Secretary

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI)

External

Application Deadline

19-10-2022

Grade

Grade 4

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Annual Salary

CHF65729

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.

This is an External Vacancy Notice open to external candidates and WTO staff. It is posted on the WTO internal as well as external career site. Eligible WTO staff on short-term, fixed-term or regular contracts and interns must apply through the Workday internal career site.

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the post of Secretary for the Legal Affairs Division. This is a fixed-term contract funded through the regular budget. The duration will be two years with the possibility of extension.

General Functions

Under the general direction of the Director of the Legal Affairs Division, and the direct supervision of the Divisional Coordinator of the division, the incumbent will provide secretarial/administrative assistance requiring relevant experience and undertake the following functions:

Perform a full range of secretarial duties for the Director and other staff members of the division as requested. This may include handling and drafting correspondence, e-mail management, screening and responding to telephone calls and maintaining filing systems. Also responding as appropriate to requests for information from other Divisions within the Secretariat, delegations, members of the public, and outside bodies and carrying out administrative and secretarial tasks as assigned by the Divisional Coordinator or the Director.
Provide secretarial support to dispute settlement panel teams such as organizing meetings, including in person, hybrid, virtual and Open Hearings as necessary; preparing panel reports including formatting and editing; and coordinating with the Language and Documentation Services Division on the translation and circulation of documents.
Assisting the Depository team with documents and organization, including formatting, editing and coordinating with the Language and Documentation Services Division on the translation and circulation of documents.
Organizing and managing files and records relating to divisional Technical Assistance and Outreach activities, assisting staff with missions and training activities.
Responding as appropriate to requests for information from other Divisions within the Secretariat, delegations, members of the public, and outside bodies; carrying out administrative and secretarial tasks as assigned by the Divisional Coordinator or the Director.
As required, reviewing, verifying content and format of dispute settlement documents submitted by Members or panels and arranging for their translation and distribution to the Membership.

Education

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge And Skills

Completed secondary education. Secretarial qualifications are desirable.

Technical Knowledge And Skills

Excellent secretarial skills, including in the use of word processing (Word), spreadsheet (Excel), slide show (PowerPoint) applications and aptitude for applications used in virtual meetings.

Knowledge and good understanding of the WTO system.

Familiarity with the working procedures and a general understanding of Dispute Settlement and the substantive work of the division would be an asset.

Familiarity with the WTO Editorial Guide, WTO Style Guide and the style and formatting conventions for panel reports.

Behavioural Skills

Organizational skills and attention to detail.

Good oral and written communications skills.

Ability to work under pressure and strict deadlines.

Good analytical skills.

Multi-tasking skills.

Tact and discretion.

The following interpersonal capabilities are required: ability to relate to and build relationships 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 three to four years’ secretarial experience including office management, preferably in an international organization or a government ministry environment.

Languages

Excellent speaking and writing skills in English. A good knowledge of either Spanish or French would be considered an advantage.

Additional Information

Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.

The recruitment process will be undertaken as per Administrative Memorandum No. 976 (OFFICE(16)/15) on Staff Promotions and external recruitment through Vacancy Notices.

For non-entry level positions, the position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the required qualifications.

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.

Applicants may be required to sit a written examination.

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

Please note that the WTO employment offer is conditional on new employees confirming that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination (as certified by the WTO medical service). If you do not have access to vaccination in your place of origin, you may be vaccinated in Geneva during the onboarding process. The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence relating to this condition.

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 24 months, and may subsequently be called upon as and when the need arises for additional resources.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the closing date – Geneva (Switzerland) time – 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.