OFFICE(16 )/107 
16-6461 
 
 
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 di versity.  
______________________________________________________________________  
 
Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/F/16 -83 Issued on:  24 November 2 016 
 
Title:  Head of Applications Solutions  Branch  Application Deadline (CET):  22 December  2016 
 
Grade:  10 
 Division:  Information and Technology Solutions  
(153) 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 158,974  net per annum  
(approximate)  Duration:  Two years with the possibility of 
extension  
 
Other 
Conditions:  In accordance with WTO Staff Regulations and Staff R ules 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 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 Head of Applications Solutions 
Branch in the I nformation and Technology Solutions Division . 
 
The IT Solutions Division aims at delivering best in class IT Services within the Secretariat ranging 
from infrastructure to applications. With close to 20 staff members, t he Applications Solutions 
Branch takes up a little more than a third of the Division .  It is a result of a recent re -organization 
bringing  all groups in charge of applications under one Branch, in order to ensure optimal delivery 
applying  modern technologies and methods. It  is responsible for  approximately 100 live 
applications including 10 mission critical ones, mixing off -the-shelves  technologies  (e.g. Oracle 
e:Business Suite, Qli kview) and custom built  technologies ( e.g. .Net + SQL with an increasing 
number of php  and Open Source ). Every ye ar, it leads around 20 projects ranging in size from fifty 
thousand to one million Swiss Francs.  
 
General Functions  
 
Reporting to the Director of the Division, the incumbent is responsible for the following functions.  
 
1. Lead a team of Relationships and Applications Managers , IT Applications Analyst s and 
Developers. Organize the team  and allocate the work. Coach and mentor the team members.  
 
2. Establish and maintain a Secretariat -wide applications and data architecture. Assure 
compliance of technical sol utions with the WTO technology architecture and standards. Keep up -
to-date on the  rapid changes in Information Technology and adapt accordingly . Establish and 
maintain a development standard.  
 OFFICE(16)/107  
 
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  3. Develop, implement and maintain Information Technology appli cations so as to enable the 
Secretariat to fulfil its mandate respecting the change management, project management 
standards and procurement rules.  Coach staff to ensure delivery of projects on time, on budget 
and on scope and to ensure maintenance.  
 
4. Establish and maintain relationships with external business partners so as to optimize 
maintenance and implementation timing, cost and quality and access to up -to-date competencies.  
 
5. Establish and follow through on plans for the following:  
- Applications delivery and maintenance in collaboration with Secretariat divisions.  
- Organizational maturity improvements including but not limited to standards, processes, 
architecture evolution and use of external providers.  
  
6.  Coach staff to help divisional partn ers follow the project portfolio steps and to ensure 
compliance with procurement processes.  
 
7. Establish Application Life cycle Management (ALM) standards and ensure that the team 
adhere s to them.  
 
8. Manage the budget  of the Applications Solutions Branch : collaborate with the Director of the 
Division to establish the budget, stay within defined budget and provide accurate forecast s on end -
of-year expenses .  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
In addition to a basic university degree, theoretical knowle dge and/or proven professional 
expertise equivalent to an advanced university degree in a scientific subject  is required.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Mastery of Business and Systems Analysis and Design . 
Mastery in A pplication Life cycle Management  (ALM)  coveri ng both development and maintenance . 
Some knowledge of Enterprise Architecture . 
Mastery in Project Management . 
Vendor management  skills. 
Internal customer management  skills. 
 
The incumbent must have the a bility to lead and manage a team of 15 to 25 technic al experts , 
motivating them, setting objectives and managing their performance  while remaining flexible and 
open to different points of view ; to initiate,  build and maintain collegial, respectful and professional 
relationships with colleagues and others bo th inside and outside the WTO ; to persuade others to a 
point of view using facts;  to present technical facts to both technical and non technical  audiences;  
to cope with and resolve conflicts through interpreting provided guidelines on how to resolve 
them; and to work in a team where gaining the support of others is important to achieving her/his 
objectives . 
 
Work Experience:  
 
A minimum of ten years' experience  in application development roles ,  including : a minimu m of 
three year s managing a team of develope rs; and a minimum of five years experience in an 
organization with a service oriented, collaborative and international culture.  
 
Languages:  
 
Proficiency in English and French, both written and spoken  is required . A working knowledge of 
Spanish would be an advantage.  OFFICE(16)/107  
 
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  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 com munication 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.  
 
Candidates not sele cted 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 inst ructions 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 N OTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE  
CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED  
 
The WTO is a non -smoking environment.