OFFICE(14)/53 
14-5111 
 
 
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/14-23 Issued on:   10 September 2014 
 
Title:   Director Application Deadline (CET):   8 October 2014 
 
Grade:   11 
 Division:   Human Resources  
(92) 
Contract Type:   Fixed-term 
 Starting Salary:   CHF 188,793 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 compen sation package is provided on the 
WTO website: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto _e/vacan_e/comp_p ackage_e.pdf.  
 
 The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill a position of Director in the Human 
Resources Division. Serving staff members in terested in the position are invited to 
apply.  
 
General Functions  
 Reporting to a Deputy Director-General, the incumbent will lead the Human Resources Division 
which is responsible for the delivery of a comprehensive and professional HR service for an 
international organization with a staff of around 700 people.  
The incumbent will oversee the operation of the following: 
 1. Establishment and implementati on of a divisional work plan. 
 
2. Implementation of the consistent, tr ansparent application of HR policies. 
 3. Staff administration services includin g compensation and a range of benefits. 
 
4. Recruitment of new staff and placement of staff in the WTO according to the changing needs 
of the Organization. 
 
5. Performance management system and upwa rd feedback mechanism between staff and 
supervisors. OFFICE(14)/53 
 
- 2 - 
 
 
6. Training programmes and career development for all staff members. 
 
7. Talent review and succession planning.  
8. HR data and workforce analysis including sick leave management. 
 9.  Representation of the Division in meetings with senior management and in-house 
committees. 
 10. Establishment and maintenance of contacts with other intergovernmental organizations.  
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
Education: 
 Advanced university degree in human resource s management, law, business administration, 
occupational psychology, industrial/public/organizational management, or in another discipline 
with relevance to human resource management, in an international multicultural setting.  Knowledge and Skills: 
 
We are looking for a person with a well-balanced, pleasant personality, mature, stable and with a good set of values; someone who is a good listener and a straight talker, who is capable of leading 
by example, and who earns respect through their co mpetence. He/she must be able to accept and 
manage conflict, preferably without creating winne rs and losers. We expect a person with empathy 
who also has the strength to execute rules-based administrative decisions. We want the successful 
candidate to have openness, fairness and transparency as his/her own guiding principles. He/she 
must be a proactive communicator, approachable to all grades, and a results-oriented and patient service provider.  
The HR Director must have the skills to guide, empower and motivate a team of about 20 staff 
members to excel in their jobs. He/she must und erstand the needs of the Divisions and senior 
management, and negotiate the allocation of scarce resources in a fair and transparent manner, in 
times of diminishing budgets and rising demands. The successful candidate must quickly learn the 
regulations, rules and policies of the WTO and ad minister them in an objective and consistent 
manner. He/she must be capable of sound legal re asoning. He/she must be clear and confident in 
presenting comprehensive explanations when making  unpopular decisions. He/she must be able to 
accommodate opposing views and have the skill to win people over to new ideas and approaches. To do this, he/she must be able to build a sound rapport with people throughout the whole hierarchy including the Staff Council. The HR Director must have good analytical skills, recognize 
competing interests, and be able to present sound solutions in a convincing manner. 
 He/she must have good presentation skills to communicate with the WTO Members, other 
international organizations and various stakeholders. 
 Work Experience: 
 
At least 15 years of professional experience in senior roles in the operation of an international organization or a public administration. An under standing of the operational needs of the WTO is 
valued as much as HR expertise. 
 
Languages:  
Excellent knowledge of English (spoken and wri tten). Working knowledge of French (spoken). 
Spanish would be an advantage.  OFFICE(14)/53 
 
- 3 - 
 
Additional Information:  
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted. 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION 
____________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable the WTO to store 
your profile in a permanent database. 
 
Please visit the WTO' s E-Recruitment website at:  www.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 – 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.