Director (Environment, Climate Change, One Health, Migration)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The vision of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care (PPC) is to advance health for all by anticipating change and integrating promotion, prevention and care across all health and disease areas to address today's greatest health burdens and tomorrow's challenges​.Within PPC Division, the Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration (ECO) aims to reduce the global disease burden caused by unhealthy environments by igniting health-centric decisions in public policies, informing them with data, scientific evidence, norms & standards, and catalyzing support to protect the most vulnerable.
 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties:

• Lead the articulation of a clear departmental vision in coherence with organizational strategy and ensure its operationalization through robust departmental performance management practices that drive measurable results and enhance overall organizational effectiveness.
• Lead the Department in providing scientific, technical and policy expertise to Member States and other stakeholders with guidance and technical data required for the development, implementation, and monitoring of national and/or global policies and programmes.
• Provide the overall leadership, management accountability, and direction of the Department in delivering its objectives through managing and galvanizing a diverse workforce and financial resources to optimize the department's deliverables and mandate.
• Facilitate effective collaboration across HQ Departments and Divisions and with Regional and Country Offices to support coordinated programme delivery. 
• Promote the integration of Regional and Country Office perspectives and operational capacities into the Department's programme development and implementation.
• Provide strategic leadership to align priorities and strengthen cross-departmental and three-level collaboration, across the organization.
• Strengthen institutional coherence across HQ, regional, and country levels by enabling coordinated resource mobilization, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Provide senior level technical advice and expertise to EXM and DG, as appropriate in the assigned responsibilities, to position the Department and Organization as a leader in the respective area.
• As appropriate integrate technological, digital and scientific advances into the work of the Department to ensure timely availability of information to MS and ensure greater equity. 
• Anticipate scientific and technological advances by working with the MS, colleagues in WHO and the scientific community to prepare for the changing pattern of global health and ensure equitable and timely access to innovative public health and clinical interventions Direct and lead overall establishment and development of the Department's evidence based policies, strategies and WHO guidelines for roll-out and delivery for Regional and Country Office implementation. 
• Oversee the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the Department's area of work to develop key performance indicators and global reporting requirements and mechanisms to ensure optimal performance of the Department's deliverables.
• Serve as the scientific, technical and policy reference among UN Agencies and other key players in the respective areas.
• Builds strong partnerships and fosters consensus building with external partners, Member States, UN Agencies, Donors, cutting edge research institutions and other stakeholders in the subject area to politically position the technical area of work and implementation intonational and global policies.
• Leads and coordinate resource mobilization efforts that are designed to strengthen WHO's presence and impact at regional and country levels, ensuring that newly secured resources are strategically aligned with field organization wide priorities, operational needs and budgets.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties:

• Lead, direct and guide the implementation of strong scientific, evidence-based WHO Guidelines on Climate and Health, Migration, air quality, water safety, environmental health, and One Health. 
• Support countries in applying WHO environmental and climate-health guidelines, strengthening capacities for climate adaptation and mitigation. 
• Lead the monitoring of climate and health and environmental health indicators and climate impacts, including progress on SDG targets, through global databases and annual reporting. 
• Coordinate with UN agencies and partners to advance pollution control, and disease prevention for all conditions affected by climate change.
• Lead the establishment of early warning systems and emergency protocols for climate related health issues, extreme weather events, chemical incidents, and climate associated zoonotic threats. 
• Facilitate science, research and innovation on emerging climate and environmental health risks and climate-smart health infrastructure solutions.
• Streamline and enhance the quality of the Technical Products (TPs) from the Department Drive advocacy and resource mobilization to secure financing and political commitment for Climate and Health and the work of the Department, leveraging partnerships and donor engagement. 
• Represent the Organization and Department area of work in a diverse array of global fora including COP and other global convenings to position WHO as a leader in Climate and Health in the global health community.
   

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in public health, medicine, environmental sciences, climate science, epidemiology, or a related field.  Specialized training, additional qualifications and/or demonstrated extensive programme leadership experience in Climate and Health, Environmental Health, and/or One Health.
Desirable:  A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields
 

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health or a related field in senior leadership roles with responsibility for strategy and programme delivery, including managing complex, multidisciplinary programmes or organizational units, and large teams and financial resources. A minimum of 7 years leadership experience in climate change and/or environmental health, through explicitly documented roles involving: Programme leadership or management; and/or Policy or strategy development; and/or Technical advisory roles. Demonstrated experience at the international level working and collaborating with governments and a wide variety of partners, including other UN agencies, bilateral development agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.
Desirable: Demonstrated experience in multisectoral actions at multiple layers of government.
 

Skills

• Technical Advanced knowledge of climate change and health and environmental health, including their application to public health policy and programme contexts.
• Strong capacity to develop, interpret and apply policies, strategies and normative guidance related to climate, environment and health, including linkages with One Health and migration.
  Strategic and Programmatic 
• Ability to translate scientific evidence into policy, strategies and public health programmes, particularly in the context of climate change and environmental health.
• Ability to guide and oversee complex, multidisciplinary programmes addressing environmental and climate-related health risks, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and global public health needs.
  Systems and Evidence-Based Decision-Making 
• Ability to ensure the effective use of data, monitoring frameworks and health information systems to inform strategic planning, programme oversight and decision-making.
• Capacity to interpret complex scientific and technical information and integrate it into high-level policy and operational direction.
• Representation ability to articulate and represent scientific and technical positions in policy and intergovernmental discussions related to climate and health.
• Capacity to engage with multidisciplinary technical stakeholders across sectors to inform policy development and programme direction.
   

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• 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 French.

 

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 130,477 (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 9862 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

• Staff members who have been separated as a result of the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will be given special consideration.
• Special selection procedures may apply.
• 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.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

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

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. 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.

• 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 may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• 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 a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical 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.

• In case the website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click this link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates