Marketing & Communications freelancer

Purpose of contract

WFSA wishes to appoint a marketing and communications freelancer to support the development and implementation of a global marketing and communications plan for the 19th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA2026) to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 15-19 April 2026.

World Congress – Background

The World Congress of Anaesthesiologists is the pre-eminent global conference for the anaesthesiology community worldwide. It is organised as a collaboration between WFSA and one of its Member Societies. The World Congress was originally held every four years but is being organised biennially as a hybrid event from 2024. The first World Congress was held in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1955 and you can find details on previous and upcoming locations here.

The congress attracts a varied global audience; from early career anaesthesiologists to senior heads of departments, hospital leaders and professors. It is also open to attendance by nurses and medical students, but their numbers are relatively small.

WCA2026 – Details

The Société Marocaine d’Anesthésie, d’Analgésie et de Réanimation (Moroccan Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Critical Care – SMAAR) is the co-host for WCA2026. The SMAAR project team will work with WFSA staff to deliver all aspects of the congress supported by a local events agency which manages hotels and venue logistics. Marketing and communications will be overseen by WFSA staff.

We aim to attract 2500-3000 in-person paying delegates to Marrakech along with a larger number of virtual attendees. Congress scientific sessions will be held in English with a smaller number inFrench. Faculty will be made up of global experts within different aspects of anaesthesiology.

Project deliverable

Development and implementation of a global marketing and communications plan in English, targeting anaesthesiologists across 140+ countries with the aim of securing their in-person or virtual attendance at WCA2026. This should incorporate extensive and proven experience in:

• Existing WCA social media – Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and X.
• WCA2026 website: Development of content using a WordPress Blocks CMS on www.wcacongress.org.
• The use and expansion of a WCA Mailchimp mailing list employed to disseminate relevant and timely newsletters and e-blasts. Geotargeting should be used to ensure maximum reach.
• Use of Canva and related design software to develop marketing collateral.
• Liaison with designers/and or website developers when necessary to develop WCA2024 marketing collateral.
• Editing copy for website, newsletter and wider marketing collateral.

Project brief:

1. Marketing & communications freelancer will work closely with the WFSA and SMAAR Secretariats. Key relationships will be with WFSA’s Communications & Advocacy Manager, WCA Advisor, and the SMAAR Project Manager.
2. All materials developed will use and reinforce existing WCA branding.
3. Contract length: Start no later than 1 August 2024 to 30 April 2026.

Criteria for selection of contracting partner (not listed in order of importance)

• Value for money.
• Flexibility in working hours. The freelancer may be called upon to occasionally work out of usual office hours (08:00-18:00). Note that the majority of working hours must overlap with UK time zone.
• Experience evidence of using digital channels to engage with a global audience.
• Ability to access international networks.
• Fluency in English (native level or equivalent). Fluency in French and other languages would be an added advantage.
• Ability to deliver, on time and on budget, against the agreed objectives.
• Knowledge and understanding of scientific and/or academic events.
• Able to work collaboratively with a team as well as independently.

How to apply

Please send your CV/resume with a short covering letter (1 page max.) to opportunities@wfsahq.org, noting how your experience meets the requirements set out above.