OFFICE( 19)/81 
19-6189 
 
 
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/19 -64 Issued on:  27 September 2019  
 
Title:  Office Assistant  Application Deadline:  25 October  2019 
 
Grade:  4 
 Division:  Office of the Director -General  
 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 65,729  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, pensi on 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: 
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/compensation_e.htm  
 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill a position of Office Assistant in the Office of 
the Director -General . 
 
General Functions  
 
Under the supervision of the Office Coordinator, the incumbent will perform the following duties:  
 
1. Working directly with the Director -General's  Advisors, request , organize and prepare briefing 
files for the Director -General ( DG) and accompanying Advisors for meetings and missions both in 
Geneva and abroad.  
 
2. Provide a range of secretarial /administrative  support to the Office of the Director -General 
(DGO) and undertake any other tasks as assigned. Manage agenda  and act as Assistant  to at least 
one DGO Advisor  to support them with their responsibilities/tasks.  
 
3. Respond to and screen telephone calls as appropriate and coordinate conference calls.  
 
4. Prepar e and record gifts from DGO and received in DGO. Order official photos for DG's Lounge.  
 
5. Provide back -up assistance in organizing travel arrangements for DG/DGO trips (e.g. 
arranging air/land transport, accommodation, visas, protocol services , etc. ) using travel -related 
software and packages . 
 
6. Provide back -up assistance for the management, recording and drafting of incoming and 
outgoing correspondence via the WTO Registry and DGO -specific database, mainly in English but 
also in French and sometimes Spanish.  
 
OFFICE( 19)/81 
 
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  7. Keep skills up -to-date, in particular formatting of briefing files and other document and 
correspondence production requirements and keeping abreast of new office software including 
willingness to work on new applications as they are developed.  
 
8. Carry out other assignments and ad -hoc tasks as may be required.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
Completed secondary education; secretarial or administrative qualifications would be desirable.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Technical knowledge and skills:  
 
Experience in the organization, processing, classific ation and archiving of correspondence and 
documentation – the incumbent will be required to prepare briefing files for the DG's missions and 
meetings in Geneva, etc.  
Ability to draft correspondence in English; ability to format documents according to estab lished  
guidelines.  
Good IT skills  including  familiarity with the Microsoft Suite of applications (or equivalent) . 
Experience and familiarity with  travel -related and administrative policies and procedures , preferably 
in an international organization . 
Experi ence and a good knowledge of air and ground travel services (including flight routings, 
aeroplane set -ups, protocol services procedures, etc.) and other travel -related databases would be 
an asset . 
 
Behavioural skills:  
 
Excellent organizational skills; ability to multi -task; accuracy, detail focused; ability to work under 
pressure and strict deadlines.  
Tact and discretion.  
Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to  relate to and build relationships with coll eagues; 
ability to communicate and understand clear factual information; and ability to work as a member 
of a team  (including backing up each other's work during absences  and work overload ), relating to 
others, while working independently to achieve his/he r objectives.  
 
Work Experience:  
 
Three to four years' secretarial/administrative experience.  
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent speaking, reading and writing skills in English  (at a level corresponding or equivalent to a 
minimum of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)) ; 
ability to communicate well in French (oral and written) and knowledge of Spanish would be an 
asset. 
 
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide proof of their language skills under a recognized 
framework (e.g. CEFR, IELTS, etc.) unless the language in question is their mother tongue. The 
language skills of shortlisted candidates who are unable to provide proof of their language proficiency 
will be assessed as part of the selection process.  
 
 
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.  
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  The WTO may use various communication t echnologies such as video or teleconference for the 
assessment and evaluation of candidates. The recruitment process may also involve the use of 
various forms of testing, assessment centres, interviews and reference checks.  
 
Candidates not selected whose p erformance 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 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 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 – 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.