Unit Head; AI and Frontier Technologies

Unit Head (AI and Frontier Technologies)

Duty station Geneva, Switzerland

• Provide technical leadership and coordination within the Unit of AI and Frontier Technologies.
• Oversee and manage a small team of technical staff, financial resources, and work planning.
• Develop and propose technical health policies and strategies in collaboration with Regional and Country Offices.
• Conduct research on best practices, capacity building, and disseminate information.
• Manage monitoring, evaluation and reporting of key performance indicators and related reporting requirements.
• Represent the programme area at meetings and advocate for AI & Frontier Technologies.
• Liaise with UN Agencies, donors and research institutions to position the technical area in global and national policies.

• Essential: Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Digital Health, Health Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Health Informatics, Mathematics, Computer Sciences, ICT or related field with focus on strategy, policy development and implementation.
• Desirable: PhD in public health, global health, clinical medicine or related discipline.
• Formal grounding in epidemiology, health systems, or clinical practice that strengthens the application of AI to real‑world health contexts.
• Additional interdisciplinary training bridging health and digital/analytical domains.

• Minimum 10 years in Digital Health, Health Technologies, AI, Health Informatics, Computer Sciences or ICT, including strategy, policy development and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience managing human and financial resources.
• Experience at the international level and supporting countries in integrating AI into national health strategies.
• Experience leading multi‑partner projects or research on AI in health and mobilizing resources for digital or AI‑enabled health programmes.
• Experience in LMIC contexts and engaging in high‑level policy or technical dialogues (asset).

• Recognized global leader in AI for Health with formal certification in health informatics.
• Hands‑on expertise in design, benchmarking, costing and large‑scale implementation of AI systems (large language models, agentic AI, multi‑modal technologies).
• Strong publication record in peer‑reviewed journals and thought leadership at the intersection of AI, digital health governance and health systems innovation.
• Track record of guiding national and global digital health strategies and securing multi‑partner funding portfolios.
• Leadership of diverse technical teams, diplomatic engagement and resource mobilisation.

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.

WHO Professional category salary starting at USD 103,165. Variable post adjustment reflecting cost of living (USD 7,686 /month for Geneva). Benefits include 30 days annual leave, allowances for dependents, home leave and an education grant for dependent children.

WHO is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce, recruiting irrespective of disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Women, persons with disabilities and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States are strongly encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations. Accommodation requests: reasonableaccommodation.

WHO upholds the highest ethical standards and has zero tolerance toward sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.