Director (Office of the Director-General)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Office of the Director-General provides global direction to the work of the Organization within the overall framework of WHO’s Constitution, so as to maximize Organization-wide contribution to the work of Member States in achieving significant gains in health status.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Leads and manages the team preparing the Director-General’s agenda for internal and external meetings, ensuring that the Director-General is adequately prepared through astute monitoring, analysis, interpretation and summary of trends and developments on political, UN- related, global and health-related issues and developments.
2. Mobilizes expertise from across the Organization to provide appropriate input to strategic priorities of the Director-General.
3. Provides advice to the Chef de Cabinet on documents, policies, guidance, press releases, Governing Bodies documents, and other documents submitted to the Director-General.
4. Advises the Chef de Cabinet on the priorities of activities within the division, as well as identification and allocation of required resources (both financial and human resources) based on the priorities.
5. Represents the Organization and advocates for the Organization’s mandate as requested.
6. Facilitates discussions among stakeholders such as representatives of member states, senior government officials, major donors, senior officials of other UN agencies.
7. Supervises the creation of, coordinates and provides oversight for the registry of the Director-General for all incoming and outgoing correspondence.
8. Serve as the primary point of contact for Geneva-based missions, managing meeting requests and related correspondence on behalf of the Director-General.
9. Collaborate with external partners to organize travel and events, including liaising with capitals for state visits and coordinating other high-level visits and events.
10. Supervises and manages the team in charge of the Director-General’s travel.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in public health, social sciences or political science or in a discipline related to the functions of the position.
Desirable: A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in health management and diplomacy, including experience providing senior level advice and guidance to leadership/decision makers, leading diverse teams, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in developing and establishing policies and strategies. A minimum of 5 years at levels of senior managerial and/or political responsibility at international level. Experience in working across diverse groups of stakeholders, including diplomatic missions, UN, other multilateral and bilateral agencies.
Desirable: –

Skills

1. Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.
2. Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.
3. Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.
4. Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners and media.
5. Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners.
6. High degree of confidentiality, tact and diplomacy.
7. Excellent communication skills.
8. Extensive knowledge of the institutional memory and dynamics of WHO.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Driving the Organization to a Successful Future
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 117,280 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 9314 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

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