Fisheries Subsidies Officer

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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.

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill a Fisheries Subsidies Officer (7P) in the Fisheries Subsidies Unit of the Rules Division.

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.

This is a Fixed-term contract funded through the regular budget. The duration will be two years with the possibility of extension.

The Rules Division is responsible for all aspects of WTO work, legal and technical, in the areas of trade remedies (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures), non-agricultural subsidies including fisheries subsidies, Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), civil aircraft, and state trading enterprises. The Division supports the respective WTO Committees, and facilitates and actively assists in negotiations, consultations, and monitoring of implementation, and provides implementation assistance, counselling and expert advice to WTO Members, as well as full support for dispute settlement panels, in each of these areas.

GENERAL FUNCTIONS

Under the supervision of the Head of Fisheries Subsidies, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Provide technical advice and other support and assistance to Members as needed with respect to acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Once the Agreement is in force, also providing technical advice and other support and assistance to Members as needed with respect to implementation of the Agreement's provisions.

2. Support Members' preparatory work to set up the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies and its associated frameworks and instruments such as procedures and formats. Once established, supporting the operation of the Committee.

3. Contribute to servicing the fisheries subsidies negotiations under the auspices of the Negotiating Group on Rules.

4. In respect of all of these roles, duties, and activities: providing substantive and procedural support to the Head of Fisheries Subsidies, the Chair of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies, the Chair of the negotiations, and Members. Such support includes providing information to the Chairs, to Members, and to Secretariat colleagues; drafting or contributing to drafting of documentation (communications to Members, background notes, speaking notes, etc.), and contributing to the development of agendas and work programmes; and contributing to briefing and speaking notes to senior management.

5. Building and maintaining relationships with WTO members and other organizations as relevant and appropriate, and representing the Secretariat in various activities and events in Geneva and abroad that address issues relating to fisheries subsidies.

6. Developing targeted messaging for media, including social media.

7. Undertaking other tasks as may be assigned by the Head of Fisheries Subsidies or Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

In addition to a basic university degree, theoretical knowledge and/or proven professional expertise equivalent to an advanced university degree level in international relations, economics, law, or another relevant field.

Knowledge and skills:

Technical knowledge and skills:

- Good understanding of the provisions of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and of the fisheries subsidies negotiations.

- Good practical experience servicing or otherwise directly participating in WTO negotiations and/or Committees.

- A good understanding of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

- A high level of English drafting skills, to be able to write accurate, concise and clear technical documents, including speaking notes, reports, etc.

- Good analytical and research skills.

- Proven ability to develop targeted messaging for media, including social media.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office software such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.

Behavioural skills:

- Interpersonal skills: ability to relate to team members, while also working independently to achieve objectives; ability to relate to and build relationships with colleagues and delegations; political and diplomatic sensitivity and skills and ability to adhere rigorously to requirements of confidentiality and other standards of conduct; ability to communicate information in a clear way and to understand information; ability to present technical facts to knowledgeable specialized audiences; and ability to persuade others to a point of view using facts.

- Excellent organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail; working under pressure, ability to manage time efficiently, to prioritize and manage multiple assignments subject to strict deadlines.

- Ability to exercise initiative and judgement within established guidelines.

Work experience:

A minimum of 3 years of experience working in or with international organizations and/or national governments, on trade-related matters generally, with experience in WTO negotiations and/or Committees.

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English (level corresponding or equivalent to a minimum of level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and good knowledge of French or Spanish (minimum B2 level) are required, including ability to draft clearly and concisely in both languages at those levels.

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 initial fixed-term contract shall be two years, which shall be probationary, as per Administrative Memorandum No. 997 (OFFICE(23)/4) on Probation Policy.

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. 

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. 
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