Director Strategic Engagement, Geneva

Director Strategic Engagement About Us: The WHO Foundation (WHOF), launched in May 2020 and headquartered in Geneva, was created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO. Its mission is to mobilize greater private capital and partnership to advance the mission of the World Health Organization (WHO), enabling catalytic impact on the people whose lives rely on WHO’s work and facilitating innovation to maximize the impact of the resources we invest. WHO plays a singular role in leading the global health ecosystem, acting as a first‑responder to health crises — including the current conflict in Ukraine and on behalf of the 15+ million people in urgent need of aid in Horn of Africa; producing technical guidelines and tools to prevent and treat disease; and acting as a country‑level convener with an unparalleled level of trust. The crises of the 21st century, including COVID‑19, have made clear both the inequity of access to effective and affordable healthcare and the indispensable role of WHO. Yet WHO lacks sufficient resources to fulfill its mandate. And, beyond funding, 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 partnership with WHO. The Director will ensure that WHO Foundation’s engagement with WHO moves beyond technical embedding to a strategic, forward‑looking partnership model that strengthens alignment, accelerates collaboration, and enables resource mobilisation at scale. This includes facilitating strategic alignment across programmes, proactively identifying and advancing high‑potential opportunities, and serving as a senior institutional bridge between WHO and the Foundation. The Director will empower the Heads of Strategic Engagement to operate effectively within the complex WHO environment. The Director will operate at both strategic and enabling levels—removing barriers, fostering alignment, and ensuring the Foundation’s engagement with WHO is cohesive, impactful, and future‑oriented.

Reports To: The Director reports to the Chief Development Officer. The Director will work in close collaboration with: Chief of Staff; Regional Development Teams (EU, MENA, APAC, US); Director Innovation and other EMT Members. The Director will directly manage 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 WHO 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; anticipate and navigate institutional complexities; represent the WHO Foundation in high‑level institutional dialogues and strategic fora as appropriate.

Portfolio Enablement&Strategic Coordination: Lead the Heads of Strategic Engagement, fostering coherence, collaboration, and shared strategic direction across thematic portfolios; act as a senior connector across portfolios; facilitate cross‑portfolio dialogue to surface synergies; create conditions for success by removing structural or institutional bottlenecks; convene regular strategic exchanges; strengthen coordination between Strategic Engagement, Development, and Innovation, Development Operations and Communications teams.

Strategic Opportunity Development&Select Portfolio Leadership: Identify and shape strategic opportunities emerging across WHO programmes; directly lead and manage one or two priority thematic areas; personally steward relationships with relevant WHO ADGs and senior technical leaders; guide the development and positioning of investment cases; support Heads in elevating promising initiatives to institutional priority level; shape high‑level concept framing, positioning documents, and institutional narratives; maintain forward‑looking visibility on emerging global health trends.

Strategic Support to Resource Mobilisation: Partner with the Chief Development Officer to ensure effective WHO institutional engagement; engage selectively with key donors, foundations, and strategic partners; support complex or high‑value funding negotiations; contribute to positioning the WHO Foundation as a strategic partner for large‑scale, multi‑year, or catalytic funding initiatives.

Organisational Leadership&Systems Strengthening: Build and nurture a high‑performing Strategic Engagement function; ensure effective knowledge sharing and documentation across thematic portfolios; promote a culture of strategic thinking, agility, and collaborative problem‑solving; contribute to the overall strategic direction of the Development function as a member of its senior leadership group.

Profile and Competencies:

Experience : Significant senior‑level experience in global health, international development, multilateral organisations, or philanthropic institutions; demonstrated experience engaging at executive leadership level; deep understanding of WHO governance, leadership structures, and the broader global health ecosystem; proven track record in institutional relationship management and strategic partnership development; experience leading multi‑disciplinary teams and overseeing complex portfolios; strong political acumen; excellent strategic writing and communication skills.

Strategic Leadership : Ability to shape long‑term institutional direction, anticipate emerging trends, and align engagement strategies with organisational priorities.

Institutional Relationship Management : Demonstrated capacity to build, steward, and sustain trusted relationships at senior executive levels within complex multilateral environments.

Diplomacy&Political Acumen : Strong judgment and sensitivity in navigating institutional dynamics, competing priorities, and high‑level stakeholder interests.

Catalytic Opportunity Development : Capacity to identify, frame, and advance high‑potential investment opportunities that unlock strategic partnerships and funding.

Executive Communication : Exceptional ability to synthesize complex technical content into clear, compelling narratives tailored to senior leadership and major partners.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration : Proven ability to convene and align diverse teams (development, technical, legal, communications, finance) toward shared objectives.

Influence Without Authority : Skilled at enabling progress and fostering alignment across stakeholders and team members without relying on formal hierarchical control.

Team Enablement&Coaching : Ability to empower senior team members, foster peer learning, and create an environment of accountability and mutual support.

Adaptive Leadership : Comfort operating in evolving, high‑demand environments, responding constructively to ambiguity and shifting priorities.

Negotiation&Alignment Building : Ability to facilitate constructive dialogue between institutional leaders and external partners to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Integrity&Discretion : Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, and confidentiality in handling sensitive institutional relationships.

What We Offer:

Rewarding work in a dynamic non‑profit environment.

Collaborative workplace within a multicultural team.

Agile and flexible environment.

Additional Information:

Work location : 1202 Genève (GE)

Workload : 100%

Employment start : Immediately

Employment duration : Permanent

Work experience : More than 3 years

Education : Master’s degree from a university or equivalent

English : Oral– Very good knowledge; Written – Very good knowledge

Contact : tion

The WHO Foundation puts equity at the centre of all its work and is committed to building, fostering, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Employment and advancement opportunities are based upon individual qualifications, regardless of gender, color, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, nationality, cultural&religious background, beliefs, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and marital status. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

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