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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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Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/F/19-30 Issued on:  6 June 2019  
 
Title:  Counsellor  Application Deadline:  4 July 2019  
 
Grade:  9 
 Division:  Trade Policies Review  
 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 135,005  net per annum  
(approximate)  Duration:  Two years with the possibility of 
extension  
 
Other 
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 grant, 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 a position of Counsellor in the Trade Policies 
Review Division .  
 
The Trade Policies Review Division has several areas of responsibility. One is to support 
the work of the Director -General and WTO members under the Trade Policy Review 
Mechanism (Annex 3 of the WTO Agreement), which includes preparing periodic reports 
on members' t rade policies, servicing meetings of the Trade Policy Review Body at which 
reviews of members' policies are carried out, and preparing regular reports by the 
Director -General on trade policy developments including an Annual Overview 
Developments in the Int ernational Trading Environment on behalf of the Director -General. 
The division is also responsible for providing Secretariat support to the Committee on 
Regional Trade Agreements and the Committee on Balance -of-Payments Restrictions, and 
for servicing the Doha Round Negotiating Group on Rules related to regional trade 
agreements . 
 
 
General Functions  
 
Reporting to the Director of the Division and under the overall supervision of a Head of Region, the 
selected staff member will be expected to make substantial  contributions to the Trade Policy Review 
(TPR) work on the largest Members and those with relatively more complex trade regimes. The 
incumbent will be involved in all the steps required for the preparation of TPRs of these Members. 
The specific duties inc lude but are not limited to:  
 
1. Carry out research on and analyse trade policy.  
 
2. Draft the Secretariat TPR reports.  
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3. Coordinate the work of more junior staff.  
 
4. Participate in TPR official missions to capitals to discuss trade policy issues wi th high -level 
government officials.   
 
5. Maintain regular contacts with Geneva -based delegates and capital -based officials of Members 
being reviewed.  
 
6. Participate in the preparation of TPR meetings.  
 
7. Advise and assist the Chair of the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) in relevant meetings.  
 
8. Contribute to enhancing the quality, consistency and analytical content of TPR reports.  
 
9. Contribute to other relevant work of the Division, including TPR follow -up workshops, the 
preparation of briefin g notes on the economic and trade policies and practices of individual WTO 
Members for the Director -General and Senior Management, as well as coaching more junior staff.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
An advanced university degree in economics or i nternational trade, with excellent knowledge of the 
economics of trade policy.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Technical Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Excellent knowledge and understanding of WTO Agreements and the functioning of the WTO system.  
 
Evidence of excellent a nalytical and research skills to produce succinct analysis on trade policy 
issues. Excellent drafting skills to prepare reports, speeches, and briefing notes.  
 
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.  
 
Behavioural Skills:  
 
Excellent organizational skills, and strong ability to work independently as well as cooperate with 
others in a diverse international setting as a member of a team.  
Ability to work in a dynamic environment, under pressure, and to strictly meet deadlines.  
Highly developed tact and discretion, including political sensitivity and good diplomatic and 
communication skills; and ability to build constructive relationships with a variety of people both 
inside and outside the Organization.  
 
Work Experien ce: 
 
A minimum of eight years of professional experience in a relevant position related to trade policy 
analysis, with proven leadership experience and the ability to guide and mentor junior staff.  
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent knowledge of English and either Fre nch or Spanish, including a demonstrated ability to 
communicate accurately, concisely and clearly, both orally and in writing.  
 
 
Additional Information:  
 
The position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the 
required qualifications.  
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  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 als o involve the use of 
various forms of testing, assessment centres, interviews and reference checks.  
 
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 fo r up to 12 months, and may subsequently 
be called upon as and when the need arises for additional resources.  
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION  
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW  
______________________________________________________________________  
Please note that all candidates must complete a n online application  form.  
To apply, please visit the WTO's E -Recruitment website at: https://erecruitment.wto.org . 
The system provides 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.