Director of Health Workforce Development

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees across more than 150 countries, WHO operates in various regions to address global health challenges and improve health systems worldwide. The organization focuses on ensuring that everyone has access to competent health workers and sustainable health systems, contributing to a healthier future for all.

Job Overview:
The Director of Health Workforce Development will lead the Department in providing strategic, technical, and operational leadership across health workforce development, particularly in nursing and midwifery. This role involves formulating and steering evidence-based global policies and strategies to strengthen national health workforce planning, education, regulation, and retention systems. The Director will ensure that nurses and midwives are recognized as critical enablers of Universal Health Coverage and health emergency preparedness. The position requires overall leadership and management accountability to achieve the Department's objectives, managing a diverse workforce and financial resources effectively. The Director will also scale competency-based education and digital learning innovations through the WHO Academy platform, ensuring alignment with national health goals and contributing to WHO's corporate digital transformation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Director will be responsible for leading the Department in various capacities, including:

• Providing strategic leadership in health workforce development, including nursing and midwifery.
• Formulating global policies and strategies for health workforce planning and education.
• Managing and directing a diverse workforce and financial resources to meet departmental objectives.
• Scaling competency-based education and digital learning innovations.
• Ensuring effective functioning of learning systems and contributing to WHO's digital transformation.
• Providing senior-level technical advice to WHO leadership.
• Championing the visibility and contribution of nursing and midwifery professions.
• Establishing evidence-based policies for Regional and Country Offices.
• Overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and reporting mechanisms. 1
• Building partnerships with Member States, UN agencies, and academic institutions. 1
• Promoting policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement. 1
• Representing WHO in global forums. 1
• Managing a multidisciplinary team and resource mobilization efforts. 1
• Developing innovative training programmes for health professionals. 1
• Collaborating with academic institutions to ensure curriculum standards. 1
• Integrating digital health solutions into training programmes. 1
• Monitoring and evaluating training programme impacts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in medicine, nursing, public health, health education, or a related field. A PhD in one of these fields is desirable, along with additional qualifications in education and health workforce development. Candidates should have advanced knowledge of innovative educational methodologies and technologies, strong skills in policy development, and excellent team management abilities. They must also demonstrate a strong understanding of resource mobilization and the ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders.

Educational Background:
The essential educational requirement for this position is an advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in a relevant field such as medicine, nursing, public health, or health education. A PhD in one of these areas is considered desirable, as well as additional qualifications related to education and health workforce development.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of 15 years of professional experience in managing health workers, including medical doctors, midwives, nurses, and community health workers. They should have experience providing leadership and guidance to senior management, managing human and financial resources, and developing policies and strategies at an international level. Desirable experience includes developing training programmes for health professionals, collaborating with academic institutions, and integrating digital health solutions into educational programmes.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential for this position. Intermediate knowledge of French is desirable, as well as intermediate knowledge of other UN languages, which would be beneficial for effective communication in a diverse work environment.

Additional Notes:
The remuneration for this position starts at an annual base salary of USD 128,422, with additional benefits including a variable post adjustment reflecting the cost of living, 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. The position may involve special selection procedures for candidates separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test or video assessment may be part of the screening process. WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. The organization also emphasizes the importance of ethical standards and integrity in its workforce.