Head of the Regional Activities Department – RAD – WOAH HQ Paris, France

Head of the Regional Activities Department – RAD – WOAH HQ Paris, France Under the authority of the Director General and the direct supervision of the Deputy Director General (Institutional Affairs and Governance); in close coordination with the Heads of other Departments and Units and the Regional and Sub-regional Representatives (RR/SRR). Supervising a team of up to 4 to 6 staff members. The title and responsibilities of this position may be adjusted in line with the ongoing organisational restructuring and the adoption of the WOAH 8th Strategic Plan. Job purpose The Head of the Regional Activities Department contributes to the institutional coordination and effective delivery of WOAH activities at regional level. Working closely with the RR/SRR, he/she participates in building strong relationships with Members, especially through the Regional Commissions and Council (Regional Core Groups) and fostering their engagement in the work of the Organisation. He/she provides support to the RR/SRR in the coordination of regional activities, programmes and projects in alignment with organisational strategic priorities, and actively contributes to strengthening the regional operating model. Missions and activities Provide strategic guidance regarding the WOAH activities related to the work of the Department Provide leadership and manage the Departmental transformation aligned to the Organisation’s goals Provide support to the design and implementation of strategic initiatives and define the Department’s roadmap in alignment with organisational goals Participate in WOAH management meetings and report to the General Directorate on the implementation of activities at regional level Promote the WOAH mandate and represent the Organisation at relevant international conferences, missions, meetings, workshops Contribute to the relationships with WOAH Members and regional governance bodies (Regional Commissions and Regional Core Group); coordinate and interact with a range of stakeholders, partners and external parties in close collaboration with other Headquarters Departments/Units and RR/SRRs Lead and manage the Regional Activities Department Translate strategic goals into team objectives and monitor collective performance Foster a positive and productive work environment with constructive feedback Motivate and communicate to convey information up, down, and around the Organisation Organise and oversee tasks to ensure delivery of the team’s missions Participate in recruitment, staff competency development and annual performance appraisal Manage, improve and formalise the Department’s procedures as needed Manage team missions Coordinate relationships with Members Strengthen relationships with the Bureaus of Regional Commissions and the Council through the Regional Core Groups Ensure smooth coordination of meetings and conferences of the Regional Commissions Support development and updates of trainings and participate in training facilitation Provide overarching planning and coordination of RR/SRR activities Lead the regional operating model and framework for RR/SRR management Lead annual planning and follow-up of regional activities Coordinate and lead implementation of WOAH’s Strategic Plans with Regional Representations and other Departments/Units as necessary Liaise with Administration, Resource Mobilisation, Events Coordination and the General Directorate for validation, coordination, reporting and follow-up of proposed activities Ensure smooth communication and harmonisation of institutional and strategic activities at regional level (Regional Roadmaps) with regular follow-up and reporting with KPIs Support organising and managing face-to-face management committee meetings at Headquarters Support onboarding of new WOAH Representatives and regional staff Liaise with Human Resources and General Services on RR/SRR capacity, competency development and security needs Coordinate other regional programmes and initiatives and provide overarching support to regional networks, projects and programmes Carry out other coordination activities as requested by the Director General Qualifications and experience A post-graduate qualification in veterinary sciences, veterinary public health, public administration or equivalent At least 15 years of professional experience, including 8 years working with Veterinary Services or in veterinary public health At least 5 years of experience in management At least 5 years of experience in an international environment Requirements Technical skills Familiarity with project management methodologies (Agile, hybrid, PMBOK, PRINCE2, etc.) Project certification like PRINCE2 or other Good understanding of IT architecture impacts on projects and knowledge of application architectures Good knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 tools Understanding of IT systems and technical requirements Excellent knowledge of English and French Additional qualifications and experience Prior exposure to the WOAH’s work Technical skills Strong skills in organisational planning and development, and capacity to reframe operational structures Ability to work in English at a high level with strong written and oral communication Proficiency in a second WOAH official language (Spanish or French) Excellent writing skills and ability to summarise complex discussions into clear reports Additional skills Good knowledge of the functions of the WOAH Regional and Sub-regional Representations Interpersonal skills Excellent leadership, initiative and strategic thinking Organisational awareness and ability to work under tight timelines Attention to detail and global overview Confidentiality, tact and ability to work in a multinational environment Working conditions Salary: commensurate with qualifications and experience Type of contract: WOAH Staff – Fixed-term contract Duration: Two (2) years renewable The post is a full-time position based at the WOAH Headquarters in Paris and requires long hours in a seated position at a computer. It can entail missions abroad. General Information WOAH places high value on a multicultural and positive work environment. WOAH is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates, irrespective of origin, gender, opinions or beliefs. If you are interested in the position, please complete your application online by 21 October 2025. APPLY HERE. The post is open to internal and external candidates. Seniority level: Associate Employment type: Full-time Job function: Other | Industries: International Affairs APPLY HERE We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI. J-18808-Ljbffr

Location: Paris, Île-de-France, FR

Posted Date: 10/24/2025