OFFICE( 19)/29 
19-3014 
 
 
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 -22 Issued on:  1 May 2019 
 
Title:  Administrative Assistant  Application Deadline (CET):  29 May 2019  
 
Grade:  7 
 Division:  Rules   
 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 90,472  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 insu rance 
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 in formation 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 Administrative Assistant in the 
Rules Division.  
 
The Rules Division is responsible for all aspects of WTO work, legal and technical, in the 
areas of trade remedies (anti -dumping, countervailing an d safeguard measures), 
subsidies, trade -related investment measures, state trading enterprises, and civil aircraft. 
The Rules Division provides legal advice and other assistance to dispute settlement panels 
and provides implementation assistance, counselli ng and expert advice to WTO Members 
in each of these areas, and facilitates and supports negotiations . 
 
General Functions  
 
Reporting directly to the Director of the Rules Division, the incumbent will be expected to supervise 
a secretarial team of five -plus, supporting a very active team of around 35 professionals engaged in 
the full range of activities in dispute settlement, for Committees, and for the Rules negotiations. The 
incumbent will undertake the following functions:  
 
1. Ensure the provision of over all office management and administrative/secretarial assistance 
to the Director and carry out other administrative duties as may be assigned by Director.  
 
2. For dispute settlement, work closely with the Legal Officers and Panel Secretaries, and with 
count erparts in other Divisions, in managing all aspects of the panelists' logistics, including arranging 
meetings, ensuring deadlines are met, formatting panel reports and addenda, and supervising the 
panel -related work of the other members of the secretarial team.  
 
3. For Committees, ensure the smooth running of the administrative arrangements for the 
biannual regular meetings as well as the special meetings of the Committees on Anti -Dumping 
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  Practices, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Safeguards, Trade -Related Aspects of Investment 
Measures and Trade in Civil Aircraft, and the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises, including 
their respective subsidiary Working Groups and other bodies, and ensure the timely and smooth 
preparation and dissemination of a high volume of related notifications and other documentation.   
 
4. For negotiations, supervise, coordinate, and contribute to the administrative support for the 
frequent informal meetings of the Negotiating Group on Rules on fisheries subsidies, as well  as any 
activities of the Negotiating Group on other issues in the Rules mandate, including the timely and 
smooth preparation and dissemination of a high volume of documentation.  
 
5. Coordinate and supervise the work of secretaries, train and mentor them, and contribute to 
or undertake the evaluation of their performance. Participate in the recruitment of secretarial staff. 
Supervise the maintenance of the Division's trade remedies databases.  
 
6. Maintain staff records and deal with basic personnel issues i n consultation with managers and 
HR specialists; administer and monitor the allocated divisional budget, support the Director in budget 
planning and administration, and track and report on financial commitments.  
 
7.  Undertake other necessary tasks based on instructions from the Director.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
Completed secondary education and/or secretarial/office management qualifications. Specialised 
training in the Secretarial field would be an asset.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Technical skills:  
  
Familiarity through experience of working within established  administrative procedures in 
international organizations ; an understanding of the substantive work of the Division, e.g., Dispute 
Settlement Panels, Committees, Negotiating and Wo rking Groups, trade remedy databases , would 
be an advantage . 
 
Excellent office management and administrative skills, including the ability to manage and prioritize  
multiple tasks, meet strict deadlines and remain calm under pressure.  
 
Excellent organizatio nal and communication skills and the ability to pay close attention to detail.  
 
Good skills in the use of Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  
 
 
Behavioural skills:  
 
Proven ability to provide leadership, guidance and instruction to a secretarial team engaged in a 
busy programme of diverse, complex tasks; to promote training opportunities; and to ensure that 
work quality and performance -related objectives are known and met.  
 
High degree of tact and discretion and ability to adhere rigorously to the requ irements of 
confidentiality.  
 
The following interpersonal capabilities are required: to relate to and build relationships with 
colleagues; to establish good relations with delegates; to communicate and understand clear factual 
information; to persuade others to a point of view using facts; to face and cope with conflict 
situations with colleagues; and to work in a team where supporting and gaining the support of others 
is important to achieving set objectives.  
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  Work Experience:  
 
At least fifteen years of administrative and secretarial experience, including supervisory 
responsibilities and in  international organizations.   
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent knowledge of English, both spoken and written, including the ability to draft 
correspondence and docum entation  (at a level corresponding or equivalent to a minimum of C1 
according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)) . A good working 
knowledge of either French or Spanish would be a distinct advantage.  
 
Shortlisted candidates w ill be assessed on their language skills as part of the selection process and 
may be asked to provide proof of their language skills under a recognized framework (e.g. CEFR, 
IELTS, UN Language Proficiency Exam, etc.).  
 
Additional Information:  
 
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 teleconf erence 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.  
 
Candidates not selected whose performance in the selection process n evertheless 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.  
______________________________________________________________________  
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 provides instructions for online application procedures.  
 
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has  
been poste d and well before the closing date – Central European Time (CET) –  
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.