Director

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):

External

Application Deadline:

22-07-2026

Grade:

Grade 11

Job Category:

Professional

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Annual Salary:

CHF201,030.00

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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The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Director of the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation.

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

Context

The Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) coordinates the WTO's technical assistance (TA) and training. ITTC's main objectives are to support TA beneficiary countries in strengthening their trade capacity, addressing trade policy issues, integrating more fully into the multilateral trading system, exercising their rights as WTO members, and actively participating in multilateral trade discussions and negotiations.

These objectives are addressed through a Technical Assistance and Training Plan (TA Plan), which identifies the strategy that the WTO Secretariat expects to follow in providing technical assistance. The TA Plan is also a policy framework that focuses on meeting beneficiary-identified needs, guided by a results-based management approach and the Secretariat’s Strategy 2030, with the aim of enhancing decision-making, transparency and accountability.

General Functions

The incumbent will lead the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), comprised of over 40 staff, which is responsible for all matters relating to technical assistance provided by WTO to developing and least-developed countries. Specific responsibilities will include:

1. Planning, setting priorities and overseeing the WTO's training and technical cooperation activities with regard to all matters under the Institute's purview; identifying, attracting, and coordinating financial resources to support technical assistance goals.

2. Ensuring the effective implementation of the training and technical cooperation activities which are delivered by the Institute; coordinating the Institute's work with that of other Divisions, including substantive contributions to the work of other Divisions.

3.

Leading and supervising the work of ITTC, providing guidance to staff in carrying out their duties, setting objectives required, reviewing output and performance of the staff, supporting the development of the knowledge and skills of staff, and ensuring appropriate staff training plans are in place and executed.

4.

Developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for the training and technical co-operation activities under the Institute's purview; improving these frameworks to ensure a more robust monitoring and measuring of results, as well as mid to long- term impact of such activities.

5.

Building relationships with Members and external partners in order to ensure optimal delivery of training and technical cooperation activities as appropriate. Liaison with WTO Members, relevant international organizations, academic institutions, NGOs, parliaments and private sector entities.

6. Taking a forward-leaning approach in exploring how AI and other frontier technologies can contribute to the efficacy and effectiveness of Technical Assistance and Capacity Building delivery in the organisation

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education:

An advanced university degree in Economics, International Trade Law or other related fields. Alternatively, a basic university degree in the aforementioned areas combined with proven professional expertise equivalent to an advanced degree may be considered.

Knowledge and skills:

Technical knowledge and skills:

Good knowledge of the WTO system and of trade policy issues.

Ability to provide strategic direction and vision to the work of the Institute.

Ability to identify emerging issues with implications for technical co-operation and to translate them into innovative work programmes.

Understanding of the donor community; experience in and capability to mobilize funds.

Very good skills in public speaking, presenting and dealing with the media in order to communicate the work of the Division to a wide range of audiences.

Behavioural skills:

Strong leadership and managerial skills and proven ability to motivate and manage a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.

Ability to be a strong team player and interact effectively across multiple stakeholder groups.

Intellectual flexibility, good technical and political judgement, as well as strong networking and communication skills. Excellent political sense and the ability to interact effectively with multiple high-level stakeholders.

Work Experience:

Fifteen years of relevant experience, including substantial work experience in an international environment.

Extensive senior-level experience in formulating, implementing and evaluating technical co-operation programmes gained through working in an international organization, a national administration or a multilateral agency.

Well established contacts with key actors and stakeholders in the field, with experience of operating at a senior level within a political decision-making environment.

Extensive experience in donor engagement and resource mobilization.

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English, including an ability to write accurately, precisely and quickly. A good working knowledge of either French or Spanish would be considered an asset.

Organizational Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Communicating for Results

• Effective Collaboration

• Cultivating Progressive Growth

• Professional Accountability

• Relevant Digital Proficiency

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Managerial Competencies:

• Talent Centred Leadership

• Coordinated Cross Functional Leadership

• Self Aware Leadership

• Strategic Leadership

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.