Job: Information Officer

Location: Geneva 
Deadline: Thursday, 10 October 2013 

Description

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/13-25

Title:Information Officer

Grade:8

Contract Type: Fixed-term

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

Issued On: 12 September 2013

Application Deadline (CET):10 October 2013

Division:Information & External Relations

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: The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Information Officer in the Information and External Relations Division. Serving staff members interested in the position are also invited to apply.

General Functions

The incumbent will undertake the following functions:

1. Develop and disseminate communications material (press releases, social media bulletins, speeches, background notes for journalists, internal dissemination of press reports, website stories, etc.) on WTO activities in two official languages to journalists, Parliamentarians, civil society, the media and other target groups.

2. Monitor media coverage of issues in specific areas of WTO work. Cover closely the work of various WTO Councils and Committees and provide media/NGOs with timely, accurate and balanced press briefings on topics arising from those WTO bodies. Responsible for handling complex and politically sensitive WTO issues. Participate in WTO-organized journalist seminars.

3. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with journalists and provide training for them on WTO and trade-related issues.

4. Contribute to the preparation of Ministerial Conferences.

5. Maintain and develop his/her knowledge of WTO issues and keep up to date with developments involving civil society and Parliamentarians.

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 posess 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 her/his 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, as is a good working level of French. 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

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: . 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

The WTO is a non-smoking environment

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