WHO Foundation is looking for a Head of Special Projects

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 cross border conflicts and outbreaks in underserved communities and geographies; 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 its vision cannot be achieved by the funding from 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 Head of Special Projects will serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the CEO, leading high-priority initiatives across the Foundation. This role operates at the intersection of strategy, project management, and executive support, providing analytical insights, cross-functional coordination, and thought partnership to advance the Foundation’s global mission.

This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic professional with exceptional analytical skills, political acumen, and a passion for global health to shape strategic decision-making at the highest level of the organization.

Reports To

The Head of Special Projects will report directly to the CEO of the WHO Foundation and will also collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders on different subject matters.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Project Management:

• Lead special projects that have a strategic impact through collaboration across different functions and coordinations with multiple leaders and stakeholders including from the WHO.
• Create robust plans to execute on the strategic vision along with the leadership teams to meet the Foundation's mission and goals.
• Monitor the Foundation's progress towards key deliverables and provide the CEO with updates on progress, including challenges and opportunities.
• Develop business cases and strategic plans for high-impact initiatives.

Support in Strengthening WHO and Donor Relationships

• Coordinate and facilitate high-level meetings, discussions, and joint initiatives with WHO representatives.
• Prepare briefing materials, presentations, and reports for the CEO's engagements with WHO.
• In partnership with Strategic Engagement teams, stay informed on WHO priorities, policies, and initiatives to identify areas for potential collaboration.

Communication and Liaison:

• Act as a strong point of contact between the executive and internal/external stakeholders.
• Facilitate effective communication within the Foundation and with external partners.
• Oversee draft correspondence, briefing notes, talking points and reports for the CEO’s signature or clearance.

Decision Support:

• Gather and analyze data to provide insights for informed decision-making.
• Analyse data and trends to support strategic decisions that align with Foundation objectives.
• Apply creative problem-solving with calculated risks and analysis across Foundation.

Project Management:

• Oversee special projects or initiatives on behalf of the executive management team.

Profile

• 5 years of relevant experience in the Global Health Fundraising sector with deep research and consulting experience in global setups.
• Past experience in a country from the Global South is an advantage.
• Significant experience in strategy, analysis, project management, and execution.
• Strong data analysis, business modeling, and scenario planning skills.
• Expertise in managing and evolving multiple stakeholder partnerships.
• High impact communicator - communicate in a focused and compelling way that captures and holds others’ attention and stimulates others’ thinking and actions.
• Capacity to build relationships with a diverse set of individuals and organizations.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, partnerships, and external relations
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with proven leadership experience in a multicultural and collaborative environment.
• Outstanding communication and negotiating abilities, with the capacity to interact with a wide range of stakeholders.

What We Offer

• Rewarding work in a dynamic and innovative non-profit environment with appealing growth and learning opportunities
• A collaborative workplace within a truly global team
• An agile, fast-moving and flexible environment
• Potential to leverage a multinational name and organization in the form of WHO

Additional Information

• Type of contract: Permanent
• Location: Geneva (relocation needed)
• Working rate: 100%
• Estimated start date: ASAP
• Application deadline: 20.11.2025
• This is a rolling process; applications will be revised as they arrive. Final deadline for application is 20.11.2025

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.

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