OFFICE(17 )/70 
17-4284 
 
 
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 div ersity.  
______________________________________________________________________  
 
Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/F/17 -52 Issued on:  14 August  2017 
 
Title:  Secretary  Application Deadline (CET):  11 September  2017 
 
Grade:  5 
 Division:  Development  
(369) 
Contract Typ e: Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 71,501 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 day s 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 a position of Secretary in the Deve lopment 
Division . 
  
General Functions  
 
Under the general direction of the Director of the Development Division, and the direct supervision 
of the Administra tive Assistant of the division, the incumbent will provide secretarial/administrative 
assistance req uiring relevant experience. More specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for 
the following functions:  
 
1. Provide a diverse range of secretarial and related administrative support to the C ommittee 
on Trade and Development (CTD)  Unit of the Division , which will include handling and drafting of 
correspondence, e -mail management, screening and responding to telephone calls and maintaining 
comprehensive filing systems.  
 
2. Carry out a wide range of secretarial and administrative tasks supporting the di visional 
activities, including organization of meetings of the  CTD and its Dedicated Sessions as well as 
workshops and conferences, involving meeting room reservations, preparation and maintenance of 
participant lists, preparation of relevant meeting docum ents/correspondence, and reports, etc.  
Assist in processing Special Services Agreements contracts related to the activities of the Division 
as required, and report on progress of contracts.  
 
3. Assist in the preparation of documents and publications of the  Division, which may include 
formatting, editing, proofreading as well as information gathering and creation of presentation 
slides and charts.  Work may also involve research assistance on CTD -related policies and 
practices of a Member.  OFFICE(17 )/70 
 
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4. Coordinate and  manage the Division's official mission travel, including logistics (visas and 
hotel reservations) and monitor follow up procedures.  
 
5. Create, organize and manage files and records relating to the Unit's activities and respond to 
requests for information  from other Divisions within the WTO, delegations and outside bodies 
having responsibility for the  matters covered by the CTD Unit. Maintain and keep up -to-date the 
PTAs Database to reflect new entries and modifications of notifications made by Members.  
 
6. Assist in the training of new secretarial staff  as required . 
 
7. Carry out administrative tasks as assigned by the Administrative Assistant; provide back -up 
support in the absence of the Administrative Assistant.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
Completed secondary education . Secretarial qualifications  desirable .  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Advanced secretarial skills ; Word processing skills, proficiency in MS suite of applications (or 
equivalent) at advanced level . 
Experience in providing travel -related services to Senior Management . 
Office management and organizational skills . 
Ability to work under pressure and strict deadlines . 
Multi-tasking skills . 
Tact and discretion . 
 
Knowledge and good understanding of the WTO system, familiarity with the workin g procedures 
and a general understanding of the substantive work of the division (e.g. committees, working 
groups, rules and regulations, etc.) would be an asset.  
 
The following interpersonal capabilities are required: ability to relate to and build relat ionships with 
colleagues;  to communicate and understand clear factual 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 5 years' secretarial experience  including office management , preferably in an 
international organization or a government ministry environment.   
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent reading, speaking and writing skills in English. Very good skills in French with the ability 
to summarize information presented in French into English, as well as to communicate fluently 
with delegations in French. A working knowledge of Spanish  would be a n asset.  
 
 
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 forms of testing, assessment centres, interviews and reference checks.  
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  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.  
 
____________________ __________________________________________________  
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 – 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.