Coordinator, Fisheries Subsidies

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):

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 position of Coordinator, Fisheries Subsidies (Grade 6S) in 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.

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), subsidies, including fisheries subsidies, trade-related investment measures, state trading enterprises, and civil aircraft. The Rules Division provides legal and technical support to the Committees, negotiations, and dispute settlement, as well as implementation assistance, counselling and expert advice to WTO Members, in each of these areas.

This is a full-time position that requires flexibility regarding working hours as dictated by work demands.

General Functions

Reporting directly to the Head, Fisheries Subsidies of the Rules Division, the incumbent will be expected to undertake the following functions:

1.         Ensure the provision of overall office management and administrative/secretarial assistance to the Head of Fisheries Subsidies and the respective Unit, the Chair of the ongoing fisheries subsidies negotiations and the Chair of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies; receive and attend to telephone calls, emails and visitors; prioritize and schedule appointments; and assist in maintaining contact with fisheries subsidies-related external and internal stakeholders by liaising as necessary with relevant Heads of Delegations, delegates, Ministries and other international organizations. Maintain the fisheries subsidies e-mail contact list up-to-date and take responsibility for all outgoing communications.

2.         For the ongoing fisheries subsidies negotiations, work closely with the Head and the Chair, and with counterparts in other Divisions, in managing all logistical aspects; supervise, coordinate, and contribute to the administrative support for: the frequent meetings of the Negotiating Group on Rules, including any related meetings at Ministerial level; editing, formatting and proofreading a high volume of official documents in English (French and Spanish when necessary), following-up on translations and timely circulation; and drafting standard correspondence.

3.         In respect of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies, provide full support to the preparatory work to set up the Committee (e.g., notification formats, establishment of databases). Once established, provide support to the operation of the Committee, including organizing meetings and special events, preparing and dispatching official documents for meetings, and drafting, formatting, editing and proofreading correspondence and other relevant documentation (e.g., meeting agendas, airgrams, invitations).

focal point for Fisheries Subsidies, including assisting in the establishment and elaboration of a fisheries subsidies website and providing required support for the day-to-day management of the site. This includes posting news, events and content materials to the website in English, French and Spanish and coordinating the website translation; and working closely with the IT project manager and the web developer as necessary to create and upgrade the website.

5.         Manage the information and documentation flow for the fisheries subsidies negotiations, the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies and the fisheries subsidies website, including managing, filing, and helping to collect, compile and disseminate records, correspondence, and documents, both electronically and in hard copy; continuously improve and create, as necessary, filing systems both electronically and in hard copy; and maintain structured shared drives for the Division.

6.         Provide support with travel arrangements, monitor travel undertaken and prepare related documents and files for staff going on missions in the context of fisheries subsidies technical assistance to Members.

7.         Coordinate and supervise the work of, and train and mentor, lower-level support staff; ensure equitable distribution of work among such staff; and review and provide feedback on their completed work. Participate in the recruitment of such staff and contribute to their performance reviews.

8.         Maintain skills up-to-date and remain abreast of new office procedures and software.

9.         Undertake other necessary tasks based on instructions from the Head of Fisheries Subsidies and the Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Completed secondary education and/or secretarial/office management qualifications. Training and experience in web-editing. Specialised training and experience in Events Management would be an advantage.

Knowledge and Skills:

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

Ability to prioritize, plan and organize.

Multi-tasking skills.

Excellent skills in the use of Microsoft Word and other software packages (e.g. Microsoft Office suite)

Drafting skills to be able to write standard correspondence and notes.

Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy of work product.

Ability to proofread a high volume of documentation with highest level of accuracy. 

Knowledge of and familiarity with secretarial and office management processes and administrative procedures, preferably in international organization settings.

Familiarity with Management Information Systems is desirable.

Good knowledge of protocol and etiquette to be at ease in oral and written contacts at all levels.

Behavioural skills:

Excellent communication skills.

Ability to supervise and guide the work of others.

Ability to work under pressure and keep deadlines.

Ability to relate to and build relationships with colleagues.

Ability to work as a member of a team, relating to others, while working independently to achieve his/her objectives.

High degree of tact and discretion and ability to adhere rigorously to the requirements of confidentiality.

Work Experience:

At least eight years of administrative and secretarial experience, of which preferably five with international organizations. Experience working in a multi-stakeholders partnership environment. Experience in web-editing.

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English (at a level corresponding or equivalent to a minimum of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)). Good knowledge of French or Spanish is also required. Good knowledge of a third WTO language would be a strong 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. 
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