OFFICE(13)/40 
13-4800 
 
 
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/13-25 Issued on:   12 September 2013 
 
Title:   Information Officer Application Deadline (CET):   10 October 
2013 
 
Grade:   8 
 Division:   Information and External 
Relations 
 Contract Type:   Fixed-term 
 
Starting Salary:   CHF 113,585 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 Information Officer in the 
Information and External Relations Division.  Serving staff members interested in the position are also invited to apply. 
 
 General Functions  
 
The incumbent will undertake the following functions:  
 1. Develop and disseminate communications material (press releases, social media bulletins, 
speeches, background notes for journalists, internal dissemination of press reports, website 
stories, etc.) on WTO activities in two official languages to journalists, Parliamentarians, civil society, the media and other target groups. 
 
2. Monitor media coverage of issues in specific areas of WTO work. Cover closely the work of select WTO Councils and Committees and provide media/NGOs with timely, accurate and balanced press briefings on topics arising from those WT O bodies. Responsible for handling complex and 
politically sensitive WTO issues. Participate in WTO-organized journalist seminars. 
 3. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with journalists and provide training 
for them on WTO and trade-related issues. 
 4. Contribute to the preparation of Ministerial Conferences. 
 
5. Maintain and develop his/her knowledge of WTO issues and keep up to date with developments involving civil society and Parliamentarians. OFFICE(13)/40 
 
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
Education: 
 Advanced university degree level in journalism, public relations or another relevant field, or a 
university degree with proven professional expertise equivalent to an advanced university degree.  
 Knowledge and Skills: 
 
The applicant must possess excellent knowledge of WTO, trade and macroeconomic issues. The 
applicant must also be a strong communicator with excellent speaking, writing and journalistic skills. The applicant must be well versed in the use of relevant communications tools, including 
social media, websites and audio/visual. The applicant must have the capacity to speak with clarity 
and authority.  The applicant must have the following interpersonal capabilities: to initiate and build relationships 
with a variety of people both inside and outside the organization; to communicate complex 
abstract ideas to an audience of informed people and understand ideas when communicated by others; to persuade others to a particular point of view which may challenge others' values and 
beliefs; to make presentations on a variety of subjects to a wide variety of audiences; to cope with 
and resolve conflicts through interpreting provided guidelines on how to resolve them; and to work in a team where supporting and gaining the support of others is important to achieving his/her objectives. 
 
Work Experience:  
Minimum five years' experience in journalism, public relations or as a press officer in a government 
or another international organization.  
Languages: 
 Excellent speaking and writing skills in English are essential, as is a good working level of French. Knowledge of Spanish and/or other languages spoken  by WTO Member countries  is an advantage.  
 
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. 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
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.