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. 

WOAH’s headquarters are based in Paris. The Organisation is present on every continent through 13 Regional or Regional Representations. WOAH has 250 staff members, two-thirds of whom are based at headquarters. This position is located in Tokyo (Japan).

Under the authority of the Director General and in close coordination with the Deputy Director General (Institutional Affairs and Governance).

The WOAH Regional Representative represents the WOAH and acts as the first contact point with the Organisation’s Members and stakeholders in their region. He/she promotes the WOAH’s values and mandate and ensures that regional needs are well addressed by the Organisation. He/she provides regional adapted services to WOAH Members so that they may improve the animal health situation in the region and comply with the WOAH standards and guidelines.

The WOAH Regional Representative works closely with the Regional Activities Department (and other relevant Departments/Units) and participates in building strong relationships with Members. He/she contributes to the coordination and effective delivery of WOAH activities at regional level, including programmes/projects, in alignment with the strategic objectives and mission of the Organisation.

Provide strategic guidance on the implementation of WOAH activities and ensure the reporting and follow-up of those activities by the office he/she leads
– Identify and understand the priorities and specificities of the region so relevant activities can be planned and delivered, and to liaise accordingly with HQ.
– Facilitate the design and implementation of strategic initiatives and define the regional roadmap in collaboration with relevant Departments/Units at HQ and in alignment with the Organisation’s goals and regional needs.
– Report to WOAH HQ on the implementation of activities at regional level.
– Strengthen the relationship with regional economic communities (RECs) and ensure follow-up on their programmes and policies, assessing the impact of regional projects and their relevance to WOAH strategic objectives and policies.
– Encourage WOAH Reference Centres to streamline their programmes in line with the strategy/vision of the WOAH.
– Strengthen existing partnerships and assess and promote new opportunities for collaboration with existing or new partners, including resource mobilisation partners and RECs, to address topics that are also of interest to the WOAH (i.e., climate change, the environment, wildlife, etc.).
– Identify new areas where the work of the WOAH and Veterinary Services could potentially be relevant and consider new needs and expectations to see how WOAH activities can be adapted.Advocate for WOAH policies and develop the visibility and outreach of the WOAH and its mandate across stakeholders in the region, including through partnerships.Where possible, seek financial support for Conferences, seminars and any other WOAH activity that could be supported financially by an external donor or a WOAH Member.Coordinate the existing mechanisms for disease control, the implementation of the One Health concept as well as the Quadripartite at regional level by, among others, ensuring close collaboration with key partners (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], World Health Organization [WHO], United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP]) at regional level.
– Act as the regional secretariat of the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs), including by supporting the development and implementation of regional GF-TADs’ strategies, facilitating (when needed) the coordination with the global GF-TADs’ structure, and by fostering a spirit of collaboration with FAO, other regional partners and WOAH Members.
– Upon request of the Director General, and through collaboration with the Deputy Director General, represent and promote the Organisation during meetings with high-level government authorities.

Ensure follow-up and provide support to Members and stakeholders as first contact point of the WOAH in the region he/she leads
– Contribute to improving the quality of information on animal diseases, and the harmonization of control methods used for these diseases, in close collaboration with national or international Animal Health Services in the region, and in line with the WOAH’s strategic objectives.
– Support Members in the implementation of WOAH global strategies adapted to the regional context.
– Ensure the implementation and follow-up of specific projects as well as the organisation of institutional meetings such as the Conference of the Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
– Encourage active participation of Members in WOAH activities, including, for instance, in the standard-setting process and facilitate a neutral space for dialogue among Members and the Specialist Commissions regarding the standard-setting process.
– Facilitate the participation of Members in WOAH activities and training programmes.
– Promote the PVS Pathway at regional/national level, including explaining to resource partners the usefulness of the PVS outcomes to ensure a better targeted investment.
– Contribute to the strengthening/development of relationships and coordinate/interact with the Members of the Region, Regional stakeholders, and partners, in close collaboration with the WOAH Regional Activities Department, to ensure that regional needs are well addressed by the Organisation and that the implementation of WOAH activities at regional level are in line with the WOAH strategic objectives and vision, and in support of Members’ needs.Ensure a close relationship and close collaboration with the host country of the regional office he/she leads.
– Promote, where possible and in close cooperation with national Veterinary Services, the dissemination of WOAH texts in local and regional languages.Sensitise Members to the importance of paying WOAH statutory contributions.

Manage and provide leadership to the regional Office team
– Translate strategic goals into team objectives and monitor collective and individual performance.
– Ensure the office’s compliance with its responsibilities as indicated in the RRs/SRRs Terms of Reference as well as in the document “Clarifying the Terms of Reference of the WOAH Regional and Regional Representations”.
– Foster a positive and productive work environment through the provision of constructive feedback.
– Motivate the team and be responsible for continually channelling information to and from the team, within the office itself and around the Organisation.
– Organise and oversee tasks to ensure the delivery of the team’s missions.
– Participate in the staff recruitment process as well as staff competency development and annual performance appraisals.
– Manage, improve and, where necessary, identify and formalise the different processes of the office.
– Manage the financial and administrative operations of the office.
– Plan, propose and coordinate with the WOAH HQ related Directorates/Departments budgetary propositions for the different activities covered by the office.
– Ensure collaboration among team members to promote transversal cooperation and communication within the office.      

Maintain regional cooperation and harmonisation in the implementation of activities based on the WOAH strategic objectives and responding to the regional needs
– Coordinate activities at regional level to ensure that they align with the WOAH’s strategic objectives, while adapting them to the specific needs of the region’s Veterinary Services.
– Facilitate collaboration with regional economic communities (RECs) and relevant partners to harmonise the implementation of animal health programmes and address transboundary animal diseases, among others.
– Promote the exchange of best practices and technical expertise among WOAH Members, partners, and stakeholders to enhance regional cooperation and achieve shared goals in animal health.