Health and education are priority areas for the Commonwealth's social development programmes and a specialised unit focusing on addressing poverty-related health diseases and addressing education challenges has been established.
Providing leadership and strategic direction, your remit is to develop, manage and deliver programmes; lead and co-ordinate high-level advisory missions; and represent the Secretariat on social development issues. Also, you will lead your team of professional and support staff.
This is crucial work calling for a sound understanding of both health and education issues hindering social development; a minimum of eight years' experience at leadership and management level, of technical and development co-operation programmes including the development and implementation of social research, policies and programmes, pertaining to developing countries, at national, regional and international level. Your skills in quantitative and qualitative social policy research as well as comparative social and economic analysis will also be crucial. 
All this should be supported by a relevant post-graduate degree with specialisation in policy analysis, social sciences or related discipline, evidence of successfully managing a multi-disciplinary team and familiarity with working in complex multicultural and intergovernmental settings.  
We work with our 53 member governments in areas of economic, social and political development. We do so by providing practical technical assistance, offering thought leadership and innovative solutions, and advocacy. As we improve the wellbeing of 2.2 billion citizens, 60% of whom are under 30 years of age, so we give you the opportunity to take a significant step in your career and make a significant contribution through this role.