Officer Intellectual property and legal issues

Scope
The officer will have substantive and organisational responsibilities in support of EFTA’s engagement with partner countries outside the European Union. Her/his specific area of responsibility will centre on issues pertaining to the area of legal and institutional issues including dispute settlement, trade remedies and competition in EFTA free trade agreements and extends to a range of other trade policy questions, e.g. the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) or other fields covered by EFTA’s comprehensive free trade agreements. The position will also include country desk responsibilities (coordination of EFTA’s preferential trade relations with several partner countries).

Qualifications
• University degree or equivalent, preferably with a specialisation in international legal and/or economic issues and/or IPR;
• Knowledge of relevant international agreements and organisations, such as  WTO and EFTA would be an asset.

Experience
• Expertise in the field of international trade policy and rules, with sound knowledge of relevant international legal frameworks, in particular of the WTO;
• Specific know-how in relation to questions of legal and institutional issues and IPR in trade agreements would be an asset;
• Relevant work experience in a national administration, international organisation, and/or related research or private sector activity.

Skills
• Service-mindedness and tact;
• Very good communication and negotiation skills;
• Readiness to cooperate closely in an international team;
• Ability to work under time pressure and to meet deadlines;
• Strong organisational skills and self-reliance;
• Open-mindedness and flexibility, including availability for frequent international travel.

Languages
• Excellent oral and written command of English (EFTA language);
• Knowledge of French, and possibly other work-related languages, would be an asset.

Employment Terms
Grade: A4
Annual salary: CHF 160,374

Appointments are made at the first step of the grade. The Secretary-General reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level different from that advertised. Through its recruitment policy, the EFTA Secretariat wants to ensure diversity in terms of gender, age and culture.

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.

Applications must be nationals of one of the EFTA Member States.

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

Deadline for applications: 17 February 2019.