WHO Regional Emergency Director

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. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO aims to achieve universal health coverage, protect against health emergencies, and promote healthier populations globally.

Job Overview:
The position of WHO Regional Emergency Director is pivotal in providing technical and managerial leadership to enhance the capacity of countries in preparing for health emergencies. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring that countries can rapidly detect and respond to health emergencies, preventing epidemics and pandemics, and ensuring operational readiness to assess and manage health risks and vulnerabilities. This role involves close collaboration with Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) and Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPC) Clusters, ensuring that emergency preparedness and response are integrated into health systems. The Director will oversee WHO's management and coordination of health responses during outbreaks and emergencies, including acute humanitarian crises and protracted emergencies, contributing to the overall health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security and universal health coverage in the WHO African Region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will perform a variety of duties, including advising the Regional Director on strategic and technical matters related to health emergency preparedness, leading staff development and training, and ensuring high performance and ethical behavior within the team. They will develop evidence-based policies and strategies for health emergency preparedness, provide guidance to WHO Country Offices, oversee outbreaks and emergencies through the Incident Management System, and facilitate collaboration with other clusters and external partners. The Director will also drive resource mobilization efforts, coordinate the development and implementation of work plans, identify research needs, monitor health emergency trends, and document evidence for policy actions. Additionally, the incumbent will perform any other duties assigned by the Regional Director or Executive Director.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess extensive knowledge of policies and strategies for managing public health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks. They should have familiarity with WHO's operations and the ability to exercise leadership at national and international levels. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential, along with proven abilities in planning, executing, and managing large health programs. Candidates should also demonstrate the ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and possess strong managerial competencies.

Educational Background:
The essential educational qualifications include a medical degree and a postgraduate degree in Public Health or a related field. Desirable qualifications may include specialized training in epidemiology or emergency/humanitarian response, as well as training in leadership or management.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 15 years of national and international experience in managing and planning health security and emergency response efforts. This includes at least 3 years in a senior management role with responsibilities for human resources and finance. Proven experience in policy and strategy development and coordinating large-scale health projects or pandemics is required, along with relevant experience in UN inter-agency mechanisms for health emergency preparedness and response.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is required, with intermediate knowledge of French being desirable, or vice versa. Proficiency in both languages is advantageous for effective communication in this role.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified under the Professional category with a starting annual base salary of USD 117,953, subject to deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. Additional benefits include 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 WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates must confirm vaccination status as required by WHO before undertaking assignments.