Senior technical officer seconded to WHO Copenhagen

As senior technical officer in Copenhagen, you will direct the surveillance strategy for the Central Asian and European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) network, shaping how countries detect and contain drug-resistant pathogens. Seconded from RIVM to the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, this role places you at the centre of international health security, giving you a powerful platform to translate regional data into national action. The position offers a unique combination of technical independence and diplomatic impact, allowing you to establish yourself as a leading authority in infectious disease epidemiology. It is a rare opportunity to bridge research and international policy while directly safeguarding public health.

The task
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens global health, requiring coordinated, data-driven action across borders. Seconded from RIVM to the Pandemic Threats, Communicable Diseases, and AMR Unit (PCT) of the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, you will step into a pivotal role directing the region's surveillance strategy. Based in Denmark, you provide technical leadership the Central Asian and European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) network, ensuring that countries across the WHO European Region generate, analyse, and apply reliable data to contain resistant pathogens.

Your day-to-day work centers on guiding national surveillance systems, particularly in countries that fall outside the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net). You align CAESAR data with global frameworks like the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS), bridging national efforts with international containment strategies. Working alongside international partners, national institutions, and bodies like the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, you shape how resistance trends are monitored, interpreted, and communicated.

Beyond managing network data, you translate evidence into practical public health measures. You support countries in building national action plans, shaping antibiotic stewardship initiatives, developing educational tools, and drafting policy briefs that help governments make informed decisions. Acting as an established expert in infectious disease epidemiology, you operate with substantial autonomy, offering technical guidance to Member States, managing external partnerships, and carefully handling high-profile communications.

In this position, you report directly to the PCT Programme Manager while connecting the strategic vision of WHO Europe with the deep technical expertise of the RIVM Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb). Through this work, you turn complex regional data into practical tools that protect public health across Europe and Central Asia.

WHO Regional Office for Europe
The Pandemic Threats, Communicable Diseases, and AMR Unit (PCT) is mandated to lead regional efforts and provide support to Member States in the prevention and control of pathogens of pandemic and epidemic potential and priority communicable diseases. PCT also addresses cross-cutting priorities such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Infection prevention and control (IPC) and the One Health approach.

Centre for Infectious Disease Control
RIVM’s Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb) is in charge of national infectious disease control, including prevention. We connect and work with national and international partners. We coordinate the fight against infectious diseases in national and cross-regional outbreaks. In addition, the Centre formulates policy advice on the prevention and control of infectious diseases and advises the government and health care professionals responsible for policy implementation. Research is carried out, contributing to the development of expertise, quality and standardisation in infectious disease control.

Information
Are you interested in this position, but have some questions before applying? Please reach out to CAESAR coordinator Carolien Ruesen (+31 6 31105041), HR advisor Els Jacobs (+31 6 50029079) or department head AMR Sabine de Greeff (+31 6 55365802), they will be happy to answer your questions.

Interviews for this position will take place on October 5th and 6th 2026.

This position is initially for a period of two years. While future continuation is possible, we cannot guarantee an extension at this stage. We are ideally looking for candidates interested in a long-term commitment, and we will keep you fully informed well in advance regarding the possibility of extending your position.

You will be hired by RIVM, but this position will be seconded to WHO EURO as P4 and will have benefits as befitting this position with educational allowance for children, health and pension scheme. There will also be a financial allowance for relocation to Copenhagen and a salary post adjustment to compensate for the difference in cost of living.

Requirements
To succeed in this role, you bring:

• An advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in medicine, public health, or infectious disease epidemiology, complemented by specialized training in areas such as disease surveillance, clinical microbiology, or pharmaco-epidemiology.
• Extensive experience in infectious disease prevention and control at a national or international level, with a focus on implementing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance systems and analysing epidemiological data to guide public health decisions.
• Fluency in English to produce policy briefs and present complex data to diverse stakeholders, paired with working knowledge of Dutch to facilitate seamless collaboration with RIVM.
• A proactive, structured approach to managing your workload, enabling you to operate autonomously and consistently deliver high-quality technical outputs within agreed deadlines.
• Adaptability and clear communication skills, allowing you to explain intricate technical concepts simply and tailor your messaging when providing guidance to national representatives or external partners.
• Experience building intersectoral partnerships, ideally within the UN system, WHO, or cross-border public health networks, which helps you navigate multicultural environments and coordinate joint initiatives across different countries and organizations.

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