OFFICE(14)/59 
14-5508 
 
 
 
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/14-30 Issued on:  1 October 2014 
 
Title:  Director Application Deadline (CET):  29 October 2014 
 
Grade:  11 
 Division:  Market Access 
(75) 
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 the position of Director in the Market Access 
Division.  
 
General Functions  
 Reporting to a Deputy Director-General, the incumb ent will lead the Market Access Division which 
is responsible for matters related to WTO schedules of tariff concessions and their modification, 
tariff negotiations, quantitative restrictions, rules of origin, customs valuation, pre-shipment 
inspection, import licensing procedures, trade facilitation and trade in information technoloy products. The Division supports six WTO bodies de aling with these issues and provides expertise 
and technical assistance related to them. The Division also supports the work of the Council for 
Trade in Goods (CTG), which oversees the work of all WTO subsidiary bodies handling trade in goods as well as the Doha Round Negotiatin g Group on Market Access and the Preparatory 
Committee on Trade Facilitation.  
 Specific responsibilities will include:  
1. Lead and manage the overall work of the team  in the Market Access Division. Prioritize and 
plan the use of Divisional resources and budget to achieve the required Divisional outputs and 
results. Provide guidance to staff in carrying ou t their work, setting out the performance objectives 
of the staff members and assess their performance.   
 2.       Build relationships with the WTO Members, deve loping an understanding of their particular 
interests and concerns and influencing their thinking by providing advice and suggestions.  
 OFFICE(14)/59 
 
- 2 - 
 
  3. Oversee the work of the Division in respec t of the implementation of the relevant WTO 
Agreements.  Provide advice and guidance to the Chairs and support to delegations on the 
effective operation of the six WTO bodies, the CTG and the Doha Round Negotiating Group on 
Market Access and the Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation.   
4. Oversee the work of the Division involved in assisting the servicing of dispute settlement 
panels in areas of the Division's competence.   
5. Lead the Division's key outreach activities in building and maintaining a network of contacts 
with officials in government, international organizations, research institutions, universities, NGOs and the private sector to maintain dialogue on issues of mutual interest in the relevant areas.  
6. Oversee and contribute to the Division's  technical cooperation and capacity-building 
activities with regard to all matters under the Division's purview.  Co-ordinate the Division's work with that of other Divisions, including providing substantive contributions to their work. 
 
7. Support the Director-General and the Senior  Management by providing reports, briefings 
and other information and advice as required. 
 
 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
Education: 
 An advanced university degree in international law, economics or other relevant field.  
 
Knowledge and Skills : 
 
We are looking for a well-balanced, pleasant person ality, mature, stable and with a good set of 
values; someone who earns respect through their competence.   The Director of Market Access Division must have the skills to guide, empower and motivate a 
team of about 20 staff members to excel in their jobs. He/she must be able to build a team culture 
that consistently delivers high-quality results and engages stakeholders in implementing strategy that has long-term impact. 
 
The successful candidate must have proven in-dep th knowledge of the legal, economic and/or 
political theory, principles and rules bearing upon issues related to tariffs and customs, the WTO 
legal framework and a thorough understanding of the international and national trade-related 
regulatory policy instruments. He/she must have good legal and economic analytical skills.  He/she must have good presentation skills for communication inside WTO and with WTO Members, 
other international organizations and various stakeholders, a high level of political awareness and 
sensitivity, and strong negotiating and diplomatic skills.  
Proven capacity to maintain relationship and facilitate consensus with others both inside and 
outside the WTO, including representatives of WTO Members, is required.   
Work Experience: 
 At least fifteen years’ experience in senior roles related to international trade and public policy area in government or international organizations. 
 
Acquired leadership and management experience, including the ability to manage effectively the 
work of a multi-cultural team of profe ssional and support staff, is required. 
 OFFICE(14)/59 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Languages: 
 
Excellent knowledge of English, including an ability to write accurately and quickly; working 
knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be an advantage.  
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.