Trade Policy Analyst

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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, unless specified in the vacancy notice.

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.

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The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Trade Policy Analyst in the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Intellectual Property Group of the Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division to play a key role in the design, coordination, and delivery of a wide range of activities at the intersection of trade, intellectual property, and health and other policy areas.

The Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division (IPD) manages the administrative, diplomatic, legal, and public policy aspects related to the TRIPS Agreement, the Plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement, and the intersection of competition policy with the multilateral trading system. IPD services the Council for TRIPS and the Committee on Government Procurement, delivers tailor-made technical assistance, and supports dispute settlement procedures. Furthermore, IPD coordinates work on trade and health both within the WTO Secretariat and with partners such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Health Organization (WHO), development banks, and regional organizations. IPD also engages in outreach and dialogue with the private sector, academia, and civil society on relevant issues.

GENERAL FUNCTIONS

Under the overall supervision of the Director, and reporting to senior staff in the Division, the incumbent is expected to perform the following duties:

1.    Conduct research and analysis on current issues related to trade, intellectual property, and public health, as per Ministerial Mandates;
2.    Assist in IPD's  Secretariat-wide coordinating role for trade and health;
3.    Contribute to the design, organization, and delivery of TRIPS-related technical assistance, including liaising with other international organizations and delegations;
4.    Update and modernize training materials and the delivery of technical assistance;
5.    Research and draft the IP chapters of major trade policy reviews (TPRs); 
6.    Maintain IP section of the Trade Monitoring Database and the database of IP Provisions in regional trade agreements (RTAs);
7.    Team up for servicing informal and formal meetings of the TRIPS Council;
8.    Provide information to delegates, colleagues in the WTO Secretariat, senior management, and other organizations on substantive matters within IPD's responsibility; and
9.    Undertake other duties as assigned by the Director-General.    

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

An advanced university degree in economics, law, international relations, or another relevant field, including WTO rules and intellectual property.

Knowledge and skills:

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Excellent knowledge of the WTO Agreements, particularly the TRIPS Agreement, and ability to establish linkages with contemporary policy areas, such as health, climate change, frontier technologies, and food security.
• Strong policy-oriented research, analytical, and drafting skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). Knowledge of data analysis tools will be considered an advantage.

Behavioural skills:

• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize, and deliver high-quality results on time;
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively both as a team member and autonomously;
• Excellent communication skills and talent for conveying complex messages to different audiences; and
• Highly developed tact, and discretion, with the ability to establish and nurture relationships and networks in a multicultural environment.

Organizational Competencies

Core Competencies

• Effective Collaboration
• Cultivating Progressive Growth
• Communicating for Results
• Professional Accountability
• Relevant Digital Proficiency
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Work experience:

A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in trade and/or intellectual property, preferably in an international environment.

Languages:

Excellent command of English, both oral and written, is required. The ability to communicate and deliver technical assistance activities in French and/or Spanish is required.

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.

The initial fixed-term contract for positions up to grade 10 shall normally be two years, which shall be probationary, as per Administrative Memorandum No. 997 (OFFICE(23)/4) on Probation Policy. For Director positions, the Policy on evaluation of directors apply as per Administrative Memorandum No. 978 (OFFICE(17)/29).

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.