ABOUT US
The WHO Foundation (WHOF), launched in May 2020 and headquartered in Geneva, is an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO). Our mission is to mobilize greater private capital and foster partnerships that advance the objectives of WHO, enabling transformative impacts on the lives of individuals who rely on its work and facilitating innovation to maximize the effectiveness of our investments.
WHO plays a crucial role in leading the global health ecosystem, acting as a first responder to health crises—including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the urgent needs of over 15 million individuals in the Horn of Africa. WHO also produces technical guidelines and tools to prevent and treat diseases while serving as a trusted convenor at the country level. The crises of the 21st century, particularly COVID-19, have highlighted the inequities in access to effective and affordable healthcare and the indispensable role of WHO. However, WHO currently lacks sufficient resources to fulfill its mandate, as its vision cannot be achieved by the public sector alone.
PURPOSE
The Director will lead a team of Heads of Strategic Engagement, enabling them to operate effectively within the WHO institutional landscape while collectively advancing the Foundation’s strategic partnerships with WHO.
The Director will ensure that the WHO Foundation’s engagement with WHO evolves beyond technical embedding to a strategic, forward-looking partnership model that strengthens alignment, accelerates collaboration, and enables large-scale resource mobilization. This involves facilitating strategic alignment across programs, proactively identifying and advancing high-potential opportunities, and serving as a senior institutional bridge between WHO and the Foundation.
Additionally, the Director will empower the Heads of Strategic Engagement to navigate the complex WHO environment effectively, operating at both strategic and enabling levels—removing barriers, fostering alignment, and ensuring that the Foundation’s engagement with WHO is cohesive, impactful, and future-oriented.
REPORTS TO
The Director reports to the Chief Development Officer and will collaborate closely with:
- Chief of Staff
- Regional Development Teams (EU, MENA, APAC, US)
- Director of Innovation
- Other Executive Management Team Members
The Director will directly manage the Heads of Strategic Engagement and may oversee relevant external advisors or consultants.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Institutional Engagement within WHO:
- Serve as the senior institutional lead for engagement with WHO Program ADGs and senior leadership across priority thematic areas.
- Maintain a strategic overview of the WHO institutional landscape and internal dynamics.
- Enable strategic alignment between WHO priorities and Foundation investment strategies, ensuring coherence across thematic portfolios.
- Anticipate and navigate institutional complexities to facilitate effective collaboration.
- Represent the WHO Foundation in high-level institutional dialogues and strategic forums as appropriate.
- Portfolio Enablement & Strategic Coordination:
- Lead the Heads of Strategic Engagement, fostering coherence, collaboration, and shared strategic direction.
- Act as a senior connector across portfolios, ensuring alignment without centralizing ownership.
- Facilitate cross-portfolio dialogue to surface synergies and integrated funding propositions.
- Create conditions for success by addressing structural barriers and supporting team navigation within complex environments.
- Convene regular strategic exchanges to strengthen peer learning and enhance consistency.
- Ensure clarity of institutional priorities while empowering team ownership.
- Strengthen coordination between different teams to ensure seamless execution across functions.
- Strategic Opportunity Development & Select Portfolio Leadership:
- Identify and shape strategic opportunities within WHO programs and leadership priorities.
- Directly manage one or two priority thematic areas, maintaining a hands-on role in development and engagement.
- Steward relationships with relevant WHO ADGs and senior leaders, modeling best practices.
- Guide the development of investment cases that are strategically aligned and ready for funding.
- Support team members in elevating promising initiatives to institutional priority level.
- Shape compelling narratives for major donors and partners.
- Maintain awareness of emerging global health trends and ensure alignment with high-potential opportunities.
- Strategic Support to Resource Mobilization:
- Partner with the Chief Development Officer to ensure effective WHO engagement.
- Engage with key donors and strategic partners at a senior level for institutional alignment.
- Support complex funding negotiations where strategic positioning is required.
- Contribute to positioning the WHO Foundation as a strategic partner for large-scale initiatives.
- Organizational Leadership & Systems Strengthening:
- Build and nurture a high-performing Strategic Engagement function.
- Ensure effective knowledge sharing and documentation across portfolios.
- Promote a culture of strategic thinking and collaborative problem-solving.
- Contribute to the overall strategic direction as part of the senior leadership group.
PROFILE AND COMPETENCIES
Experience
- Significant senior-level experience in global health, international development, multilateral organizations, or philanthropic institutions.
- Demonstrated experience engaging at the executive leadership level.
- Deep understanding of WHO governance and leadership structures.
- Proven track record in institutional relationship management and strategic partnership development.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing complex portfolios.
- Strong political acumen to navigate complex environments.
- Excellent strategic writing and communication skills.
Competencies
- Strategic Leadership: Ability to shape long-term institutional direction and align strategies with organizational priorities.
- Institutional Relationship Management: Capacity to build and maintain trusted relationships at senior levels.
- Diplomacy & Political Acumen: Strong judgment in navigating institutional dynamics and priorities.
- Catalytic Opportunity Development: Ability to identify and advance high-potential investment opportunities.
- Executive Communication: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex content into clear narratives.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to align diverse teams toward shared objectives.
- Influence Without Authority: Skilled at fostering alignment across stakeholders and team members.
- Team Enablement & Coaching: Ability to empower senior team members and foster peer learning.
- Adaptive Leadership: Comfort in evolving environments, responding constructively to ambiguity.
- Negotiation & Alignment Building: Capacity to facilitate constructive dialogue for mutual benefit.
- Integrity & Discretion: Professionalism and sound judgment in handling sensitive relationships.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Rewarding work in a dynamic non-profit environment.
- A collaborative workplace within a multicultural team.
- An agile and flexible environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Type of contract: Permanent contract
Location: Geneva with remote work possibility
Working rate: 100%
The WHO Foundation places equity at the center of its work and is committed to building, fostering, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Employment and advancement opportunities are based on individual qualifications, regardless of gender, color, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, nationality, cultural and religious background, beliefs, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and marital status. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.