Director

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):

External

Application Deadline:

02-11-2024

Grade:

Grade 11

Job Category:

Professional

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Annual Salary:

CHF199,831.00

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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This vacancy notice is re-posted to solicit a broader pool of candidates. Candidates who previously applied need not reapply.

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Director of the Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division (IPD).

This is a fixed-term contract funded through the regular budget. The duration will be two years with the possibility of extension. The selected candidate is expected to start the assignment as soon as possible.

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.

Context

The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ('TRIPS') is one of the three central pillars of the legal framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), reflecting the significance of the intellectual property (IP) dimension of the multilateral trading system.  TRIPS Agreement has bearing on the knowledge economy and has impact on social and economic welfare including public health and access to technology for sustainable development. The plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) provides for open, fair and transparent conditions of competition in government procurement.  Both agreements raise a blend of legal, policy, governance and developmental issues, with their social and economic significance exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Competition policy is linked with both the IP system and public procurement policy, with growing interest in its trade policy context.  

The WTO's Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division (IPD) undertakes administrative, diplomatic, legal and policy functions relating to the TRIPS Agreement and related IP and public policy issues, including coordination on trade and public health more widely, the GPA and related issues of public procurement policy, and the relationship of competition policy with the multilateral trading system.  It supports the WTO's TRIPS Council and its Committee on Government Procurement.

IPD delivers technical assistance and capacity building programs and supports dispute settlement procedures in its areas of expertise.  It conducts analysis and research, and provides advice to senior management, on diverse legal and policy issues.  IPD coordinates the Secretariat's work on trade and health within the Secretariat and with partners such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Health Organization.  The Division undertakes outreach and dialogue with international and regional organisations, civil society and the private sector on issues under its responsibility.

The WTO Secretariat is seeking to fill the role of Director, IPD, to lead a team of around 25 staff members undertaking diverse legal, diplomatic, substantive, administrative and documentation responsibilities.

General Functions

The incumbent will:

1. Advise senior management on legal, policy, trade and diplomatic issues relating to the TRIPS Agreement, the GPA, and the general fields of IP law and policy, public procurement law and policy, competition policy, and r