OFFICE( 18)/100 
18-7731 
 
 
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.  
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Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/F/18 -69 Issued on:  7 December 2018  
 
Title:  Chief of Section (Records and Archives 
Management)  Application Deadline (CET):  8 January 2019  
 
Grade:  8 
 Division:  Language, Documentation and 
Information Management  
(262) Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 111,652  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 ma ndatory 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:  
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/compensation_e.htm  
 
 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill a position of Chief of Section (Records and 
Archives Management Section (RAMS)) in the Information Management Services (IMS) 
Branch of the Language, Documentation and Information Management Division. The 
Inform ation Management Services Branch - composed of the Official Documents and 
Records Section, the Library Section and the Records and Archives Management Section - 
aims to identify and provide appropriate access to all relevant internal and external 
informati on. This entails adding value to information by capturing, indexing, storing, 
preserving and disseminating it. Information resources are managed and disseminated 
through the WTO websites and repositories for documents, records and archives, 
correspondence,  notifications and library content. The Records and Archives Management 
Section is in charge of the custody and control of Secretariat records and informational 
assets, in both paper and electronic formats, by leading their management, access, 
retention, s torage, preservation and disposition, with the purpose of protecting them as 
evidences of actions and of ensuring accountability to present and future users . 
 
 
General Functions  
 
Under the supervision of the Head of IMS, the incumbent will have the primary  responsibility for 
supervising and managing the RAMS. In addition, the incumbent will participate in decision -making, 
planning and the development of strategies relative to the management of information resources. 
Key accountabilities will include:  
 
1. Lead, plan and manage the work of the RAMS to ensure high quality services are delivered in 
an effective, efficient and timely manner. Ensure skills of staff are continuously developed through 
training or coaching. Manage a team of 5 staff members and intern s and budgetary resources 
allocated to the section.  
 
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  2. Establish and implement strategies, guidelines and procedures to collect, assess, organize and 
preserve the WTO’s information assets in all forms (paper, image, audio, video, electronic record, 
etc.).  This includes ensuring conservation of information resources and implementing a disaster 
recovery plan; and elaborating collection development and acquisitions programmes to ensure the 
continued reception and relevancy of information where applicable.  
 
3. Ensure the maintenance of information systems in order to allow for swift and accurate 
retrieval of information, thus making resources easily accessible to those who need them. In 
coordination with the Information Technology Solutions Division, analyse us er needs, propose 
functional specifications for an information system serving these needs and supervise development 
of the IT solutions chosen.  
 
4. Ensure that the WTO's archive policies (disclosure policy, user service policy, etc.) in the field 
of inform ation management remain aligned with the WTO business needs.  
 
5. Establish procedures and training programmes for WTO staff on the organization of collections, 
management, access and use of resources.  Liaise with divisions to raise awareness and develop 
understanding of preservation of information resources.  
 
6. Respond to requests from WTO staff, Members, organizations and individuals outside the WTO 
and represent the WTO on missions and at meetings.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
An advanced university degree in archives records management, library science, or information 
management or a basic university degree plus a qualification in this field recognized by a professional 
body that is equivalent to an advanced university degree.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Technical Skills:  
 
Demonstrated professional experience in and knowledge of indexing, analysing and describing 
archive materials and records according to internationally recognized standards.  
Demonstrated knowledge of and experien ce in the use of state -of-the art electronic records 
management tools.  
Use of IT (Information Technology) tools relevant to information organization and retrieval (e.g. 
search engines) would be an asset.  
Capacity to think strategically and develop plans t o better integrate the section into the WTO and to 
bring value to the assets available.  
Ability to successfully initiate and manage change.  
Project management skills.  
Ability to draft accurately concisely and clearly in English.  
 
 
Behavioural Skills:  
 
Proven ability to supervise a group of people in their day -to-day work, and to manage, motivate and 
lead a service.  
Capability to work harmoniously in a multi -cultural environment.  
Capability to persuade others to a point of view using facts.  
Capability to pr esent technical facts to knowledgeable specialised audiences.  
Capability to communicate information in a clear way and to understand information; capability to 
initiate and build relationships with a variety of people both inside and outside the organizat ion. 
Capability to manage and diffuse tension.  
Capability to work in a team where supporting and gaining the support of others is important to 
achieving her/his objectives.  
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  Work Experience:  
 
Minimum five years' relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years of supervisory 
responsibilities.  
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent command of English, both oral and written (at a level corresponding or equivalent to a 
minimum of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (C EFR)) 
and a good working knowledge of French  (minimum B2 level  according to the CEFR) . 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 posit ion 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 telec onference 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 performance in the selection proces s 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 I NTERVIEW  
______________________________________________________________________  
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 pr ovides 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.