Senior Officer - Veterinary Products & Drug Resistance Department - WOAH HQ Paris, France

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Context

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is a leading intergovernmental organisation representing 183 Members worldwide. Through its activities, WOAH makes a decisive contribution to improving animal health, protecting animal welfare and strengthening Veterinary Services.

The Organisation provides transparent information on world's animal health situation, and promotes international standards, particularly in terms of the safety of trade in live animals and animal products. More information can be found on WOAH’s website. WOAH's headquarters are based in Paris.The Organisation is present on every continent through 13 Regional or Sub-regional Representations. WOAH has 250 staff members, two-thirds of whom are based at headquarters. This position is located in WOAH's Headquarters, Paris (France).

Joining WOAH means taking part in the development of one of the leading international organisations, recognised and associated with other multilateral institutions, in the field of worldwide health. It means helping to build a global approach to health, combining animal and human health in a “One Health” approach. It means joining teams motivated by the impact of their actions, the sense of their collective commitment and their recognised professionalism in their respective fields of expertise.

In response to the 79th UN General Assembly Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance and WOAH 92nd General Session Resolution No. 29 on Veterinary Vaccines and Vaccination, WOAH is establishing the PREVENT Forum, a structured public-private dialogue mechanism to strengthen collaboration on animal vaccination strategies.This five-year initiative (2026–2030) will explicitly promote equity by design so that perspectives from low- and middle-income countries, smallholder systems, small and medium enterprises and regional manufacturers, producers’ organisations, veterinarians and paraprofessionals are reflected alongside those of larger firms and high-income regulators.

The overall objective is that, by 2030, WOAH Members and animal health stakeholders have strengthened their capacity to prevent and control animal diseases through improved coordination, availability, and strategic use of vaccines, contributing to enhanced animal health systems, reduced AMR, and increased resilience to disease threats.

Job Description

Positioning and reporting

Under the authority of the Deputy Director General (Standard Setting & Implementation) and direct supervision of the Veterinary Products & Drug Resistance Department Head of Department (HoD).

Job purpose

The Senior Officer will lead the Prevent Forum’s operations, overseeing and contributing to the implementation of its associated activities. She/he will be accountable for the performance of the activities of the Forum and contributes to providing strategic guidance and support to the development of its activities.

She/he will be responsible for the planning and delivering of the Forum's annual cycle of global and regional activities, for coordinating the development of evidence-based tools and guidance, and for managing relationships across a diverse range of public and private stakeholders.

Upholding the Forum's identity as an effective, neutral, and inclusive dialogue mechanism, the Senior Officer will also support WOAH harness high-level political engagement to ensure the Forum's outputs translate into concrete policy change.

Missions and activities

Forum Operations and Coordination

• Plan, organize, and lead the implementation of the annual cycle of PREVENT Forum activities, including the global technical session, regional sessions, and annual reporting to the WOAH World Assembly of Delegates.
• Manage the PREVENT Forum digital platform, ensuring regular content updates and publication of resources.

Workplan and Deliverable Management

• Lead and coordinate the creation, monitoring and implementation of the consultative annual workplan development process, identifying priority deliverables in collaboration with Members, stakeholders.
• Oversee and contribute to the development of evidence-based tools, guidance documents, and frameworks emerging from Forum discussions.
• Draft concept notes for activities requiring additional funding for submission to the Partnership Management Committee.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Management

• Build and maintain relationships across the Forum's diverse stakeholder community, including but not limited to WOAH Members, vaccine manufacturers and national regulatory authorities, veterinary and producer associations, vaccine access-focused organisations, Quadripartite partners, and relevant trade and standards bodies.
• Actively promote equitable participation, ensuring perspectives from low- and middle-income countries, smallholder systems, and regional manufacturers are reflected in Forum activities alongside large livestock producing and exporting nations.
• Uphold conflict-of-interest safeguards and transparency standards across all Forum activities.

Political Engagement and Advocacy

• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and advocacy documents to support WOAH's high-level political engagement on animal vaccination.
• Coordinate PREVENT Forum contributions to ministerial gatherings around the WOAH General Session and relevant international fora.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Governance

• Track and report on Forum indicators and targets and prepare documentation for biannual PMC meetings.
• Ensure all Forum activities align with WOAH's mandate, strategic priorities, and accountability requirements.

While completing the above missions and activities, the incumbent will:

• Contribute within the perimeter of her/his responsibilities to the overall achievement of WOAH's 8th Strategic Plan;
• Carry out other applicable duties within his/her professional competence as requested by the Head of Department, the Deputy Director General or the Director General of WOAH.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

Required qualifications and experience

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field including but not limited to animal health, public health, international development, public policy, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive professional experience in relevant field(s), with a demonstrated track record of delivery at a senior level
• Proven project management experience delivering complex, multi-year programmes through public-private partnerships or multi-stakeholder platforms
• Substantial experience building and maintaining strong partnerships and stakeholder relationships, including negotiating with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues

 

Additional experience (asset)

• Experience working across both public and private sectors, ideally in an animal health or related context
• Technical knowledge of animal health, including an understanding of the challenges facing low- and middle-income countries and smallholder systems
• Knowledge of vaccine policy, regulatory affairs, or AMR policy frameworks at national or global levelExperience working in or with low- and middle-income countries

Expected Skills

Technical skills

• Excellent management of Microsoft Office 365 tools (i.e., MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive, MS OneNote, MS TEAMS, MS Project, etc.)
• Proven experience in the management of multistakeholder digital platforms
• Strong programme and project management skills, including workplan development, planning, and results monitoring
• Proven ability to facilitate high-level multi-stakeholder meetings and technical sessionsAbility to produce clear, accessible policy documents, briefing materials, and advocacy content for diverse audiences
• Experience developing and disseminating technical tools and guidance documents
• Excellent written and spoken English (C level) is required; independent user (B level) in French and Spanish are an asset.

Personal and Interpersonal skills

• Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with the ability to engage credibly and build trust across public and private sector stakeholders at senior levels
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, navigate competing interests, and sustain engagement over time without formal authority
• Agile and flexible, and able to work autonomously, with the ability to shift between strategic and operational modes, manage multiple competing priorities, and adapt to fast-moving and changing circumstances, as well as creative in building new mechanisms or programmes from scratch
• Strong political sensitivity and awareness, including the ability to identify opportunities for engagement and handle sensitive or contentious issues with discretion
• Demonstrated cultural competence and appreciation of diversity, with strong self-awareness and emotional intelligence
• Ability to present complex and sensitive information clearly and persuasively to large, senior, and influential audiences

Working conditions

• Salary: commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Type of contract: WOAH Staff - Fixed-term contract.
• Duration: This is a fixed-term position for two years, subject to performance review and continuation of grant funding.
• The contract may be renewed subject to demonstrated performance, and availability of funding.
• Location: WOAH Headquarters 12 rue de Prony 75017 Paris, France.T
• The post requires long hours in a seated position at a computer.
• Regular international travel will be required.

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 their origin, gender, opinions or beliefs.

If you are interested in the position, please complete your application online at the latest by 8 may 2026.  

APPLY HERE

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