Job Posting Title:

Presidential Speechwriter

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Hiring Department:

Office of the President

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will make a difference in the lives of university faculty and staff, thereby enhancing the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance optionsGenerous paid vacation, sick time, and holidaysTeachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching fundsAdditional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expensesRobust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunitiesTuition assistanceExpansive employee discount program including athletic ticketsFree access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID cardFree rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID cardFor more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards 

Must be eligible to work in the US on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Purpose

The Speechwriter is responsible for bringing life, voice, energy and cohesion to communicating the vision and messages of the President of The University of Texas at Austin. The position requires strategic thinking and planning and the ability to craft and deliver a broad narrative to share the President’s vision and priorities. Day-to-day, this involves writing speeches and official remarks, developing presentations, writing and/or reviewing talking points, and drafting commentaries for the President, often within critical and competing time frames. The Speechwriter also provides strategic communications counsel to the President and coordinates with University Marketing and Communications to ensure consistency between the President’s messaging and the University’s.

ResponsibilitiesResearch and write formal and informal speeches, as well as messages to campus and key stakeholders, internal and external. Draft and refine op-ed columns, video scripts and other messaging deliverables to convey the President’s voice and vision. Review reports and presentations for the President in a time-sensitive manner. Work actively to understand the President’s style and preferences with limited guidance. Manage review process by internal stakeholders and with University Marketing & Communications (UMAC) to ensure message clarity and alignment. Develop clear and effective materials, reflecting the President’s style, voice and tone, for use in specific settings, such as conferences, board meetings, legislative hearings, or other large-scale and high visibility events, as well as for use across various UT Austin publications and channels. Communicate consistently and clearly the President's vision for university-wide initiatives, the institution’s role as the flagship university of Texas, and commitment to serving the people of Texas.Serve as the President’s speechwriter who contributes to executive communications strategies and plans developed in partnership with UMAC for communicating the President’s work and vision to external and internal audiences. Collaborate proactively with UMAC leadership to ensure messaging alignment across channels and with the Provost and other University leaders. Anticipate the impact of decisions and announcements and plan the President’s communications accordingly. Work with other university leaders to provide any support needed to carry out presidential initiatives.Consult with university leaders, communications leaders and staff to align and coordinate regarding internal and external messages and communication of the president’s position on university strategy and policy and higher education issues. Work proactively with UMAC and individuals across campus to gather information and identify stories across campus. Provide mentorship and guidance to Executive Communications Coordinator in UMAC. Assist in developing materials and prepared remarks as needed, ensuring consistency in messaging across leaders and formats/venues, e.g. business and community events at the local, state and national level; legislative testimony; meetings with employees; and other venues as needed.

Required QualificationsBachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, or related field.At least 10 years of experience writing speeches, remarks and persuasive materials for a senior executive of a public corporation, higher education institution or governmental organization.Substantial experience synthesizing and articulating the mission and priorities of a large, complex organization and implementing an executive communications strategy to enhance both the leader’s and the organization’s reputation.Political and organizational savvy, including reading a room expertly and reading between the lines when comments and feedback are given.Well-honed ability to coach and advise a senior leader with the ability to sense when to push and pull back on feedback and counsel.

Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred QualificationsHigher Education experience.Experience supporting an elected or appointed government official, including navigating. legislative and government affairs issues and communications.Experience collaborating with content marketing, advertising, creative and web teams.Willingness and ability to bring ideas from across higher education and other industries to bear in developing a distinctive and effective presidential communications strategy for UT Austin.

Salary Range

$325,000

Working ConditionsMay work around standard office conditionsRepetitive use of a keyboard at a workstationUse of manual dexterity

Can be high intensity environment with multiple assignments at one time

Required MaterialsResume/CV3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisorLetter of interestMultiple writing samples showing different style and tone of voice

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.