The WTO Secretariat is advertising for a new Director of the Rules Division (application deadline March 28):
General Functions
The incumbent will lead the Rules Division, which is responsible for all matters in the areas of subsidies, contingent trade remedies (anti-dumping, countervailing measures and safeguards), trade-related investment measures, state trading enterprises and trade in civil aircraft including negotiations, dispute settlement, implementation and surveillance and technical assistance. Specific responsibilities will include:
1. Leading the Division, including defining the strategic objectives of the Division; setting the objectives for, and motivating, a multidisciplinary staff of lawyers, economists, trade specialists and support staff to meet those objectives; providing guidance to staff in carrying out their duties; reviewing the output and performance of the staff; and supporting the development of the knowledge and skills of staff, and ensuring appropriate staff training plans are in place and executed;
2. Contributing to the goals, objectives and management of the WTO as a senior manager in the organization.
3. Overseeing the work of the Division in respect of the operation of Committees responsible for implementation and surveillance of the Agreements within the Division's competence;
4. Overseeing the work of staff of the Division involved in dispute settlement, and ensuring the efficient management of procedural and organizational aspects of the panel process;
5. Managing the conduct of negotiations in the Rules area, including through advice to the Chairman of the Rules Negotiating Group and to the Senior Management, support to delegations and to WTO Secretariat senior management;
6. Building relationships with the Members in order to serve the WTO as appropriate, be it in committee work, negotiations, dispute settlement, or otherwise, while maintaining neutrality and observing the rules of conduct;
7. Overseeing the participation of the Division in the organization's extensive technical assistance and training programmes with regard to all matters under the Division's purview; such oversight extends to the preparation of teaching and training materials to this end, including for practical hands-on training of investigators and further development of e-learning training tools;
8. Working closely with the Director of the Legal Affairs Division in ensuring consistency in procedures and legal advice given to dispute settlement panels on horizontal/systemic matters;
9. Coordinating the Division's work with that of other Divisions, including providing substantive contributions to the work of other Divisions;
10. Liaising with relevant international organisations, NGOs, and private sector entities, including speaking engagements; and
11. Representing the WTO Secretariat in various public and academic functions in Geneva and abroad that address issues falling within the purview of the Rules Division.
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This is kind of a big deal. Arguably, it's almost as big a deal as an Appellate Body Member position. I would imagine that a U.S. government trade lawyer who wants to ensure that WTO dispute settlement does not encroach too much on U.S. trade remedies would be very interested in who gets this job. Unfortunately, I don't know how much we'll hear about who all the candidates are. We'll just see the result eventually.
