By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Head of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility

Geneva

  • Organization: WTO - World Trade Organization
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Mid level - Grade 9 - Professional Staff - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Sustainable trade and development
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):

External

Application Deadline:

31-03-2023

Grade:

Grade 9

Contract Type:

L-Post (TFAF)

Annual Salary:

CHF135005

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 the position of Head of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) in the Market Access Division to oversee the work and staff of the TFAF and to maintain relationships with donors to ensure continued funding.

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 must apply through the Workday internal career site.

This is a fixed-term contract funded through extrabudgetary trust funds. The duration will be one year with the possibility of extension up to a maximum four years, subject to availability of funds and incumbent's level of performance.

Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Market Access Division the incumbent will be required to:

1. Oversee the operation of the TFAF and the trust fund

Manage the TFAF team of one professional and three administrative staff to ensure effective and efficient delivery of TFAF's mandate in a timely manner.  Ensure that team members understand their duties and coordinate the team to deliver activities.  Establish and monitor performance and development goals of staff, fix annual work objectives and conduct annual performance evaluation reviews.

Manage and oversee administrative requirements and their timely delivery, including:

  • the annual workplan which involves identifying Members' needs for the upcoming year within the mandate of the TFAF.  Working with a representative group of WTO Members to identify specific priorities and activities for that year and submitting a draft plan to the Trade Facilitation Committee for its review.
  • the annual report, and logical framework, that monitors and reports on TFA performance and progress of the preceding year.
  • regular written and oral reports on TFAF activities to the Trade Facilitation Committee.
  • periodic independent evaluations as required by the TFAF Operational Guidelines. 

Develop and maintain relationships with donors in order to mobilize resources as needed to ensure continuity of sufficient funds for TFAF activities and staffing.  Monitor the trust fund to make sure that all spending falls within the TFAF mandate.

Ensure delivery of proposed budgets for work plans and expenditures for annual reports. 

2. Communication, collaboration, and outreach

Serve as the focal point for TFAF with internal and external stakeholders, including partners, donors, and WTO Members - including the WTO Trade Facilitation Committee.

Serve as an active advocate for TFAF and its programs.   

Build and maintain relationships with WTO developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) members that benefit from TFAF programmes.

Maintain good relations with donors to the TFAF trust fund and the broader donor community. 

Maintain close coordination and cooperation with key partner organizations i.e. ITC, IMF, OECD, UNCTAD, World Customs Organization, and World Bank as well as other regional and international organizations that support TF implementation, to encourage collaboration and avoid duplication of work. This includes regular communication, organizing meetings and joint activities, and representing TFAF in partner-organized meetings and events.

Work in close collaboration with Secretariat staff in various WTO divisions.

3. Implementation assistance programmes

Design and deliver in-person and on-line global, regional, and national technical assistance activities on TFA-related issues, as well as provide other support and assistance such as through one-on-one meetings.   

Document, monitor and evaluate TFAF activities.  Analyse results to identify impact, success stories, good practices and lessons learned.

Oversee grant program and support TFAF staff to ensure that TFAF grant applications meet the minimum standards of quality and review reports to ensure that proposed actions are appropriate to lead to the implementation of the TFA provision(s) at issue.

Understand developing and LDC Members' TFA implementation needs and set up initial activities/meetings to help Members meet these requirements.

Continue to expand network of development partners, as well as use the website, technical assistance, and grant program, to enhance matchmaking of developing/LDC Members with implementing partners.  

4. TFAF website

Work with the TFAF website coordinator to ensure website is functioning effectively, is up to date and relevant. 

Make use of the website to ensure that TFAF's activities are transparent.  

As TFA expert, continuously seek new TFA-related resources and information for the website to provide information to support Members TFA implementation and to ensure continued user interest in the site.

5. Undertake other tasks to meet evolving needs and priorities, tasks assigned by the Division director, and tasks requested by WTO Members or the WTO Trade Facilitation Committee.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced university degree in law, international relations, international trade, customs, economics, or another relevant degree, or basic university degree combined with extensive experience and knowledge in border processes and trade facilitation, equivalent to an advanced university degree in the aforementioned domain(s).  

Knowledge and Skills:

Technical skills:

Good general knowledge of trade policy and trade facilitation. 

In-depth knowledge of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Experience with and/or strong knowledge of customs import and export procedures.

Excellent presentation and writing skills in English.

Experience in developing and delivering technical assistance and capacity building programmes.

Behavourial skills: 

Ability to strategize and plan ahead to meet changing needs and priorities.

Excellent organizational skills, including eye for detail.

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced office environment and across time zones.

The incumbent of the position needs to be highly motivated, proactive and accountable. In addition, the following interpersonal abilities are required: ability to communicate information clearly to both knowledgeable specialized audiences and general audiences; ability to work as a member of a team, relating to others while working independently to achieve his/her objectives; ability to supervise a group of people in their daily work and ability to initiate and build relationships with a variety of people both inside and outside the organization.

Work Experience:

At least 8 years of professional experience in a relevant senior position with proven knowledge of trade facilitating measures and trade policy. Experience in development and delivery of technical assistance or training programs, and supervisory leadership.

Languages:

Must be fluent in written and spoken English.  Good knowledge of French or Spanish would be an asset.

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. 

Should the successful candidate hold a regular or fixed-term contract under the regular WTO budget, the contractual status shall be changed to a one or two-year fixed-term contract in accordance with the contractual arrangement set out in the vacancy notice.

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.

The WTO is a non-smoking environment.

    This vacancy is now closed.
    However, we have found similar vacancies for you: