Communications and Outreach Officer

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):

Job Category:

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.

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 extra-budgetary trust funds. The duration will differ depending on the relevant trust fund, subject to availability of funds and incumbent's level of performance.

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Communications and Outreach Officer to work in the Secretariat of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), housed in the Agriculture and Commodities Division. The STDF is a global partnership that promotes improved food safety, animal and plant health in developing countries. This helps imports and exports to meet sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for trade, based on international standards.

The contract duration is one year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and the incumbent's level of performance.

General Functions

Under the supervision and guidance of the Head of the STDF, and/or a senior officer in the STDF section, and in close collaboration with the STDF Communications and Operations Coordinator, other STDF Secretariat staff, consultants and external partners, the Communications and Outreach Officer will actively support the development and implementation of the STDF's communications plan, promote STDF's profile and visibility among relevant audiences, and strengthen outreach and partnerships in support of the STDF's Theory of Change and the STDF Strategy for 2025-2030. This will involve the following functions:

Design and implement communications and outreach plans for the STDF, including drafting high-quality, compelling and engaging stories and other content (e.g. e-newsletters, project stories, briefing notes, blogs, presentations, press releases, etc.) for the STDF website and other communications channels.

Provide advice and hands-on support to the STDF Secretariat team and other relevant stakeholders to guide, support and strengthen communications and outreach for STDF grants, knowledge work and events.

Expand STDF's social media presence through the generation of high-quality and compelling content (e.g. text, photos, videos and audio) for use across the STDF's website and social media channels.

Assist in the preparation of STDF's Annual Report, work plans and other key documents. 

Support building and maintaining relationships with STDF partners, donors and other relevant stakeholders to disseminate information on the STDF's work across their networks, increase uptake of STDF good practices, knowledge and innovations, and support partnerships.

Collect qualitative and quantitative data to monitor and report on the use and reach of STDF communication, knowledge and information products, and identify ways to improve STDF's visibility and reach.

Perform any other tasks that may be assigned as part of the STDF's work.

In carrying out his/her responsibilities above, the Communications and Outreach Officer will be expected to work closely with staff in the STDF and WTO Secretariat, other STDF founding partners (i.e. the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank Group, including the Secretariats of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Plant Protection Convention), as well as other relevant regional and international organizations, donors and public and private sector stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Master's degree in journalism, communications, public policy, political sciences, international relations or a related discipline.

Knowledge and Skills:

Technical knowledge and skills:

Excellent writing and oral communication skills including an ability to understand, synthesize and communicate technical topics in a user-friendly way, demonstrated by strong experience in the preparation of a range of different high-quality and polished written materials in English, as well as an ability to communicate effectively and clearly to different audiences on the STDF's work. 

Ability to create and edit digital content, including graphics, short videos and presentations, and to moderate content on online platforms and groups (e.g. LinkedIn).

Knowledge of, and experience using, analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to track reach, engagement and usage metrics.

Understanding of trade and development issues and the institutional dynamics with key actors involved in, and/or benfiiting from, STDF's work (e.g. international organizations, governments, private sector, etc.).

Ability to engage and work collaboratively with others to successfully deliver different types of communication products using diverse media.   

Behavioural skils:

Excellent interpersonal capabilities including: capability to communicate complex abstract ideas to a diverse audience and understand ideas when communicated by others; capability to make compelling presentations on a variety of subjects to a wider variety of audiences; capability to work as a member of a team, relating to others, while working independently to achieve his/her objectives; capability to persuade others to a point of view using facts; and capability to initiate and build relationships with a variety of people both inside and outside the organization.

Highly motivated, proactive and accountable.

Excellent organizational skills including eye for detail.

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced office environment, both independently and as part of a

global team across time zones.

Organizational Competencies:

Core Competencies:

• Communicating for Results
• Effective Collaboration
• Cultivating Progressive Growth
• Professional Accountability
• Relevant Digital Proficiency
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Work Experience:

At least two years of relevant work experience in communications, including experience with different communications media and channels (online tools and social media) and experience working with stakeholders in developing countries on trade or development.

Languages:

Fluency in English, including the ability to draft accurately, concisely and rapidly for diverse audiences.

Knowledge of a second WTO working language (French or Spanish) would be an advantage.