Regional Emergency Director

Organizational Context

The World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) aims to build Member State capacity for managing health risks and to lead international responses to outbreaks and emergencies. This programme integrates WHO's operational, technical, and normative capacities across the emergency management cycle, operating within the broader humanitarian architecture to support affected populations and strengthen national capabilities.

Job Purpose

The Regional Emergency Director will lead the Department in providing critical technical expertise and guidance to Member States and stakeholders for the development, implementation, and monitoring of national and global health emergency policies and programmes. This role involves providing overall leadership and management accountability for the Department's objectives, ensuring efficient resource utilization and optimal delivery of mandates. The Director will offer senior-level technical advice to WHO management, positioning the Department and the Organization as leaders in health emergencies. Key responsibilities include directing policy development, overseeing monitoring and evaluation, serving as a technical reference point, fostering partnerships, and ensuring effective response to health emergencies.

Responsibilities

Lead the Department in providing technical expertise and guidance to Member States and stakeholders for policy and programme development, implementation, and monitoring. Provide overall leadership, management, and accountability for the Department's objectives, optimizing workforce and financial resources. Offer senior-level technical advice to management to establish the Department and Organization as leaders in health emergencies. Direct the development of evidence-based policies and strategies for regional and country office implementation. Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to ensure optimal performance and adherence to global requirements. Act as a scientific and technical reference among UN agencies and key partners. Promote the integration of regional and country office perspectives into the Department's work. Build strong partnerships and consensus with external stakeholders to influence national and global policies. Supervise risk assessments and preparedness capacity evaluations. Provide guidance on health emergency plans and oversee response to outbreaks and emergencies, including supervision of Incident Managers. Support WHO country offices in emergency detection and response readiness. Represent the Organization and Department in regional forums to enhance WHO's leadership in the regional health community.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in managing health security, emergency response, surveillance, disease control, or public health programmes is required. This includes at least 10 years of international experience, experience in providing senior-level advice to management, and experience in managing human and financial resources, as well as policy and strategy development. Experience with WHO/UN agencies or humanitarian organizations, and field experience in developing countries, is desirable.

Skills

Strong skills in policy and strategy development and implementation. Excellent ability to manage diverse teams and financial resources. Proficiency in resource mobilization. Effective and diplomatic communication and consensus-building with Member States and partners. Commitment to collaboration. Regionally recognized technical expertise in Health Emergencies. Proven leadership in planning and coordinating multidisciplinary public health programmes.

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