OFFICE( 19)/58 
19-5299 
 
 
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/L/19 -53 Issued on:  14 August  2019 
 
Title:  Technical Assistance Officer  Application Deadline:  15 September  2019 
 
Grade:  8 
 Division:  Intellectual Property, Government 
Procurement and Competition  
(L005) Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 113,639  net per annum  
(approximate)  Duration:  One year. The contract may be  
renewed subject to fully satisfactory  
performance of the incumbent and the  
continued availability of funds.  
 
 
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: 
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/comp_package_e.pdf . 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Technical Assistance Officer in 
the Intellectual Property, Government  Procurement and Competition Division ( "the 
Division "), to contribute especially to technical cooperation and related work  centred on 
the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement . 
 
 
General Functions  
 
Under the supervision of the Director and the Head of th e Government Procurement Group, and in 
collaboration with other senior professional staff, the incumbent will primarily coordinate and deliver 
technical assistance activities in the area of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and will 
support relate d work of the WTO Committee on Government Procurement. These activities address 
legal, economic and policy issues concerning government procurement law and policy within the 
international trade system and in domestic legal and adminstrative systems, with a  particular focus 
on the needs and priorities of developing countries, and deal with the interaction between 
government procurement law and policy and wider development and good governance 
considerations.  The incumbent will also contribute as required to other technical assistance activities 
undertaken by the Division.  
 
More specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following functions:  
 
1. Coordinate all WTO technical assistance programmes and activities in the area of the GPA and 
related policy and  legal areas, play a central role in planning and delivering technical assistance in 
this area, and contribute as required to technical assistance activities in other areas covered by the 
Division, including competition policy, trade and health and related  intellectual property matters.  
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2. Contribute to the coordination, planning and delivery of key outreach activities, focused on 
the needs of developing country Members; ensure effective institutional and professional 
relationships; facilitate liaison and coordination with other relevant international and regional 
organizations, non -governmental organizations, academia and professional organisations, in the 
area of government procurement law and policy or other areas under the Division's responsibility; 
and ensure that Web -based information and documentation related to technical assistance and GPA 
and government procurement issues are useful and up to date.  
 
In addition and as required, the incumbent will be asked to contribute to the following functions:  
 
3. Contribute to the provision of expert technical and policy advice to Members, acceding 
governments, other Divisions, senior management and other intergovernmental organizations 
principally regarding the GPA and related legal and policy issues as well as  other areas covered by 
the Division.  
 
4. Contribute to the Secretariat's assistance and advice to the WTO Committee on Government 
Procurement, and contribute similarly to the WTO Working Group on Transparency in Government 
Procurement in the event of its resumption of work.   
 
5. Conduct and collaborate on research and analysis, including on the development, trade, 
welfare and good governance dimension of government procurement policy and of the GPA in 
particular, and prepare inputs to selected Trade Polic y Review reports on government procurement 
policy and on other matters covered by the Division.  
 
6. Participate in and contribute to other activities of the Division.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
Advanced university degree in law, economics, international relations or a related field, including 
some coverage of government procurement law and policy, and international trade law and policy.  
A basic university degree in the aforementioned disc iplines 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:  
 
Familiarity with the legal, economic and policy dimensions of government procurement, its 
relatio nship with international trade and development and its application at the domestic level.  
 
Knowledge of the legal and economic principles underpinning the multilateral trading system and 
the plurilateral GPA.  
 
Advanced presentation skills, including an a bility to speak publicly on technical subjects to a 
non-technical audience.  
 
Advanced drafting skills (proven ability to draft clearly, accurately and concisely reports and other 
technical documents dealing with complex issues requiring little, if any revi sions).  
 
Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and some 
familiarity with publishing in the on -line environment.  
 
Behavioural Skills:  
 
Planning and organizational skills , including coordination of teamwork . 
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  The following interpersonal skills are required: the ability to work harmoniously with others as a 
member of a team, while contributing independently to the team's objectives; the ability to build 
and maintain effective working relationships wi th colleagues; the capacity to communicate 
effectively and with tact in a multicultural international setting; and the ability to persuade others 
to a point of view using facts.  
 
Work Experience:  
 
Minimum of five years' relevant professional experience, i ncluding experience in organizing and 
delivering technical assistance or equivalent activities, preferably addressing aspects of trade and 
development,  and experience with coordination of technical assistance delivered by multilateral or 
regional organiza tions.  
 
Relevant professional experience in government procurement policy or practice, particularly in a 
trade or development policy setting, would be an advantage.  
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent command of English  , both oral and written, including the ability to deliver a technical 
assistance activity, is essential.  Ability to deliver a technical assistance activity in Spanish or French 
would be an asset.  
 
English language is required at a level corresponding or equivalent to a minimum of C1 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 langua ge 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 subs equently 
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 an o nline application  form.  
To apply, please visit t he 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 cl osing 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.