Senior Writer

The Senior Writer supports the Regional Director in delivering clear, impactful, and strategic messaging aligned with WHO priorities and regional health agendas. The incumbent ensures the preparation of high-quality speeches, talking points, and briefing materials for internal and external engagements with Member States, partners, and global stakeholders, and supports the strategic development of the data and information strategy across the ORD Cluster.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and finalize speeches, talking points, statements, and keynote addresses for the Regional Director across high-level events, meetings, and missions.
• Ensure speeches reflect the priorities and are tailored to the audience, context, and political sensitivities.
• Integrate technical inputs from programme teams into coherent and compelling narratives.
• Liaise with technical units, communications teams, and external partners to gather accurate and up-to-date content for speeches and remarks.
• Coordinate preparation timelines, including early consultation with the Regional Director and relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment with WHO corporate communications strategy and messaging standards.
• Review and edit speeches to ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency, and compliance with WHO style guidelines.
• Facilitate internal clearance processes and ensure timely delivery of speeches, including translation where required.
• Coordinate with the Communication teams to provide strategic advice to the Regional Director on messaging, tone, and positioning in speeches and public interventions.
• Identify opportunities for advocacy and visibility through speeches and high-level engagements.
• Maintain a repository of speeches, talking points, and messaging frameworks for institutional learning and reuse.
• Monitor emerging health priorities and regional developments to inform speech content.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Health, International Relations, or related field.
• Post-graduate training in Public Health, International Relations or Diplomacy is desirable.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in Communication, Journalism, International Relations, Public Health, or related field.
• Demonstrated professional experience in both developing and developed country contexts, including public health or related fields is desirable.
• Experience across diverse institutional settings, such as the private sector, NGOs, UN system, or governmental health agencies is desirable.
• Experience in Speechwriting or Advocacy is desirable.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills with strong ability to synthesize complex technical content into clear and accessible language.
• Knowledge of speechwriting standards, messaging frameworks, and diplomatic protocol.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and shifting priorities effectively.
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills.
• High level of discretion and political sensitivity.
• Sound understanding of global and regional public health issues.
• Familiarity with WHO governance, policy processes, and communication practices.
• Expert knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of French is essential.
• Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese or any other UN official languages is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Skills

• Speech Writing
• Advocacy
• Technical Writing
• Content Editing
• Storytelling
• Messaging Frameworks
• Diplomatic Protocols
• Public Health Communication
• International Relations
• Policy Communications
• WHO Governance Knowledge
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Deadline Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Information Strategy Development

Languages

English, French