Orders using WTO ERP system; sign procurement orders up to the 
authorized limits, and in cases where the amount exceeds authorized limits prepare submissions to 
the Contracts Committee for subsequent approval . 
 
7. Ensure adequate and reliable contract management including drafting contracts, signature 
within delegated authority, monitoring adherence to contractual agreements, recommending 
amendments and extensions of contracts, and advising concerned parties on their contractual rights 
and obligations . 
 
8. Guide junior staff as needed.  
 
9. Prepare a variety of procurement related documents  such as contracts, communications and 
instructions . 
 
10. Perform other related duties as required.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
Completion of secondary school and/or equivalent technical or commercial studies in procurement. 
A recognized professional training and/or certification in the area of procurement (CIPS 3 or 
equivalent) is required. Higher  level studies with specialization in a discipline related to procurement 
would be an advantage.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Technical Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Knowledge of internationally recognized public procurement standards and techniques  used in 
contracting for a diverse range of goods and services.  
 
Experience in public sector procurement; expertise in handling contract issues; experience in 
procurement dealing with contractual issues including performance management through Key 
Perform ance Indicators .  
 
Very good  drafting skills in English and French including demonstrated ability to revise, draft complex 
documents in the two languages , formulate options and propose recommendations . 
 
Working knowledge of the Public Procurement cycle.   
Confident user of the In -tend e -tendering system or an alternative e -tendering system.  
Confident user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the internet.  
Understanding of the principles of Financial Ru les and Regulations in public procurement . 
Ability to provide technical guidance to new/junior staff.  
Negotiation skills.  
 
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  Behavioural Skills:  
 
Customer orientation  skills. 
Problem solving skills.  
Planning and o rganizational skills, including a bility to  prioritize , identify risks and allow for 
contingencies .  
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills . 
Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi -cultural, 
multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and re spect for diversit y. 
A solid team player including ability to w ork collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational 
goals; to solicit input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertis e; to demonstrate the will to 
learn from others; to place te am agenda before personal agenda; to support and act in accordance 
with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.  
Confidentiality skills to ensure that information is accessible only to those authorised to have access.  
 
Work Experience:  
 
A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contract 
management, administration or related area including at least three  years of practical, relevant 
experience in a public procurement fu nction, in an international organization and /or government . 
 
Experience working with ERP system in the area of purchasing and with an e -tendering system.  
 
Experience with large scale procurement operation is desirable. Proven experience in at least two of 
the following procurement area is desirable: i. General Goods (security equipment, conference 
equipment, printing equipment), ii. General Services (insuran ce, consultancy, utilities), iii. 
Information & Technology (IT equipment & software, web services),  and iv. Building (construction, 
maintenance).  
 
Languages:  
 
Very good command of English and French, both oral and written, is required (at a level 
correspo nding or equivalent to a minimum of C1 according to the Common European Framework of 
Reference for Languages (CEFR)). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide proof of their 
language skills under a recognized framework (e.g. CEFR, IELTS, etc.) unles s the language in 
question is their mother tongue. The language skills of shortlisted candidates who are unable to 
provide proof of their language proficiency will be assessed as part of the selection process.  
 
 
Additional Information:  
 
APPLICANTS MUST SUB MIT THEIR APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE E -RECRUITMENT SYSTEM ALONG 
WITH THEIR COVER LETTER OF MOTIVATION. Instructions to add the cover letter is as follows: Once 
the application for this position has been submitted, their application will be displayed under th e "My 
Applications" tab. Applicants should click on the button "Add" for the specific vacancy under the 
"Covering letter" column. Cover letters added in other sections of the applicant profile such as 
"Additional Information" or "Additional Documents"  will not be taken into consideration.  
 
The position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the 
required qualifications.  
 
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.  
 
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.  
 
Candidat es 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 12 months, and may subsequently 
be called upon as and when the need arises for additional resources.  OFFICE( 19)/59 
 
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  ______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION  
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN I NTERVIEW  
______________________________________________________________________  
Please note that all candidates must complete an o nline application  form.  
To apply, please visit the WTO's E -Recruitment website at: https://erecruitment.wto.org . 
The system pr ovides instructions for online application procedures.  
 
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.