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Senior Policy Lead

Geneva

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Senior level - P-6, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Political Affairs
    • Legal - Broad
    • Managerial positions
    • HQ/ODG Office of the Director-General
  • Closing Date: Closed

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

In line with GPW13's focus on strategic shifts, the DG's Envoy advocates for health at the highest political level. The DG's Envoy supported with her/his department - distinct from day-to-day External Relations operations and directly reporting to DG - lifts WHO's profile, leads negotiations in multilateral and intergovernmental settings. The DG's Envoy ensures high-level representation on behalf of the DG, and an assertive united voice and effective brokering of deals on behalf of the Organization and provides political and diplomatic leadership for key strategic initiatives (e.g. WHO Academy).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following responsibilities\:

- Serve as a key senior strategic advisor to the DG Envoy, contributing to high-level planning and decision-making on engagements strategies, policy development, and operations management.

- Make recommendations regarding solutions, modifications, improvements and alternative actions in response to existing problems, and proactively advise the DG Envoy on building and maintaining a working environment in which staff can best execute their work plans.

- Represent and speak on behalf of the DG Envoy at internal and external meetings, carrying forward the priorities of the DG Envoy Office at all-three levels of the Organization (country, regional and headquarters).

- Engage in coalition building in support of the DG Envoy Office's goals and objectives.

- Facilitate feedback from the DG Envoy and support the needs of staff and other stakeholders in their ability to raise critical issues with the DG Envoy and receive needed responses, guidance and decisions, coordinate and manage specific projects, deliverables, tasks and commitments related to the work of the Office and/or directly involving the DG Envoy, his/her direct reports, key stakeholders and partners that meet the Office's objectives.

- Recommend changes or independently make adjustments as appropriate to facilitate successful execution of engagements and mitigation of risks.

- Perform a variety of frequently unrelated and specialized tasks of a confidential nature for the purpose of relieving the DG Envoy of detail in connection with various matters with which she/he is personally concerned, acting as a liaison when appropriate with key officials within the Organization, advising them of the DG Envoy viewpoints on matters under consideration, clarifying instruction as well as ascertaining progress and expediting the completion of assignments. Succinctly brief, written and oral, the DG Envoy and other senior leadership, including the Director-General, within the Organization on key issues and priority projects.

- Develop communications on behalf of the DG Envoy and provide clearance on any communications drafted by others that will be disseminated under the DG Envoy's name. This position will also include influencing high-level political agenda to give due attention to global health, increasing the visibility of WHO in political forums and ensure the promotion of WHO global policies in high-level forums.

- Lead negotiations by managing the engagement of a portfolio of global multilateral forums including global IGOs, G7, G20, BRICS, UN which will result in promoting up-to-date health guidance.

- Coordinate the DG and/or DG's Envoy's participation at various high-level conferences and multilateral summits.

- Represent the DG Envoy on the delivery of GPW13's strategic initiatives to advocate for health at the highest political level.

- Foster and strengthen relationships and dialogue with Member States, high level partners and other stakeholders.

- Oversee department team members work as necessary in positioning WHO's response on global development and health and increase the visibility of WHO through establishing strong advocacy initiatives.

- Provide policy advice and guidance across the three levels of the Organization to ensure coherent engagement with external partners, the public and governments in line with WHO priorities. Given the corporate nature of the work, internal consultation and information sharing across the three levels of the Organization is essential. This work requires strong collaboration with high-level external stakeholders and partners.

The incumbent's day-to-day work will entail engaging with high-level representatives of partner institutions and Member States and entails a high degree of independent action and decision-making and excellent diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills.

He/she will keep abreast of political developments within a range of Member States and constituencies.

He/she will decide when consultations and specific decision-making of authority needs to be obtained, as well as being overall in charge of major multilateral meetings.

In all engagements due care should be given to protect and strengthen the organizations reputation.

- Perform all other related duties as assigned by DG Envoy for Multilateral Affairs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: An advanced level university degree in development studies, international relations, health, economics, social sciences, or related field.
Desirable\:

Experience

Essential\:

A minimum of 15 years combined experience working in international relations, development and/or global health. Demonstrated experience in developing global health polices/strategies and providing advice to decision makers on such policies. Demonstrated experience in working with the UN system and multilateral fora. Demonstrated experience negotiating with high-level governmental and nongovernmental partners on global health policies. Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder processes. Experience in coordinating and supporting of large meetings and committees at the international and national levels.


Desirable\: Project management experience. Experience in diplomatic negotiations.

Skills

Extensive knowledge in the fields of international relations, development and global health.

High level skills in effective oral and written communication.

Strong analytical skills.

Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills as well as strong negotiation skills with high-level governmental and nongovernmental partners.

Effective working relations with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. Personal attributes include integrity, tact and discretion.

Ability to plan and coordinate large-scale meetings.

High level of judgement responsibility and initiative.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish)

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 99,595 (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 6341 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 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.
  • 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.
  • WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link\: http\://www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.
  • Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
This vacancy is now closed.
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