WHO is seeking a new director to lead its work on NCDs
WHO Seeks New Director to Lead Global Efforts on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Health System Strengthening.
The Programme Description
The department leads global efforts to reduce premature mortality and morbidity from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), sensory impairments, and oral health issues. Its work includes prevention, early detection, screening, treatment, rehabilitation, and integrated service delivery, with a focus on universal health coverage (UHC) and primary health care (PHC). The department coordinates WHO’s work on disability and leads the DG Flagship Initiative on cervical cancer elimination. It provides technical support to countries, develops guidance, and collaborates with regions to strengthen health systems. The department also works on NCDs in humanitarian crises and prepares for the 4th High-Level Meeting on NCDs in 2025.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead global leadership and advocacy on NCDs, sensory functions, oral health, rehabilitation, and disability.
- Develop technical products and expertise to support policy development and implementation in member states.
- Establish evidence-based policies and strategies for regional and country-level implementation.
- Represent WHO at global forums and build partnerships with key stakeholders.
- Oversee the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the department’s work to ensure optimal performance.
- Provide senior-level technical advice to WHO leadership.
- Lead and manage the department’s workforce and financial resources.
Required Qualifications for Director of NCDs at WHO
Education
- Essential: An advanced university degree in medicine, global health, epidemiology, public health, health economics, or a related field. This ensures expertise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), sensory impairments, oral health, and disability.
- Desirable: A PhD in a relevant field and specialized training in NCDs is preferred, adding further depth to the candidate’s expertise.
Experience
Essential:
- At least 15 years of leadership experience in public health or global health programs, particularly related to NCDs, sensory impairments, oral health, and disability.
- Proven ability to provide high-level strategic advice to political leaders and senior management.
- Experience in mobilizing resources, managing diverse teams, and developing public health policies with global impact.
- Demonstrated experience working internationally.
Desirable:
- Experience in country operations, monitoring and evaluation, and multisectoral partnerships.
- Background in managing public-private partnerships and experience working within the UN system or similar international organizations across multiple countries.
Skills
- Policy Development: Strong ability to develop and implement public health policies and strategies, particularly at the international level.
- Team and Resource Management: Excellent skills in managing diverse teams and financial resources to drive program success.
- Resource Mobilization: Proven expertise in mobilizing resources for health initiatives.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to engage, build consensus, and communicate effectively with Member States, partners, and the media in a diplomatic manner.
- Collaboration: Commitment to working collaboratively with key public health partners across sectors.
- Technical Expertise: Globally respected expertise in preventing, managing, controlling, and surveilling diseases such as NCDs, sensory impairments, oral health, rehabilitation, and disability.
- Public Health Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of global public health policies, advocacy, monitoring, and reporting, particularly in developing countries.
- Leadership in Program Coordination: Proven leadership in planning and coordinating large-scale multidisciplinary public health programs, including disease management initiatives.
- Disease-Specific Expertise: Outstanding knowledge in the science, treatment, and epidemiology of one or more of the following: NCDs, sensory impairments, and oral health.
About Bente Mikkelsen – The Current President of NCDs at WHO
Bente Mikkelsen is the Director of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) at WHO Headquarters in Geneva and was previously Director for Noncommunicable Diseases and Health Promotion in Europe. She also headed the secretariat for the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on Noncommunicable Diseases.
Trained as a Gynecologist and Obstetrician, her primary focus now is aligning efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals by reducing premature deaths from NCDs and employing innovation and collaboration across sectors.
On this occasion Robert Marten, Unit Head at Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research at World Health Organization, posted on LinkedIn:
“WHO is seeking a superstar new director to lead its work on NCDs.
Please circulate widely.”
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