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The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organisation set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Headquarters of the EFTA Secretariat in Geneva provides support to the EFTA Council as governing body of the organisation and deals with the management and negotiation of free trade agreements with non-EU countries.

We are looking for a highly motivated and qualified candidate who is willing to take on the challenging post of Director of the Trade Relations Division (TRD). The successful candidate will report to the Deputy Secretary-General in Geneva overseeing third country relations. S/he will be in charge of the operational management of the division. and will in that capacity be responsible for the services of the EFTA Secretariat to the Member States in relation to the latter’s trade relations with non-EU countries worldwide. S/he will work in close collaboration with the national administrations in the EFTA capitals, the EFTA Missions in Geneva and the competent services of the EFTA partner countries.

This position is open to nationals of the EFTA Member States.

Division Trade: Relations Division
Category/Level: A6
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term 3 years. If considered desirable and in the organisation’s interest, an additional three-year contract may be offered.
Start Date: Summer 2020
Job Reference: VA 35/2019

Scope

The Trade Relations Division (TRD) of the EFTA Secretariat in Geneva provides comprehensive services related to the exploration, negotiation, administration and upgrading of EFTA’s preferential trade relations. The Director will have substantive and organisational responsibilities in support of EFTA’s engagement with partner countries outside the European Union.

The successful candidate will lead a team of 12 staff members. Availability for frequent international/intercontinental travel is required.

The main tasks of the Trade Relations Division are to co-ordinate the activities of and provide substantive advice and administrative support to:

• EFTA’s teams negotiating free trade agreements and joint declarations on co-operation worldwide;
• Joint Committees and other sub-bodies established under these instruments;
• The EFTA Committee on Third-Country Relations;
• EFTA expert groups.

The successful candidate will supervise and provide guidance on issues in the field of trade relations such as:

• Trade policy in general;
• Trade in goods;
• Trade in services;
• Investment;
• Government procurement;
• Intellectual property;
• Trade and sustainable development;
• Competition;
• Technical cooperation and capacity building;
• Legal and horizontal issues.

The successful candidate must be willing to take on other tasks as needed, such as:

• Coordinating projects with other Divisions;
• Representing the organisation in various meetings and fora;
• Preparing and revising major documents to be used in a variety of fora;
• Contributing to the information activities of EFTA.

Qualifications

• University degree, Master’s level, or equivalent, preferably with a specialisation in international legal, economic and/or political issues;
• Profound knowledge of international trade matters.

Experience

• Several years’ exposure to international trade policy, preferably in a national administration or international organisation;
• Experience with project management.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to motivate an international team;
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills;
• Ability to create and maintain good working relations in an international and multicultural environment;
• Open minded, pragmatic and solution oriented;
• Ability to draft papers concisely and clearly in the English language;
• Good understanding of the EFTA structure and organisation.

Languages

• Excellent oral and written command of English;
• Knowledge of at least one of the languages of the EFTA Member States;
• Knowledge of French would be an asset.

Employment Terms

Grade: A6/1
Annual salary: Starting from CHF 219,390.48

Appointments are normally made at the first step of the grade. The Secretary-General reserves the right to appoint a highly qualified candidate at a level different from that advertised.

EFTA is an international organisation and the salaries and related payments are normally exempt from income taxation by the EFTA States and the host states of the EFTA duty stations. Depending on the candidate’s family status, benefits and allowances may apply.

Through its recruitment policy, the EFTA Secretariat wants to ensure diversity in terms of gender, age and culture.

Applicants must be nationals of one of the EFTA Member States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland).

Applicants must apply online via the EFTA e-recruitment tool: https://jobs.efta.int/.

For further information on this post, please contact:
Ms Inga Hanna Gudmundsdottir, Head of HR,ihg@efta.int, tel. +32 2 286 17 06
Mr Pascal Schafhauser, Deputy Secretary-General Geneva, psc@efta.int, tel. +41 22 332 2602

Deadline for applications: 20 January 2020.

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