OFFICE( 20)/13 
20-0993 
 
 
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/20 -13 Issued on:  10 February 2020  
 
Title:  Technical Trade Specialist  Application Deadline:  6 March 2020  
 
Grade:  8 
 Division:  Rules  
 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 113,639  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 Technical Trade Specialist in the 
Rules Division.  
 
The Rules Division is responsible for all aspects of WTO work, legal and technical, 
concerning Anti -Dumping Practices, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Safeguards, 
Trade -Related Invest ment Measures (TRIMS), Civil Aircraft, and State Trading 
Enterprises.  The Rules Division facilitates and actively assists in all aspects of the work 
of the WTO bodies active in these areas, including the conduct of meetings, regular 
monitoring tasks, lega l, technical, economic and policy advice, dispute settlement, 
implementation and technical assistance, and counselling and expert advice to individual 
WTO Members . 
 
 
General Functions  
 
Under the supervision of senior staff, the incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities:  
 
1. Deliver substantive technical, legal, economic, policy and procedural advice and assistance to 
Chairpersons on all matters related to the work and conduct of meetings of WTO bodies in the areas 
within the Divis ion's responsibility.  
 
2. Conduct or direct research on technical or policy issues arising in the work of WTO bodies in 
the areas within the Division's responsbility, conduct studies and analyses to provide background to 
Chairpersons and WTO Members or to clarify technical, procedural or policy matters arising in that 
work.   
 
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  3. Deliver substantive technical, legal, economic, policy and procedural advice to dispute 
settlement panels on matters in the Division's areas of responsibility, either ad hoc or as Panel 
Secretary, as well as to other WTO Divisions, the Director -General and WTO Members as appropriate 
on matters within the Division's areas of responsibility, independently or as part of a team.  
 
4. Deliver technical assistance and training on matters within the Division's areas of responsibility 
and contribute to the development of training materials, internal research materials, and WTO 
publications.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
An advanced university degree in law, economics, political science, business, or other discipline 
relevant to the work of one or more WTO bodies within the Division's areas of responsibility. A first -
level university degree in the aforementioned disciplines complemented by directly relevant 
professional experience that is deemed equivalent to an advanced university degree may be 
considered.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Technical knowledge and skills:  
 
Very good knowledge of the WTO Agreements within the Division's areas of responsibility, as well 
as very good knowledge of, and experience working with, national systems and practices in trade 
remedies investigations.  
 
Thorough knowledge of international trade economics, policy and practice.  
 
Knowledge of WTO jurisprudence in the areas of the WTO Agreements withi n the Division's areas of 
responsibility would be an asset.  
 
Very good research and analytical and problem -solving skills, including the ability to analyse complex 
technical, economic and policy matters.  
 
Ability to familiarize oneself quickly and work wit h voluminous written materials.  
  
Very good drafting skills, including ability to draft advice, reports of meetings, and other texts 
accurately, concisely, clearly and within tight deadlines.  
 
Ability to present thoughts in a logical, succinct, articulate  and persuasive manner, both orally and 
in written form.  
 
Very good presentation skills, i.e., the ability to present and teach complex subjects, and to create 
and guide detailed hands -on simulation exercises, especially in the area of trade remedies.  
 
Behavioural skills:  
 
Ability to pay close attention to detail.  
 
Highly developed tact and discretion and the ability to adhere rigorously to set rules of conduct, 
maintaining confidentiality, impartiality and an absence of conflicts of interest.  
 
Ability to work independently as well as to cooperate with others in a diverse international setting 
as a member of a team; to work under time pressure and resource constraints; to communicate 
complex abstract ideas to an audience of informed people and un derstand ideas when communicated 
by others; to present technical facts to knowledgeable specialised audiences; to persuade others 
through sound argumentation and advice while remaining flexible and open to different points of 
view and evolving approaches; to meet strict deadlines within a dynamic work environment; to 
develop and maintain collegial, respectful and professional relationships with colleagues, 
representatives of Members, and, as appropriate, with others both inside and outside the WTO.   
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  Work Experience:  
 
At least five years relevant practical work experience in at least one of the substantive areas within 
the Division's responsibility, preferably including government or private sector experience in national 
or international trade remedy practi ce.   
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent English, including a demonstrated ability to write accurately, concisely, clearly and within 
tight deadlines. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable.  
 
English language is required at a level corresponding or equivalen t to a minimum of C 1 according to 
the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)). Shortlisted candidates will 
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 teleconference for the 
assessment and evaluation of candidates. The recruitment process may also involve the use of 
various fo rms 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 for up to 12 months, and may subsequently 
be called upon as and when the need arises for additional res ources.  
______________________________________________________________________  
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 an o nline application  form.  
To apply, please visit the WTO's E -Recruitment website at: https://erecruitment.wto.org . 
The s ystem 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 announ cement.  
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE  
CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED  
 
The WTO is a non -smoking environment.