OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Director-General’s Office (DGO) provides support to the Director-General in directing the work of the Organization within the framework of WHO’s Constitution, so as to maximize the Organization-wide contribution to the work of Member States in achieving significant gains in health status, and progressively realizing the objective of the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Preparation of Director-General briefings: Working with Director ODG and other DGO staff, WHO technical departments across the Organization to consolidate and synthesize, and if necessary develop, coherent, strategic and quality briefing notes addressing critical issues, which are aligned across the Organization, for the Director-General’s participation in internal and external meetings and events, and for his/her travel;
2. Contribute to the updating of Director-General’s OneDrive: Ensures advance readiness of relevant briefings, and background papers for Director-Generals meetings and events;
3. Support Director-General’s meetings: Upon request and working with the Office of the Director-General, may attend Director-General’s meetings and engagements to provide support, document main deliberations and recommendations and action items, prepare notes for the record and rapidly disseminate the notes for the record to relevant individuals and units;
4. Share action points: Disseminates action items from Director-General’s meetings and engagements to the responsible person(s) and units for follow-up;
5. Follow-up on actions points: Monitor and review implementation progress of the action items and provide systematic periodic reporting on progress in implementation to the Director ODG;
6. Communication: Contributes to effective information exchange with internal and external partners,
7. Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• Advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in public health, law, international affairs, business administration/management, or policy-related field relevant to the position.
  

Desirable:

• An additional advanced degree in another relevant scientific, management or policy-related field.

Experience

Essential:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in health administration.
• Demonstrated exposure at the international level.
  

Desirable:

• Experience working in a United Nations or multilateral agency and/or international health management.
• Experience in the development and use of office management systems including action tracking databases.
• Experience working in an executive office.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to plan and provide operational support for meetings and travel;
• Concrete skills in project management;
• Excellent written and oral skills, including in preparing notes for the record and talking points;
• Ability to anticipate risks and problems and take preventive and remedial action as required;
• Proven ability to lead and deliver on deadlines during periods of intense stress and activity;
• Demonstrated ability to provide independent leadership in such periods with capacity to organize, monitor and synthesize information quickly and concisely;
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
  

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of French.
• Intermediate knowledge of other WHO language.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 5967 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodation to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

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