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

Lead the Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration to advance health by integrating promotion, prevention and care across health and disease areas. Provide strategic leadership, scientific and policy expertise to Member States and stakeholders, and oversee programme delivery and resource mobilization in the areas of climate and environmental health.

Responsibilities

• Lead the articulation of a clear departmental vision in coherence with organizational strategy and ensure its operationalization through robust departmental performance management practices.
• Provide scientific, technical and policy expertise to Member States and other stakeholders for development, implementation, and monitoring of national and/or global policies and programmes.
• Provide overall leadership, management accountability, and direction of the Department in delivering its objectives through managing workforce and financial resources.
• Facilitate effective collaboration across HQ Departments and Divisions and with Regional and Country Offices to support coordinated programme delivery.
• Promote integration of Regional and Country Office perspectives and operational capacities into programme development and implementation.
• Provide strategic leadership to align priorities and strengthen cross-departmental and three-level collaboration.
• 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 to position the Department and Organization as a leader in the respective area.
• Integrate technological, digital and scientific advances into the work of the Department to ensure timely availability of information and greater equity.
• Anticipate scientific and technological advances to prepare for changing global health patterns and ensure equitable access to innovative interventions.
• Direct and lead establishment and development of evidence based policies, strategies and WHO guidelines for roll-out and delivery.
• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the Department's work to develop key performance indicators and global reporting mechanisms.
• Serve as scientific, technical and policy reference among UN Agencies and other key players.
• Build strong partnerships and foster consensus building with external partners, Member States, UN Agencies, Donors, research institutions and other stakeholders.
• Lead and coordinate resource mobilization efforts to strengthen WHO's presence and impact at regional and country levels.
• Lead, direct and guide implementation of 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 and strengthening capacities for climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Lead monitoring of climate and health indicators and climate impacts through global databases and annual reporting.
• Coordinate with UN agencies and partners to advance pollution control and disease prevention related to climate change.
• Lead establishment of early warning systems and emergency protocols for climate related health issues and threats.
• Facilitate science, research and innovation on emerging climate and environmental health risks and climate-smart health infrastructure solutions.
• Streamline and enhance quality of Technical Products from the Department.
• Drive advocacy and resource mobilization to secure financing and political commitment for Climate and Health.
• Represent the Organization and Department in global fora including COP and other convenings to position WHO as a leader in Climate and Health.

Requirements

• 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.
• A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields (desirable).
• 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; 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.
• Demonstrated experience in multisectoral actions at multiple layers of government (desirable).
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French (desirable).

Skills

• Programme Leadership
• Climate Change Policy
• Environmental Health
• One Health
• Public Health Policy Development
• Strategy Development
• Multidisciplinary Programme Management
• Financial Resource Management
• International Collaboration
• Policy Interpretation
• Scientific Evidence Translation
• Health Information Systems
• Monitoring Frameworks
• Technical Advisory
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Intergovernmental Negotiations
• Resource Mobilization
• Multisectoral Action
• Scientific Communication
• Environmental Sciences
• Epidemiology

Languages

English, French