Executive Director
Geneva
- Organization: WTO - World Trade Organization
- Location: Geneva
- Grade: Senior Executive level - Grade 11 - Director level - Internationally recruited position
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Occupational Groups:
- Managerial positions
- Closing Date: 2025-10-13
VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):
ExternalApplication Deadline:
Grade:
Job Category:
ProfessionalContract Type:
Annual Salary:
The WTO seeks to attract and retain staff members offering the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity and to build an organization that is representative of the Members and People it serves. As an equal opportunity and inclusive employer, the WTO gives full regard to competence and welcome applications from qualified candidates irrespective of age, disability status, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, social origin or any other characteristic. Applications from non-represented Members (link) are particularly encouraged for all positions.
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 extra-budgetary trust funds. The duration will differ depending on the relevant trust fund, subject to availability of funds and incumbent's level of performance.
The Secretariat of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is seeking to fill the Executive Director (ED) position in the Executive Secretariat for the Enhanced Integrated Framework (ES), administratively housed in the WTO.
The Executive Director (ED) of the Executive Secretariat for the EIF (ES) is responsible for translating the vision of inclusive trade and investment for resilient, sustainable and transformative development into tangible results. As the head of the ES, the ED provides strategic direction, operational oversight and financial safeguarding to ensure the effective implementation of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Results Framework. The ED is expected to champion the integration of trade and investment into national development agendas; foster high-level partnerships; supervise programme implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), and communication of results; and mobilize resources to support the priorities of the least developed countries (LDCs).
In this capacity, the ED serves as the primary liaison between the EIF governance bodies, partner agencies, funding partners and the LDCs, ensuring coherence, transparency and accountability across all EIF operations. The ED also leads institutional reforms, drives innovation in programme delivery and promotes a culture of performance, learning and value for money (VfM). Through visionary leadership and diplomatic engagement, the ED elevates the voice of the LDCs in global trade discourse and strengthens the EIF’s role as a trusted platform for inclusive and sustainable development.
The ED is appointed for an initial three-year term, in the form of annual extensions of a one-year contract, up to a total of three years. The ED term may be renewed once for an additional three years, subject to a performance review by the EIF Executive Operational Board (EOB). In the event that a further extension is required, it shall be reviewed by the EOB.
Key functions and responsibilities
Strategic leadership and programme management
Lead and manage the ES to implement the Terms of Reference of the ES and decisions of the EOB.
Serve as the ex-officio Secretary to the EOB, overseeing preparation of agendas, documentation and follow-up.
Provide overall leadership for the delivery of the EIF Phase Three Results Framework and ensure alignment with LDC priorities.
Guide the operationalization of the EIF Phase Three reforms, including improvements to the administrative arrangement with the Secretariat of the WTO and streamlined MEL systems.
Promote a culture of results-based management, learning and value for money across all EIF activities.
Institutional representation and advocacy
Serve as the primary public representative and advocate of the EIF at global, regional and national fora.
Engage with international development institutions, the private sector and civil society to raise awareness of EIF goals, achievements and lessons.
Promote the specific needs of the LDCs in international trade and investment within global development discourse.
Partnership development and resource mobilization
Lead the development and execution of a global strategy for resource mobilization in coordination with the Head of Partnerships, Outreach and Resource Mobilization.
Sustain and deepen collaboration with EIF Core Partner Agencies and donor governments.
Initiate and formalize strategic partnerships with international organizations, philanthropic foundations and the private sector to support LDC priorities.
Oversight of projects and funding decisions
Endorse projects for EOB approval or, alternatively, approve them as delegated by the EOB.
Communicate project approvals and related decisions to the EIF Trust Fund Manager (TFM) and ensure timely action.
Oversee and ensure the alignment of country project pipelines with EIF strategic priorities and resource availability.
ES and staff management
Supervise all ES staff and ensure high standards of performance, accountability and teamwork.
Approve job descriptions, recruitment processes and performance reviews in line with WTO rules.
Align staff roles with evolving programme needs and maintain institutional memory and operational continuity.
Ensure ES operations reflect best practices in international public management and VfM.
Governance and financial oversight
Present ES annual work plans, budgets and performance reports to the EOB for approval.
Ensure ES budget execution and operations adhere to WTO administrative and financial regulations, with emphasis on transparency and accountability.
Oversee coordination with the TFM, including conducting review of the TFM's annual performance, joint monitoring missions and reporting.
Required qualifications
Education:
Advanced university degree in economics, international relations, international trade, international development, business administration, public policy or a related field.
Knowledge and Skills:
Technical Skills
Proven expertise in managing large-scale development programmes, preferably in trade, economic policy or investment.
Extensive experience in donor engagement, resource mobilization – including from innovative financing mechanisms – and stakeholder coordination, particularly in LDC contexts.
Behavioural Skills
Strong strategic leadership, communication and diplomatic skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and drive institutional change.
High level of political acumen, cultural sensitivity and integrity.
Results-oriented approach with a strong commitment to equity and sustainable development.
Organizational Competencies:
Core Competencies:
Communicating for Results
Effective Collaboration
Cultivating Progressive Growth
Professional Accountability
Relevant Digital Proficiency
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Leadership & Management Competencies:
Self-Aware Leadership
Talent-Centred Leadership
Coordinated Cross-Functional Leadership
Strategic Leadership
Work Experience:
At least 15 years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 10 years in senior leadership roles within international organizations or development institutions such as multilateral development banks, philanthropy or regional economic bodies.
Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English or French, including an ability to write accurately, precisely and quickly, and a very good working language capacity of the other. Knowledge of Portuguese would be 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.
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.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.