Unit Head, Global Health Cluster

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 ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health, focusing on health systems strengthening, disease prevention, and response to health emergencies.

Job Overview:
The Unit Head for the Global Health Cluster will play a pivotal role in the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, which is dedicated to safeguarding global health security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. This position involves providing technical leadership and managerial support within the department, ensuring that health emergency activities are executed efficiently and effectively. The Unit Head will develop and propose health policies and strategies, oversee technical teams, manage financial resources, and lead research initiatives to enhance the capacity of health systems in response to emergencies. The role requires collaboration with regional and country offices and various stakeholders to optimize the delivery of health services during crises. The Unit Head will also represent the program at meetings, advocating for health needs and influencing policy and practice.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Unit Head include:

• Providing technical leadership and coordination within the Global Health Cluster.
• Developing and proposing health policies and strategies in collaboration with regional and country offices.
• Overseeing a unit of technical teams and facilitating synergies among them.
• Managing the program area to deliver objectives efficiently, including managing a small team and financial resources.
• Conducting research on best practices and disseminating information for capacity building.
• Monitoring and evaluating key performance indicators and reporting requirements.
• Serving as a technical reference for UN agencies and stakeholders.
• Liaising with partners to develop and implement monitoring and evaluation methods.
• Advocating for health needs at various meetings and promoting inter-cluster collaboration. 1
• Tracking surge capacity and assessing global response needs and gaps.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced level university degree (Master’s level) in a clinical discipline, public health, disaster management, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have concrete skills in planning and coordinating multidisciplinary public health programs, developing policies and strategies, managing diverse teams, and mobilizing resources. Strong communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with external partners are essential. Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to collaboration with key partners in the health sector.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced level university degree (Master’s level) in a relevant field such as clinical discipline, public health, or disaster management. A degree or training in development, humanitarian, or international studies is desirable but not mandatory.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in managing emergency or humanitarian operations, particularly in health policies and strategies. Experience in managing human and financial resources, as well as interagency collaboration, is essential. Demonstrated experience at the international level is also required. Desirable experience includes working with WHO, UN, or humanitarian organizations, as well as team leadership and management.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential for this position. Intermediate knowledge of French and other WHO languages is desirable, which would enhance communication and collaboration in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
The position offers a competitive remuneration package, including an annual base salary starting at USD 103,165, with additional benefits such as 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates should be aware that mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO, and appointments are subject to WHO Staff Regulations and Rules. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and all candidates will undergo background verification.