OFFICE(16)/68 
16-4176 
 
 
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/16-54 Issued on:  3 August 2016 
 
Title:  Secretary 
  Application Deadline (CET):  31 August 2016 
 
Grade:  3 
 Division:  Rules Division 
Contract Type:  Fixed-term 
 Starting Salary:  CHF 60,526 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 Secretary in the Rules Division. 
 
General Functions  
 
Reporting to the Administrative Assistant or other senior staff, the Secretary will have the 
following responsibilities:   1. Provide a range of secretarial support to the Division. Assist in the preparation of 
documents, including notifications submitted by WTO Members and panel reports, including 
reviewing and verifying content and format of  dispute settlement documents, arranging for 
translation and distribution, formatting, editin g and proofreading of text, charts, graphics and 
tables as necessary.  
 2. Assist with the organization of meetings, including panel meetings and the regular and 
special meetings of WTO bodies and groups, incl uding meeting room reservations, preparation and 
maintenance of participant lists, preparation of relevant meeting documents, assistance with panelists' travel arrangements, etc. Preparatory wo rk for Divisional travel as required, including 
logistics and presentations. 
 
3. Handling and occasional drafting of basic correspondence, e-mail management, screening and responding to telephone calls, maintainin g filing systems and division databases. 
 
4. Organize and manage files and records relati ng to divisional activities and respond to 
requests for information from other Divisions within the WTO and outside bodies. 
 
5. Maintain skills up-to-date and remain abreast of new office procedures and software. OFFICE(16)/68 
 
- 2 - 
  
  6. Carry out administrative tasks as assigned by the Administrative Assistant or other senior 
staff; provide back-up support in the absence of th e Senior Secretary or Administrative Assistant. 
 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 
 
Education:  
Completed secondary education or equivalent tec hnical or commercial school. Training in office 
management or a recognized certification in the re levant field would be considered an advantage.  
 Knowledge and Skills: 
 
Basic knowledge of the WTO system. Basic knowledge of the substantive work of the Division, including committees and dispute 
settlement panels, as well as other bodies and groups. 
Secretarial and administrative skills, including making travel arrangements. Word processing skills; proficiency in MS suite of applications.  
Ability to format and edit documents and text according to guidelines, ability to format and input 
data and graphics in excel / power-point and create charts and graphs. Organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to work under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines. 
Ability to adhere to set rules of conduct, so as  to ensure confidentiality, impartiality and an 
absence of conflicts of interest; tact and discretion. Ability to relate to and build relationships with colleagues; to communicate information in a clear 
way and understand information; to persuade others to a point of view using facts; to face and 
cope with conflict situations with colleagues; and to work as a member of a team, relating to others, while working independently to achieve his/her objectives. 
 
Work Experience:  Minimum 2 years' relevant experience working as a secretary, preferably in an international 
organization, government ministry, law firm, corporate legal office, or a national or international 
judicial institution or quasi-judicial agency.  
Languages: 
 Excellent speaking and writing skills in English. Good speaking and writing skills in either Spanish 
or French would be an advantage.  
 Additional Information:  
This post requires the incumbent's presence in the office on a full-time basis. The incumbent will 
be expected to work until 5.30 p.m.  
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 re cruitment process may also involve the use of 
various forms of testing, assessment cent res, 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 18 months, and may 
subsequently be called upon as and when the need arises for additional resources. OFFICE(16)/68 
 
- 3 - 
  
  ______________________________________________________________________ 
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 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 – 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.