Director, Communications (2504374)

Job Description - Director, Communications (2504374)

Director, Communications - (2504374)

Grade: D2

Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): Two years

: Dec 16, 2025, 6:29:36 PM

: Jan 15, 2026, 10:59:00 PM

: Switzerland-Geneva

: HQ/DCO Communications

: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department will serve as WHO's central hub for political engagement, global advocacy, strategic communications, and resource mobilization. Its goal is to strengthen WHO's global influence through high-level representation, unified messaging, and sustainable financing. The department will advocate for health at the highest political levels, represent the Director-General in key forums, and drive political commitment to health priorities. It will lead a modern communications strategy to boost WHO's visibility and credibility, while coordinating resource mobilization to align with the Programme Budget, diversify funding, and enhance transparency. By integrating these functions, WHO will speak with one voice, build political support, and secure the resources needed to fulfil its global health mission.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Generic duties:

Leads the development and articulation of a strategic global communications vision and implementation of a WHO global communications strategy.

Advises the Director-General and Senior Leadership on politically sensitive and strategic matters related to the Organization's communication and public relations' strategy in responding on a diverse array of complex global public health matters and emergencies.

Provides strategic direction in the design and development of cutting-edge communication policies and strategies, ensuring consistent messaging and brand alignment across Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices.

Oversees, monitors and evaluates the impact of communication activities, products, and engagements throughout the organization in order to improve them.

Establishing robust mechanisms for impact assessment, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.

Ensure they are strategic, coherent, mutually reinforcing and strengthening the Organization's goals, reputation and impact.

Champions the Organization's global visibility and credibility, offering authoritative guidance to senior leadership to position WHO as the preeminent voice in global public health and a model of communication excellence.

Directs the strategic development and implementation of the Department's communication policies and strategies across the three levels of the Organization, establishing robust mechanisms for impact assessment, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.

Leads the Organization's global media and crisis communication strategy, proactively identifying communication strategies to manage and/or leverage reputational risks and opportunities to promote WHO visibility and/or protect the Organizations reputation.

Ensuring timely, transparent, and effective engagement with global audiences during public health emergencies and high-stakes events.

Leads the development of a broader strategy on addressing misinformation and disinformation organization-wide to counteract potential negative influences on WHO's strategic role.

Directs and manages the staff and resources of the Department of Communications.

Oversees strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the Department's portfolio, establishing global benchmarks and accountability frameworks to drive excellence and innovation in communication practices.

Builds and sustains high-level partnerships with global media, Member States, UN agencies, donors, and strategic stakeholders, leveraging these relationships to amplify WHO's voice and advance its global health mandate through a dynamic communications strategy.

Supports resource mobilization efforts through targeted communications campaigns; donor engagement, strategies that are designed to support and strengthen WHO's presence and impact at global, regional and country levels, ensuring that newly secured resources are strategically aligned.

Performs all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in communication, journalism, public relations, international relations, public health, business management, social sciences, or a related field.

Desirable:

A PhD in one of the above-mentioned fields.

Specialization in marketing, business management, international/public relations, or a related field.

Focus on journalism or a related area.

Experience

Essential:

A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the management of communications and or public relations programmes, including experience providing senior level communications advice and guidance to Senior Management/Decision makers, managing human and financial resources, as well as experience in the area of developing and establishing communications policies and strategies.

Demonstrated experience at the international level.

Desirable: Experience working with or within multilateral organizations or UN agencies.

Skills

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

Excellent skills and ability to manage diverse teams and financial resources.

Strong understanding and skills in communications, public relations including media production and branding.

Concrete knowledge and skills in journalism.

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

Commitment to collaborate effectively with other key partners in the Health Subject area.

Globally respected level of technical expertise and knowledge in Communications, demonstrating strong creativity and innovation.

Proven leadership skills in strategic thinking and managing the planning and coordination of communications/public relations/media programmes.

Technical/Scientific Knowledge and skills.

Proven ability in leading to lead high-level political negotiations and represent an organization at the global level.

Expert in global communications trends and best practices, including the ability to foresee problems and develop organizational responses.

Proven success in strategic communications, global advocacy, and resource mobilization.

Strong leadership, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.

Deep knowledge of the global health landscape and multilateral systems.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

Ensuring the effective use of resources

Driving the Organization to a Successful Future

Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

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 9632 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 E-Mail schreiben with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

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.

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 E-Mail schreiben.

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