Technical Officer, Country Office Support

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 a workforce of over 7,000 employees, WHO operates in more than 150 countries, working to improve health outcomes and ensure access to essential health services. The organization focuses on various health issues, including communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, health systems, and emergency response, among others. WHO collaborates with countries to strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest possible level of health.

Job Overview:
The Technical Officer, Country Office Support position is integral to the Division of Programme Management at WHO/Europe. This role is primarily focused on supporting strategic coordination and follow-up of WHO's country-level work in the Region. The officer will contribute to the effective delivery of the Country Office Support (COS) programme, which aims to strengthen the link between country offices, the Division of Programme Management (DPM), and senior leadership. The officer will work closely with WHO Representatives and Heads of Country Offices to ensure that sensitive political, operational, and programmatic issues are effectively analyzed and addressed. The position requires a proactive approach to engage with senior leadership on country priorities, ensuring that strategic decisions are informed by comprehensive country intelligence and operational insights. The officer will also play a key role in the onboarding of new WHO Representatives, ensuring they are well-versed in regional priorities and operational processes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the COS Team Lead in designing and implementing key areas of work, ensuring that sensitive political, operational, and programmatic issues from WHO country offices are analyzed and escalated appropriately.
• Assist the Team Lead in preparing for strategic engagements of senior leadership on country priorities, including organizing retreats, strategic briefings, and performance management processes.
• Oversee the updating and quality assurance of Pulse Sheets by WHO Representatives and Heads of Country Offices, ensuring they are effective tools for gathering country intelligence and tracking issues.
• Coordinate the technical induction and onboarding of new WHO Representatives and Heads of Country Offices, briefing them on regional priorities and operational processes.
• Collaborate with WHO Representatives to design and coordinate high-level visits to the Regional Office, ensuring alignment with country priorities.
• Contribute to routine tasks related to monitoring, analysis, and reporting on country-level work, including maintaining the Country Presence Portal.
• Perform any other assigned functions to support the overall objectives of the COS team.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include an advanced university degree at the Master's level in public health, international relations, health administration, public administration, social sciences, or a related field. Desirable qualifications include additional postgraduate training in global health, public policy, international relations, management, or a related field, as well as certifications or training in project management or public health policies. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of WHO's mandate and strategic frameworks, along with strong analytical, organizational, and project planning skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as is the ability to engage with high-level stakeholders in a politically sensitive environment.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree at the Master's level in a relevant field such as public health, international relations, health administration, public administration, or social sciences. Additional postgraduate training in global health, public policy, or related fields is desirable, as is certification in project management or public health policies.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health, international relations, country support, partnerships, or programme management. This experience should include supporting strategic coordination, senior-level engagement, and work with Member States and/or country offices. Familiarity with global health policies and WHO frameworks is also desirable.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of English is essential for this position, along with intermediate knowledge of Russian being desirable. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position offers a competitive salary starting at USD 86,027 annually, 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 is subject to WHO Staff Regulations and Rules, and candidates may be required to undergo a background verification 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.