OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
Unitaid plays a catalytic role in global health by accelerating the introduction and adoption of transformative health products. Its focus spans HIV and co-infections, tuberculosis, malaria, and womenâs and childrenâs health, with an expanded mandate to respond to global health emergencies and cross-cutting innovations to strengthen primary health care level. Unitaid also now plays a pioneering role in access to oxygen, regional production, and climate and health issues, thereby strengthening countries âs health system.
Unitaid creates systemic conditions for sustainable and equitable access and aims to foster inclusive and demand-driven partnerships for innovation. It designs and invests in innovative approaches to make quality health products available and affordable in low and middle-income countries. It promotes collective efforts with partners, countries, and communities, unlocking access to the tools, services, and care that can deliver the best results, improve health, and address global health priorities.
Unitaid acts as a pathfinder, investor, and influencer, aiming to scale 30 essential innovations by 2030 to accelerate progress toward global health goals.
In a context where global health is facing severe financial constraints, Unitaidâs role in access to innovation is more critical than ever as countries seek to find efficiencies and extract maximum value from investments in public health.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
1. Strategic Leadership & Governance
Implement the boardâs strategic vision and ensure alignment with the organizationâs mission and values.
Translate Unitaidâs strategy into actionable goals, preventing mission drift and maintaining focus.
Anticipate future challenges and opportunities, guiding the organization through change and innovation so that Unitaid can maintain and expand its role as a critical component of the global health response in a fast-changing environment.
Advise and support the Executive Board, providing timely updates, policy recommendations, and performance reports. Provide the Board with prioritized and informed investments options.
Safeguard organizational integrity, ensuring compliance with WHO legal, ethical rules and regulations and Unitaidâs governance standard.
2. People, Finance and Systems management
Team Leadership: Exercise authority, lead and inspire Unitaidâs staff resources. Cultivate a high-performing leadership team. Provide a positive and enabling work environment. Promote a values-driven culture, emphasizing transparency, equity, diversity and accountability.
Efficient operational management:
- Ensure that Unitaidâs organizational structure, operational policies and other operating processes are sound and able effectively to deliver on the strategic objectives defined by the Executive Board
- Manage day-to-day operations, including grant oversight, and secure optimum allocation and use of resources.
- Monitor the performance and the risk management frameworks and drive adjustment as needed.
- Ensure the overall transparent and effective financial and administrative functionality of Unitaid.
3. Stakeholdersâ engagement
Inclusive and effective Partnerships:
- Facilitates successful working relationships with WHO.
- Build and maintain effective alliances and operational collaboration with partners, such as governments of implementing countries, global health institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society actors, and communities affected by the diseases.
- Ensure that the perspectives of affected countries, communities, and individuals are meaningfully integrated into strategic planning and investments.
- Develop and nurture strong, trust-based relationships with donors and board members, ensuring timely, transparent communication on strategic priorities, impact, and opportunities.
Representation of a compelling organizational identity
- Define and communicate a compelling organizational identity that reflects core values, mission, and comparative advantage of Unitaid as investor, pathfinder and influencer.
- Consolidate Unitaid's position as a unique and essential component of the global health response.
- Represent Unitaid in high level global forums.
- Lead advocacy and communications, ensuring clear and consistent messaging as well as good visibility.
4. Resource Mobilization
Develop and implement a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy aligned with organizational priorities and donor landscapes.
Cultivate and sustain high-level funding partnerships with governments, philanthropic institutions, private sector actors and multilateral agencies.
Leverage innovative financing mechanisms to expand impact, including blended finance, catalytic investments, and results-based funding.
Ensure strategic alignment between fundraising efforts, programmatic goals, and financial sustainability.
Champion the organizationâs value proposition, tailoring pitches and proposals to diverse audiences and funding modalities.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: A post-graduate degree (Master's level or above) in health sciences or public health or economics or business management or public administration or international development or a relevant topic in social / natural sciences.
Experience
Essential:
15 years of relevant experience including 10 years' experience at senior and/or executive management position.
Experience in providing leadership and strategic management (planning and implementation) in a complex environment
Experience in working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Experience in working in global settings, networking and collaborating with global partners.
Experience in working on public health or access to health products or international development.
Experience in engaging with developing countries.
Experience in engaging with the highest levels of representatives from governments, private sector as well as multilateral, and non-profit organizations
Desirable:
Operational experience leading a country or regional program
Experience in resource mobilization and communication.
Experience in both the public and private sectors.
In-depth understanding of market shaping issues and interventions.
Understanding of regional production issues.
Skills
Demonstrated leadership, team management and empowerment skills in international and multicultural setting with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Ability to link empathetic leadership and effectiveness.
Excellent interpersonal and communications skill.
Demonstrated ability to deliver results.
Demonstrated negotiation skills and political acumen. Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency and diplomacy
Proven ability to shape, develop, manage and scale strong partnerships, alliances and ventures
Strong strategic thinking.
Strong mission focus.
WHO Competencies
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Use of Language Skills
Essential:
Expert knowledge of English
Basic knowledge of French
Desirable:
-
Intermediate knowledge of French, Spanish or Portuguese.
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 9749 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
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.
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 accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to 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.
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As a WHO staff member assigned solely and exclusively to support this Partnership, selected staff will have no right of reassignment or transfer outside the Partnership either during or at the end of his/her appointment, including pursuant to WHO Staff Rule 1050. (This does not apply to WHO fixed-term staff members reassigned from a non-Partnership position.)
- UNITAID is a partnership hosted and administered by WHO, located outside WHO premises in Le Pommier, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex.