Governance Lead, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation

(temporary contract, May 2026 to December 2027, Geneva based)

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organisation for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

The World Economic Forum, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), are the lead organisations of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, a pioneering global initiative that brings together governments and businesses as equal partners to design and implement commercially meaningful trade facilitation reforms.

Reporting lines and interactions:

The role is based in Geneva within the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (Alliance) team. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Director, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. Internally, he/she works with colleagues in the Alliance team based at the Forum and International Trade and Investment Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics. Externally, he/she works with a broad range of stakeholders, including Alliance host organisations and implementing partners, private sector partners, donors, universities, and multilateral and non-governmental organisations.

Duties and responsibilities

The Governance Lead will provide operational leadership in strengthening Alliance governance frameworks, risk management, and grant oversight across Alliance trade facilitation initiatives, ensuring clear and structured processes, full alignment with donor and institutional requirements, and the effective delivery of high-quality, compliant, and sustainable interventions. He/she will also participate with the Director and Deputy Director in shaping strategic development for Alliance governance.

Working in close partnership with project officers, senior management, implementing partners, and relevant Forum institutional functions, the Governance Lead will promote a culture of structured delivery, transparency, and continuous improvement across the Alliance, operating fully within the policies, procedures, and control frameworks of the World Economic Forum and ensuring that Forum requirements and donor obligations are effectively integrated into Alliance-specific processes and workflows in coordination with the relevant teams.

Specifically, the Governance Lead performs the following key functions within the framework of the Alliance’s mandate:

Governance Frameworks and Risk Management:

• Serve as the Alliance’s focal point for governance processes, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with institutional policies and donor requirements.

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of internal guidelines, templates, tracking systems and workflow systems to promote structured, efficient, and compliant project execution.

• Oversee onboarding processes for staff and consultants, ensuring alignment with institutional frameworks and grant conditions.

• Identify and advance opportunities to streamline processes and reduce administrative burden while maintaining standards.

• Proactively assess systemic risks across the Alliance portfolio and coordinate the development of appropriate mitigation measures with relevant stakeholders.

• Ensure Alliance Operational documentation (Ops Manual, Internal Guidelines, etc..) is up-to-date and fit for purpose.

Grant Management and Donor Compliance:

• Oversee the coordination of donor reporting requirements (monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc), ensuring submissions are timely, accurate, and fully aligned with grant agreements, institutional policies, and relevant Forum institutional functions.

• Lead internal quality assurance processes for donor reporting requirements prior to submission.

• Serve as focal point for grant approval processes, ensuring appropriate internal documentation, review, and sign-off procedures are completed in accordance with institutional requirements.

• Lead the preparation and coordination of donor audits, including structured follow-up on management responses and agreed actions.

• Maintain constructive and proactive working relationships with donor counterparts on governance, reporting, and compliance matters.

• Work closely with the Forum Grants Management Department to ensure optimal coordination with Forum back-office support functions

Procurement, Contracting and Financial Controls:

• Guide Alliance teams in the early planning of procurement needs and the consistent application of approved templates and procedures.

• Provide support to procurement and contracting processes, ensuring full alignment with institutional policies, relevant Forum institutional functions, and donor requirements.

• Oversee consultant engagement processes, including maintenance of consultant rosters and contract tracking systems to ensure transparency and compliance.

• Coordinate invoice review and validation processes, ensuring alignment with contractual terms and grant requirements, in close collaboration with relevant Forum institutional functions.

Perform any other tasks required to support strong governance, risk management, and effective Alliance implementation.

Requirements and experience

• Advanced degree in economics, social sciences, statistics or related field.

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in project management and support to project implementation within an international organization or development context. Experience in trade facilitation, international trade economics, or international development is strongly preferred.

• Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to identify risks and propose pragmatic solutions.

• Experience supporting donor-funded programmes, ideally within multi-partner or hosted initiative structures.

• Experience working in matrixed environments with multiple implementing entities.

• Familiarity with grant management processes, donor reporting frameworks, and audit coordination is an asset.

• Exposure to procurement, contracting, or financial oversight processes within institutional frameworks is desirable.

• Knowledge of Airtable and Tableau software is an asset.

• Fluency in spoken and written English.

• Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to operate within tight deadlines.

Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!