Roster for Freelance editors in the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) is looking to expand our pool of freelance editors. Freelancers work under the supervision of our in-house editorial team to review and edit a wide range of publications and documents, and may also work as meeting report-writers. Work may be offered on a per-job basis to members of the pool, with remuneration based on our set rates. Membership of the pool of freelance editors does not constitute employment with WHO and there is no guarantee that any freelance jobs will be offered to pool members.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the detailed supervision of the Publishing Manager or a designated in-house editor, and in collaboration with the relevant technical unit, the freelance editor is expected to perform the following tasks and duties:

• familiarize themselves with WHO house style;
• for each agreed job, edit text in track changes so that it is coherent, grammatically sound, consonant with WHO style and suitable for the target audience;
• where agreed as part of the terms of reference for a job, also suggest structural changes to draft content, redraft as necessary and edit technical content in detail;
• check figures, tables and images to ensure that they are appropriate, consonant with WHO style and supported by accurate references in the text;
• raise and resolve queries as necessary to clarify the meaning of the text or resolve editorial inconsistencies or other issues;
• check and revise edited drafts in line with feedback from WHO editorial and technical staff;
• where agreed, attend WHO meetings, take notes and draft reports; and
• execute any other editorial tasks as agreed with the Publishing Manager.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A first degree in any subject. Desirable: A first degree in public health, languages, social science or another relevant subject. A higher degree in any subject.

Experience

Essential: At least five years’ professional experience (whether on a freelance or employed basis) of editing English-language texts. Desirable: Experience of editing texts for WHO or another international organization. Experience of editing texts dealing with public health issues. Experience of editing material in a range of print and electronic formats.

Use of language skills

Essential: English to mother-tongue standard. Desirable: None

Skills

Essential: Strong editing skills in English.

Good skills in Microsoft Word and other standard software.

Ability to check facts and references using web sources.

Good time management.

Desirable: Proficiency in editing for the web.

Proficiency in writing reports and summaries.

Additional information :

• All contractual assignments will be ad hoc and limited to the editing of the particular document or publication specified in each contract, Thus duration of assignment would vary based on programmatic requirements
• WHO EMRO’s rates for editing are fixed and non-negotiable.
• The performance and quality of the editorial output of freelance editors is subject to review by WHO EMRO’s Publishing, Editorial and Graphic Design unit.
• This selection is for contractual services only and does not give rise to any employment with or entitlement from WHO EMRO.
• There is no commitment from either side at this stage.
• Applications should be submitted through WHO's online recruitment portal only. Please visit www.who.int/careers to complete an online profile and to apply to this vacancy.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• In the event your candidature is retained for an assignment, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma (s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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