WHO Technical Officer, Country Office Support Job 2026: Apply in Istanbul, Türkiye
The World Health Organization (WHO) is inviting applications for the position of Technical Officer, Country Office Support (P4) in Istanbul, Türkiye. This opportunity is suitable for experienced professionals in public health, international relations, public administration, and programme management who have experience supporting strategic coordination and international health programmes.
The successful candidate will help strengthen coordination between WHO country offices, regional leadership, and programme management teams. The position involves analysing country-level developments, preparing strategic briefings, supporting senior-level engagements, and monitoring progress on country priorities.
The position is offered as a full-time, fixed-term appointment for one year. The application deadline is listed as 13 November 2026, although applicants should confirm the deadline displayed on the official WHO careers website.
Job Overview
- Organisation: World Health Organization (WHO)
- Job Title: Technical Officer, Country Office Support
- Vacancy Number: 2604646
- Grade: P4
- Location: Istanbul, Türkiye
- Contract Type: Fixed-term appointment
- Contract Duration: One year
- Work Schedule: Full-time
- Job Posting Date: 22 October 2026
- Application Deadline: 13 November 2026
- Required Education: Master’s degree
- Required Experience: At least seven years of relevant professional experience
About the World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a United Nations specialised agency responsible for international public health. Through its regional and country offices, WHO works with governments and partners to strengthen health systems, coordinate health programmes, and advance public health priorities.
This vacancy sits within the Division of Programme Management at WHO’s Regional Office for Europe. The division supports technical excellence, coordinates health programmes, and promotes collaboration across countries and regional teams.
The Country Office Support team helps strengthen the impact of WHO’s work at country level. Its responsibilities include strategic planning, monitoring political and operational developments, facilitating cooperation between countries, and preparing leadership briefings and high-level engagements.
Key Responsibilities
The Technical Officer will support the Country Office Support Team Lead in coordinating and monitoring WHO’s work across the European Region.
1. Strategic Coordination and Country Support
The successful candidate will help identify, analyse, and follow up on sensitive political, operational, and programme-related issues emerging from WHO country offices. The role requires the ability to assess developments, identify matters requiring senior attention, and support appropriate action.
2. Senior Leadership Engagement
The officer will contribute to strategic meetings, leadership retreats, performance management processes, and briefings. These activities will help senior leaders understand country priorities, make informed decisions, and strengthen accountability for results.
3. Country Intelligence and Reporting
The position involves overseeing the quality and regular updating of country information records, known as Pulse Sheets. These records help WHO Representatives and Heads of Country Offices track important developments, identify challenges, prepare leadership briefings, and monitor follow-up actions.
4. Induction and Onboarding
The officer will coordinate technical induction and onboarding for newly appointed WHO Representatives and Heads of Country Offices. This includes helping them understand regional priorities, governance arrangements, operational processes, and channels for engaging with regional leadership.
5. High-Level Visits and Collaboration
The successful candidate will work with country offices to organise high-level visits to the Regional Office. Responsibilities include coordinating agendas, preparing briefing materials, and ensuring that follow-up actions reflect country priorities and strategic opportunities.
6. Monitoring and Programme Reporting
The officer will contribute to monitoring, analysis, and reporting on country-level activities. Additional responsibilities include maintaining the Country Presence Portal and supporting collaboration across WHO’s global country support network.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants must meet the essential requirements specified in the vacancy notice.
Educational qualifications: Candidates must hold an advanced university degree at Master’s level in public health, international relations, health administration, public administration, social sciences, or another field relevant to the position.
Additional postgraduate training in global health, public policy, management, or a related discipline is desirable.
Professional experience: Applicants must have at least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health, international relations, country support, partnerships, or programme management.
Experience supporting strategic coordination, senior-level engagement, and collaboration with Member States or country offices is essential.
Skills and competencies: Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical, organisational, and project-planning skills. They must be able to turn complex information into clear recommendations, prepare high-quality strategic documents, and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders.
Knowledge of WHO’s mandate, strategic frameworks, and country cooperation arrangements is important. Familiarity with collaborative platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom is also expected.
Language requirements: Expert knowledge of English is essential, while intermediate knowledge of Russian is required.
Salary and Benefits
The vacancy notice lists an annual base salary starting at US$86,027, subject to applicable deductions.
The remuneration package also includes a variable post adjustment, listed in the vacancy notice as US$3,369 per month for the specified duty station. This adjustment reflects local living costs and may change.
Additional benefits may include 30 days of annual leave, dependent-family allowances, home leave, and education grants for eligible dependent children. Actual entitlements are subject to WHO’s applicable employment rules and eligibility requirements.
Contract Duration and Location
The position is based in Istanbul, Türkiye, and is offered as a full-time, one-year fixed-term appointment at the P4 professional grade.
International professional appointments may involve geographical mobility, meaning successful candidates can be assigned to other WHO locations in accordance with the organisation’s applicable policies.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should visit the official WHO careers website, search for Technical Officer, Country Office Support, and locate vacancy number 2604646.
Applicants should carefully review the complete vacancy notice, confirm the current application deadline, and submit their applications through the official recruitment system.
Application deadline: 13 November 2026, as listed in the provided vacancy notice. The notice also cautions that the displayed deadline may reflect the applicant’s device settings, so candidates should verify the deadline on the official portal.
