Head of Project %26 Change Management Office
Organizational Context
The World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme aims to strengthen global health security by enhancing national capacities for preventing, preparing for, detecting, and responding to health emergencies. The Project and Change Management Office (PCMO) within WHE serves as a strategic enabler, managing projects to meet business needs and ensuring effective project governance, execution, and delivery aligned with WHO standards.
Job Purpose
The Head of Project & Change Management Office (PCMO) is responsible for leading and managing the WHE PCMO to ensure the effective delivery of projects and programmes that support the WHO Health Emergencies Programme's objectives. This role involves overseeing a team, managing the project portfolio, driving project management discipline and culture, and providing strategic advice on portfolio management and digital transformation. The purpose is to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet expectations, contributing to WHO's mission of safeguarding global health security through robust emergency preparedness and response mechanisms. The role also involves advising leadership on data, digital, and platform strategies, ensuring coherence and alignment across the digital ecosystem.
Responsibilities
Manage and lead a team of project and change managers, ensuring adherence to project management methodologies and standards, effective resource management, quality delivery, and stakeholder engagement. Oversee and enhance the WHE project portfolio, ensuring visibility on plans, status, risks, and issues, and providing timely reporting to senior management. Drive the implementation of a project management discipline and culture across WHE, establishing governance, promoting standard methodologies, and facilitating collaboration. Provide strategic analysis and guidance to leadership on portfolio management and strategic delivery. Serve as the principal advisor on data, digital, and platform matters, guiding digital architecture, technology selection, data strategy, and digital transformation. Oversee the WHE Digital Ecosystem for coherence and strategic alignment, and monitor strategic projects like the Pandemic Fund. Perform change management activities, including mapping customer journeys and designing training approaches. Undertake other assigned duties.
Work Experience
Essential: Minimum 10 years of professional experience in portfolio, programme, and project planning, management, and delivery of complex projects, with international experience. Demonstrated experience working with senior/executive management. Proven experience leading a Project Management Office or managing large-scale programmes. Experience in implementing tracking systems, reporting mechanisms, and operational improvements. Experience defining and implementing data/digital strategies and digital ecosystem governance. Experience delivering results in fast-paced, shifting environments. Desirable: Management consulting experience, experience in UN/health contexts, and experience in change management, quality assurance, and communications.
Skills
Proven leadership and decision-making skills. Expertise in Project and Portfolio Management, planning, organization, budgeting, and finance. Ability to adapt to change, manage resources effectively, and perform under pressure. Strong collaboration skills in international, multicultural, and cross-sectoral environments. Ability to promote best practices, advise on improvements, and conduct research. Excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills. Excellent communication (oral and written), problem-solving, and analytical skills. Strong supervisory, organizational, management, and consultancy skills. Proactive, flexible, and resourceful with the ability to work independently. Ability to develop and communicate data and digital strategies. Familiarity with emerging technologies (AI/ML, interoperability platforms, cloud infrastructure).