Here are some of the details:
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Director in the Legal Affairs Division.
General Functions
Reporting to a Deputy Director-General (DDG), the incumbent will lead the Legal Affairs Division, which is primarily responsible for assisting dispute settlement panels and arbitrators in resolving trade disputes between WTO Members. The Division is also responsible for providing legal advice on WTO agreements and other issues of international law and the law of international institutions as they may arise to the Director-General (DG) and the WTO Secretariat, to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) and other WTO bodies and, as appropriate, to WTO Members. The Division also serves as Secretary to the DSB in Special Session, prepares reference material on WTO law, and carries out technical assistance and outreach activities.
Specific responsibilities of the incumbent will include:
1. Provide legal advice to the DG, WTO Divisions, the DSB and other bodies, and, as appropriate, WTO Members.
2. Oversee the work of the Division generally. Plan and organize the work of the Division by assigning dispute settelement lawyers and others (e.g. paralegals, Dispute Settlement (DS) Registrar, Legal Editor, secretaries) to: (i) assist and support dispute settlement panels and arbitrators, the DSB in Special Session, and, as appropriate committees and negotiating groups; (ii) prepare legal opinions for and in support of the DG, DDGs, WTO Divisions, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) and other bodies as appropriate; (iii) assist the DG in carrying out his/her depository functions with respect to instruments negotiated by Members; (iv) carry out functions of the Dispute Settlement Registry, the Digital Dispute Settlement Registry, and the WTO Depository Assistant; (v) design programs for and carry out technical assistance; (vi) prepare and update reference materials on WTO law and practice; and (vii) carry out outreach activities.
3. Lead the Division and motivate the staff, providing legal and other guidance to staff in carrying out their duties, setting objectives required, reviewing output (e.g. legal and other work) 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. Build relationships with adjudicators and the Members in order to serve the WTO as appropriate, be it in dispute settlement, committee work, negotiations, or otherwise, while maintaining neutrality and observing the rules of conduct.
5. Oversee the participation of the Division in the organization's extensive technical assistance and training programmes, with a particular focus on WTO dispute settlement; such oversight extends to the preparation of teaching and training materials to this end, including for e-training, and to the preparation of reference materials on WTO law and practice.
6. Collaborate with other legal division Directors as appropriate to ensure that high quality legal advice and support are provided to the DG and WTO divisions, panels and arbitrators, WTO Members, WTO bodies, committees and negotiating groups, and to ensure that effective dispute settlement is provided to Members.
7. Assist the WTO Membership in drafting and giving legal effect to instruments and agreements they may negotiate and conclude within the legal framework of the WTO.
8. Represent the DG and the WTO Secretariat in various public and academic functions in Geneva and abroad that address WTO dispute settlement matters and legal issues of relevance to the WTO.
9. Undertake other tasks that may be assigned by the DG, including sitting on Secretariat committees and bodies.
More details here.
This type of job doesn't open up very often. Here's your chance!
If you do get it, you would join this very impressive list of past directors:
- Valerie Hughes
- Bruce Wilson
- Pieter Jan Kuijper
- Bill Davey
- Frieder Roessler
- Ake Linden
