The World Health Organization is recruiting a Scientist in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for a two-year fixed-term appointment in Geneva, Switzerland. The vacancy is graded P5 and carries reference number 2600991.
This is a senior specialist opportunity for an experienced researcher. It should not be treated as an entry-level UN role or a graduate training programme. Applicants need a substantial record directly relevant to the advertised field.
Experience, qualifications and deadline
The vacancy requires at least ten years of international research and research-management experience in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, including work in low- and middle-income countries. An advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology or another relevant field is required.
Expert English is essential, with French desirable. The advertised closing date is 9 October 2026; the recruitment system displays the time according to device settings, so applicants should check their own deadline display and submit early.
The position contributes to scientific and technical work on adolescent health and rights. Review the full official duties and eligibility requirements before deciding whether your experience matches the role.
Build an evidence-based application
Start with the essential requirements and identify a concrete example for each. For a senior role, a list of research topics is unlikely to show the depth of your contribution. Explain the decisions you led, the responsibilities you held and the outputs for which you were accountable.
Make the international dimension of your work understandable. Describe the setting, partners and scope without assuming that the name of a large project explains your own role. Distinguish technical leadership, project management and participation in a wider collaboration.
Explain the contribution of your research
Choose examples that show how a question was developed, investigated and communicated. Explain the methods and why they suited the problem. Discuss limitations and the steps taken to maintain research quality rather than presenting every finding as definitive.
If your work informed policy or practice, describe the link carefully. Identify the document, decision or process involved and what evidence supports the claimed influence. Avoid claiming sole credit for changes that depended on many organisations or factors.
Show responsible leadership
Prepare an example of supporting colleagues, managing competing priorities or resolving a technical disagreement. Explain how you reached a decision and what you learned. A senior application benefits from evidence of sound judgement as well as subject expertise.
Discuss ethical responsibilities in a professional way. Use anonymised examples where necessary and do not include identifiable research-participant information in application materials. The objective is to demonstrate how you handled responsibilities, not to reveal confidential details.
Present a clear research record
Keep publication information accurate and consistent. Separate published work from manuscripts under review and explain your contribution to major collaborative outputs. A concise selection of relevant work can be easier to assess than an undifferentiated list.
Where appropriate, include evidence of developing research capacity, mentoring colleagues or coordinating across institutions. Be clear about the scale and duration of these activities. Avoid turning occasional support into a claim of formal managerial responsibility.
Prepare for the recruitment process
Review your education records and employment dates before completing the form. Make sure the experience you describe can be supported by your documents and references. Save the vacancy text and a copy of your final submission for later preparation.
Consider the practical implications of a Geneva appointment and the stated contract duration. Check the official notice for current employment conditions, selection arrangements and any documentation requests. Do not rely on another WHO vacancy having the same terms.
The application suggestions in this article are Opportunities Feed editorial guidance, not WHO’s complete assessment framework. Use the button below to read the official vacancy and apply through WHO’s recruitment platform while the opportunity remains available.
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Keywords: WHO P5 Scientist, adolescent health research jobs, WHO Geneva vacancy, sexual reproductive health rights careers, WHO 2600991
