09-0942 OFFICE(09)/13 
23 February 2009 
 
 
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
 
WTO  
 
Geneva  
 
Vacancy Notice No.EXT/F/09-07  
   The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill a position of Counsellor in the Agriculture and 
Commodities Division in the area of the administration of the Standards and Trade Development 
Facility (STDF).  Serving staff members interested in this position are also invited to apply.  The WTO is an Equal Opportunities Employer.  TITLE AND GRADE: C ounsellor – Grade 9
1 
 
STARTING SALARY: Approximately Swiss francs 138,500 net p.a. 
 OTHER CONDITIONS: In accordance with WTO Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and WTO 
Pension Plan Regulations as applicable to fixed-term contracts for functions of limited duration. 
 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 insu rance scheme, separation grant and 
30 days annual vacation.  Benefits for internationally recruited staff 
may include travel and remova l expenses on appointment and 
separation, installation grant, educa tion grant, rental subsidy and home 
leave.  Additional information on the compensation package is 
provided on the WTO web site
. 
 TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Fixed-term contract for two years, with possibility of extension. 
 
GENERAL FUNCTIONS: This post is in the Agriculture and Commodities Division and is 
primarily related to the WTO's technical assistance and capacity-building activities with respect to its role as Administrator of the Standard and Trade Development Facility (STDF).  Under the 
general supervision of senior officers of the Division, the incumbent 
will be required to: 
 
(a) Develop the strategy and polic y for the STDF and manage all 
day-to-day aspects of the STDF, including with regard to contracting, accounting and financial tasks; 
                                                     
 
1 The position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the 
required qualifications. OFFICE(09)/13 
Page 2  
 
  (b) lead STDF work related to the coordination of technical 
cooperation activities in the sanitary and phytosanitary field.  In carrying out this function, the incumbent will be expected to establish contacts and cooperate  with donors, beneficiaries, 
executing agencies and other inter-governmental 
organizations active in this field (eg., FAO, the OIE, the 
World Bank, WHO) as well as ensure appropriate synergies 
with other initiatives including Aid for Trade and the Enhanced Integrated Framework; 
 
(c) ensure the coordination of th e STDF with other work of the 
Division, in particular the SPS Committee, and assist with other work of the Division as required; 
 (d) supervise the work of professional and support staff to ensure 
the effective operation of the STDF; 
 (e) oversee the development of ne w and the collection of existing 
training materials, the maintena nce of the STDF website, and 
the dissemination of lessons learned from STDF or other donor activities; 
 
(f) guide the development of proj ect preparation grants (PPGs) 
and ensure oversight of proj ect and PPG impl ementation as 
required; 
 
(g) prepare reports, memos, a nd briefing materi als on the STDF 
for senior management, WTO Me mbers, and/or public use; 
 (h) participate in national, regi onal and multilat eral workshops, 
seminars or symposia with part icular focus on the difficulties 
facing developing countries in  the implementation of the 
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures (SPS Agreement). 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: An advanced university degree in economics, law, business 
administration or a related field, or equivalent proven professional 
knowledge and expertise.  Good know ledge and understanding of the 
issues relating to agricultural trad e, the trade negotiations, and the 
problems faced by developing countries in the implementation of the SPS Agreement.  Understanding of the functioning of the WTO.  Experience working with developing countries on the administration or management of technical assistance projects, ideally in the SPS 
area. 
Excellent organizational skills, abilit y to supervise and manage the 
work of others and to cooperate with  others in a diverse international 
setting.  Good presentational skills.  A minimum of eight years relevant experience. OFFICE(09)/13 
Page 3 
 
 
  LANGUAGES: Excellent knowledge of E nglish including the ability to make 
presentations and to write accurately, concisely and rapidly in English.  The candidate should also possess working knowledge of either French or Spanish. 
 
APPLICATIONS:
2 Please use the online application fo rm which may be downloaded from 
the WTO website – www.wto.org  – under "vacancies".  If you are 
unable to download the application fo rm, please send an e-mail or fax 
to the Human Resources Division requesting the form.  A completed form may also be submitted to the following address: 
 
Director, Human Resources Division WTO Centre William Rappard 154, rue de Lausanne 
1211 Geneva 21 
Switzerland E-mail:  humanresources@wto.org
 
Fax:  +41 22 739 5772 
 
 Please do not send your application via multiple routes.  It is not 
necessary to follow your application up with copies of qualifications, 
previous employment contracts, entire publications etc. 
Candidates must indicate clearly in section 15 of the application form 
the Vacancy Notice No. EXT/F/09-07 . 
Applications will not be acknowledge d.  Only applicants possessing 
the required qualifications will be take n into consideration.  Only the 
successful candidate will be notified of the outcome of the competition. 
Candidates are kindly requested to refrain from enquiring about 
progress of their application. 
 
CLOSING DATE FOR THIS VACANCY NOTICE: 23 March 2009 
No applications will be considered after this date. 
 
The WTO is a non-smoking environment.  
 
                                                     
 
2 Only applications from nationals  of WTO Members will be accepted. 
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