Director Strategic Engagement at WHO Foundation

Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

04 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

05 Apr, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Strategic leadership, Institutional relationship management, Global health, Partnership development, Political acumen, Resource mobilization, Team management, Stakeholder engagement, Strategic communication, Cross-functional collaboration, Negotiation, Project management, Diplomacy, Strategic planning, Executive communication

Industry

Philanthropic Fundraising Services

Description

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. The WHO Foundation was therefore created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO to marshal new resources from philanthropists, foundations, businesses, and individuals to support its mission: promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable, while protecting the neutrality and independence of WHO as the world’s leading health authority. WHOF is a nexus for unique opportunities in global health, facilitating game-changing opportunities between the private sector and WHO. Our focus is on mobilizing grant income, shared value partnerships, and investment to power WHO’s work. 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 mobilization at scale. This includes facilitating strategic alignment across programs, 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 1- 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 of the internal dynamics Enable strategic alignment between WHO priorities and Foundation investment strategies, ensuring coherence across thematic portfolios. Anticipate and help navigate institutional complexities to facilitate effective collaboration between WHO and the Foundation. Represent the WHO Foundation in high-level institutional dialogues and strategic fora as appropriate. 2. Portfolio Enablement & Strategic Coordination Serve as a leader of leaders for the Heads of Strategic Engagement, fostering coherence, collaboration, and shared strategic direction across thematic portfolios. Act as a senior connector across portfolios, ensuring alignment of approaches, messaging, and institutional positioning without centralizing ownership of individual thematic areas. Facilitate cross-portfolio dialogue to surface synergies, bundled opportunities, and integrated funding propositions. Create the conditions for success by helping remove structural or institutional bottlenecks and supporting Heads of Strategic Engagement in navigating complex WHO environments. Convene regular strategic exchanges to strengthen peer learning, consistency of engagement, and collective problem-solving. Ensure clarity of institutional priorities and alignment with WHO leadership while empowering Heads to maintain ownership of their respective portfolios. Strengthen coordination between Strategic Engagement, Development, and Innovation, Development Operations and Communications teams to ensure seamless execution across functions. 3. Strategic Opportunity Development & Select Portfolio Leadership Identify and shape strategic opportunities emerging across WHO programs and leadership priorities Directly lead and manage one or two priority thematic areas, maintaining a hands-on role in opportunity development, WHO engagement, and strategic positioning within those portfolios. Personally steward relationships with the relevant WHO ADGs and senior technical leaders within the Director’s thematic portfolio(s), modeling best practice in institutional engagement. Guide the development and positioning of investment cases, ensuring opportunities are strategically aligned, technically robust, and ready for funding. Support Heads of Strategic Engagement in elevating promising initiatives to institutional priority level, providing strategic input while preserving their ownership. Shape high-level concept framing, positioning documents, and institutional narratives that resonate with major donors and partners. Maintain forward-looking visibility on emerging global health trends and ensure both the Director’s own portfolio(s) and the broader Strategic Engagement function reflect high-potential, future-oriented opportunities. 4. Strategic Support to Resource Mobilization Act as a strategic partner to the Chief Development Officer in ensuring WHO institutional engagement effectively, and Regional Development teams to ensure institutional alignment with donor strategies. Engage selectively with key donors, foundations, and strategic partners at a senior level to reinforce institutional credibility and alignment with WHO leadership. Support complex or high-value funding negotiations where strategic institutional positioning is required. Contribute to the positioning of the WHO Foundation as a strategic partner for large-scale, multi-year, or catalytic funding initiatives. 5. Organizational Leadership & Systems Strengthening Build and nurture a high-performing Strategic Engagement function, fostering collaboration, clarity of mandate, and accountability. Ensure effective knowledge sharing and documentation across thematic portfolios. Promote a culture of strategic thinking, agility, and collaborative problem-solving within the team. 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 organizations, or philanthropic institutions. Demonstrated experience engaging at executive leadership level. Deep understanding of WHO governance, leadership structures, and the broader global health ecosystem, with the ability to navigate complex institutional dynamics Proven track record in institutional relationship management and strategic partnership development. Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing complex portfolios. Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex institutional environments. Excellent strategic writing and communication skills. Competencies Strategic Leadership Ability to shape long-term institutional direction, anticipate emerging trends, and align engagement strategies with organizational 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. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ● Type of contract: Permanent ● Location: Geneva with remote work possibility ● Working rate: 100% ● Estimated start date: ASAP ● Application deadline: 18.04.2026 at 10 AM CET The WHO Foundation puts equity at the center 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.

Responsibilities

The Director will lead a team of Heads of Strategic Engagement to advance the Foundation's partnership with the WHO and facilitate resource mobilization at scale. They will serve as a senior institutional bridge, ensuring strategic alignment across programs and navigating complex institutional environments.