Director, WHO Academy

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The strategic objective of the reconfigured WHO Academy integrating Health Workforce, and Nursing programme is to ensure everyone has access to competent, motivated health and care workers enabled by investments in decent jobs and working conditions, high-quality, innovative, and sustainable learning systems, and supported by an empowered WHO workforce - accelerating progress toward equitable, resilient and gender-responsive health systems contributing to a healthier and fairer future for all.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties:

• Lead the Department in providing strategic, technical, and operational leadership across health workforce development, including nursing and midwifery, and lifelong learning.

• Formulate and steer evidence-based global policies and strategies to strengthen national health workforce planning, education, regulation, and retention systems, ensuring that nurses and midwives are recognized and supported as critical enablers of Universal Health Coverage and health emergency preparedness and response.

• Provide overall leadership, management accountability, and direction to ensure delivery of the Department's objectives by managing and galvanizing a diverse workforce and financial resources.

• Scale competency-based education and digital learning innovations through the WHO Academy platform, strengthen accreditation standards, promote health worker certification models, and align learning pathways with national health goals.

• Ensure the effective functioning of learning systems and advance the Department's contribution to WHO's corporate digital transformation.

• 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.

• Provide senior level technical advice and expertise to Senior Management to position the Department and Organization as a leader in health workforce, including nursing and midwifery, and lifelong learning.

• Champion the global visibility and contribution of nursing and midwifery professions by leading normative work, professional advancement, regulation, and leadership capacity building.

• Direct and lead the establishment and development of evidence-based policies and strategies for roll out and delivery across Regional and Country Offices.

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and global reporting to ensure alignment with key performance indicators and Sustainable Development Goals.

• Coordinate global workforce intelligence and reporting mechanisms, including the State of the World's Health Workforce and Nursing reports.

• Oversee building and maintaining strong partnerships and fostering consensus with Member States, UN agencies, donors, academic institutions, and global initiatives such as the Global Health Workforce Network.

• Promote policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement across sectors to position the health workforce, including nursing and midwifery, as a central component of resilient health systems.

• Represent the Organization in global fora to advocate investment in workforce competencies and learning systems.

• Serve as a scientific and technical reference among UN Agencies and key stakeholders in the health workforce and nursing.

• Promote integration of Regional and Country Office perspectives and operational capacities into the Department's programmes.

• Manage a diverse multidisciplinary team, fostering a results-oriented, inclusive culture, and ensure efficient use of resources.

• Lead 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.

• Provide senior-level advice to WHO leadership supporting coherent implementation of health workforce and education priorities across the Organization.

• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Specific duties:

• Develop and implement innovative training programmes based at the WHO Academy with career long learning for health professionals, focusing on leadership, clinical skills, and public health.

• Collaborate with academic institutions and professional bodies to ensure the curriculum meets global standards and addresses emerging health challenges.

• Lead initiatives to integrate digital health solutions and e-learning platforms into the training programmes.

• Enhance the enablement of digital technology and AI in training programmes and the development of the Health Care Workforce to improve healthcare quality.

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of training programmes on health workforce performance and patient outcomes.

• Contribute to the raising of Voluntary Contributions for work that is directly related to the WHO's Core Mandates, the agreed strategic direction and focused areas of work.

• Coordinate with high-level representatives from the hosting country and supporting countries for WHO Academy and Health Workforce to ensure active engagement and continuous support.
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree (Masters level or above) in medicine, nursing, public health, health education, or a related field.
Desirable:

• A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

• Additional qualifications and experience in education and health workforce development.
  

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in managing groups of health workers, including medical doctors, midwives, nurses and community health workers.

• Experience providing leadership, advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area of developing and establishing policies and strategies.

• Demonstrated experience at the international level.

Desirable:

• Experience in developing and implementing training programmes for health professionals.

• Experience in collaborating with academic institutions and professional bodies.

• Experience in integrating digital health solutions into educational programmes.

• Experience in developing guidance for health workforce management.
  

Skills

• Advanced knowledge and provision of innovative educational methodologies and technologies.

• Strong skills in the area of developing and establishing polices and strategies.

• Excellent skills and ability in managing diverse teams and financial resources.

• Strong understanding and skills in mobilizing resources.

• Ability to engage, build consensus and communicate effectively and diplomatically with Member States, partners and media.

• Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in WHO Academy and Health workforce professional and other Health Subject area.

• Globally respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in health workforce professionals, including nursing, development and training.

• Proven leadership skills in the planning and coordination of multidisciplinary public health programmes, which may include the implementation of public health/disease control programmes.

• In-depth expertise in health workforce planning, development and forecasting with a perspective on the enablement of innovative technologies in service delivery.
  

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.

• Intermediate knowledge of other UN 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 128,422 (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 5758 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 eManual.

• 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.

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