Information Officer - World Trade Organization

Closing date: Monday, 30 March 2015

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.

Vacancy Notice No.: EXT/F/15-10

Title: Information Officer

Grade: 8

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Starting Salary: CHF 113,585 net per annum (approximate)

Issued On: 2 March 2015

Application Deadline (CET): 30 March 2015

Division: Information & External Relations (16)

Duration: Two years with the possibility of extension

Other Conditions: In accordance with WTO Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and WTO Pension Plan Regulations.

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 insurance scheme, separation grant and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, installation grant, education grant, rental subsidy and home leave.

Additional information on the compensation package is provided on the WTO website: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/comp_package_e.pdf

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Information Officer in the Information and External Relations Division.

General Functions

The incumbent will undertake the following functions:

1. Following and providing public information on developments in the WTO, in general and in assigned beats. Providing timely, accurate, balanced, relevant, factual and understandable information on these developments through various channels - the website, briefings by email and in person for journalists and others who are interested - so that a diverse range of non-specialist and specialist audiences can be kept abreast of what is happening in the WTO. The output includes news, press releases, background explanations, fact sheets and longer explanatory texts for the public website and for journalists. The content can be complex and politically-sensitive.
2. Helping set up press facilities for major events such as Ministerial Conferences.
3. Acting as a bridge between in-house specialists and the technicians working on WTO public information outlets, particularly the website but also publications: editing and organizing material for public access, including setting up or adapting web gateways and content pages for ease of use and understanding.
4. Helping to monitor media coverage and some academic analysis of issues relevant to the WTO, and keeping up-to-date with developments related to the work of the Secretariat and the Information and External Relations Division.
5. Outreach: introducing the WTO to groups of visitors; organizing and participating in seminars, workshops and training events for journalists, NGOs (including civil society and business organizations), Parliamentarians and others.
6. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with journalists, other groups among the general public, as well as with experts in the Secretariat and in delegations, so that communication is effective.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree level in journalism, public relations or another relevant field, or a university degree with proven professional expertise equivalent to an advanced university degree.

Knowledge and skills

The applicant must possess excellent knowledge of WTO, trade and macroeconomic issues. The applicant must also be a strong communicator with excellent speaking, writing and journalistic skills. The applicant must be well versed in the use of relevant communications tools, including social media, websites and audio/visual. The applicant must have the capacity to speak with clarity and authority.

The applicant must have the following interpersonal capabilities: to initiate and build relationships with a variety of people both inside and outside the organization; to communicate complex abstract ideas to an audience of informed people and understand ideas when communicated by others; to persuade others to a particular point of view which may challenge others' values and beliefs; to make presentations on a variety of subjects to a wide variety of audiences; to cope with and resolve conflicts through interpreting provided guidelines on how to resolve them; and to work in a team where supporting and gaining the support of others is important to achieving his/her objectives.

Work Experience

• Minimum five years' experience in journalism, public relations or as a press officer in a government or another international organization.

Languages

• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English are essential.
• A good working level of French is a significant advantage.
• Knowledge of Spanish and/or other languages spoken by WTO Member countries is an advantage.

Additional Information

The position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the required qualifications.

Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.

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OFFICE(15)/22

APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION

APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW.

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WTO to store your profile in a permanent database.

Please visit WTO's E-Recruitment website at: www.wto.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the closing date - Central European Time (CET) - stated in the vacancy announcement.

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

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