Director, Governance, Languages, Communications and External Relations

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 has a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in 194 member states and has a workforce of over 7,000 employees across various countries. WHO's European Region (EURO) encompasses 53 countries and serves a population of over 880 million, focusing on addressing diverse health challenges and ensuring equitable access to health services.

Job Overview:
The Director of Governance, Languages, Communications and External Relations will lead the Regional Office's initiatives in external relations, communications, publications, language services, and governance. This role requires high-level strategic support, providing policy, managerial, and diplomatic advice to senior management. The incumbent will promote a culture of high performance and ethical behavior, ensuring that the organization adheres to its policies and procedures. The position involves building partnerships and facilitating effective coordination among WHO headquarters, Regional Office, and country offices, ensuring that countries receive optimal support. Additionally, the Director will oversee communication flows with other regions and WHO headquarters, contribute to regional coordination, and coordinate the technical secretariat for WHO governing body meetings.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the Regional Office's work in external relations, communications, publications, language services, and governance.
• Provide high-level strategic support and policy advice to senior management.
• Promote a culture of high performance and ethical behavior within the organization.
• Support the monitoring of the implementation of WHO's Global Policy Group decisions and strategic directions.
• Build partnerships and ensure effective coordination among WHO headquarters, Regional Office, and country offices.
• Oversee information flows with other regions and WHO headquarters.
• Contribute to WHO regional coordination and serve on EURO's Executive Council.
• Coordinate the technical secretariat for WHO governing body meetings and other senior management meetings.
• Interact with technical directors to ensure the implementation of policy decisions. 1
• Perform any other duties assigned by supervisors.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include an advanced university degree in public health, international relations, communications, social sciences, or business management. Desirable qualifications include training in public health-related issues. Candidates must possess strong leadership abilities, diplomatic skills, and the capacity to negotiate and engage in new partnerships. Excellent writing skills in English and the ability to develop messaging for an international organization are also required. A thorough understanding of public health and international development issues is essential, along with proven networking and interpersonal skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as public health, international relations, communications, social sciences, or business management. Additional training in public health-related issues is desirable, enhancing the candidate's ability to address the complexities of health systems and policies.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 15 years of national and international experience, including several years in a senior management position at the international level. Experience in developing countries is essential, along with extensive writing and communications experience. Familiarity with WHO rules and procedures, as well as experience in multipartner health program management and leadership, is also required. Desirable experience includes work in the political and/or diplomatic arena.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential for this position. Intermediate knowledge of French, German, and/or Russian is desirable, as it would enhance communication and collaboration in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
The position offers a competitive remuneration package, starting with an annual base salary of USD 117,953, along with a variable post adjustment reflecting the cost of living in Copenhagen. Additional benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. The organization emphasizes diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates may be required to provide proof of vaccination as part of the recruitment process, and WHO maintains a smoke-free environment.