Executive Speechwriter for a University President

University Of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan with match

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Flexible spending accounts

Generous paid time off

Job summary

The University of Michigan seeks an exceptional speechwriter to bring the president's voice, ideas, and vision to life across audiences from students to national and global leaders.

The Presidential Speechwriter will develop remarks, maintain the president's voice, translate complex ideas into clear language, and build enduring themes across speeches and platforms. This role requires substantial in-person work in Ann Arbor and reports to the vice president for communications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in political science, history, communications, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• At least seven years of experience in speechwriting, executive communications, journalism, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills; demonstrated ability to write authentically in another person's voice.
• Intellectual curiosity, creativity, strong research skills, and rigorous attention to accuracy.
• Ability to move quickly across subjects, audiences, and formats while exercising excellent judgment and discretion.
• Experience writing for a university president, CEO, political or civic leader, or other highly visible principal is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft speeches, remarks, talking points, and other spoken communications for the president.
• Capture and maintain the president's voice while adapting it for different audiences and settings.
• Translate complex ideas into clear, compelling, and memorable language and stories.
• Develop themes and narratives that build across the president's remarks and broader public platform.
• Conduct rigorous research and work across the university to surface the people, ideas, and stories that should inform presidential remarks.
• Identify opportunities to extend strong ideas into opinion pieces, interviews, digital communications, and other thought-leadership platforms.
• Support and attend rehearsals and events as needed, using experience and audience response to continually strengthen future remarks.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Exceptional writing

Editing

Research skills

Audience adaptation

Executive communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in political science, history, communications, public relations, journalism, or related field

Job description

The University of Michigan seeks an exceptional speechwriter to bring the president's voice, ideas, and vision to life across audiences from students to national and global leaders.

The Presidential Speechwriter will develop remarks, maintain the president's voice, translate complex ideas into clear language, and build enduring themes across speeches and platforms. This role requires substantial in-person work in Ann Arbor and reports to the vice president for communications.