Overview
Position Description
The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis serves Harris County, the largest county in Texas and the third largest in the United States. In a fast-moving policy environment, our decisions shape statewide and national conversations on democracy, justice, health, climate resilience, and economic dignity. Commissioner Rodney Ellis is a nationally respected leader with a decades-long record of advancing civil rights, justice, and equity in Texas. We are building a values-driven communications operation that integrates narrative, press, digital, and creative to meet the moment, move public organizing, and deliver results for residents. Relocation to Houston is required.
Why Harris County Harris County is the third-largest county in the United States and one of the most diverse communities in the nation. Work here can influence statewide and national conversations—from voting rights and public health to climate resilience and economic justice. The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis offers opportunities to do serious, values-driven public service work that travels beyond local headlines.
About The Position You are the office’s principal writer—the person who turns complex policy and lived experience into clear, human stories in Commissioner Ellis’s voice. As Senior Writer & Speechwriter, you will plan and produce high-stakes pieces that set the tone for speeches, op-eds, flagship web pages, mailers, emails, video scripts, and long-form features. You will work with the Director of Narrative Strategy to carry the big idea through every draft, gather proof points with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy, and deliver clean copy under deadline. You will package approved text for press quotes, talking points, newsroom items, and social captions while keeping language consistent across channels.
Typical activities include building a keynote from scratch, sharpening talking points, filing op-eds, and creating concise web/email explainers. You will write in plain language, bake in accessibility, and coordinate timely Spanish versions for priority items.
Key Responsibilities
Signature speeches & remarks: Draft and edit keynote speeches, remarks for events, statements, and op-eds. Deliver clean, on-voice drafts with a clear arc, proof points, and a call to action.
Voice & narrative alignment: Carry the annual narrative and quarterly message maps; maintain tone and lines consistent; tailor for audience and medium.
End-to-end speechmaking: Manage intake, research, interviews, outline, drafting, revisions, and run-of-show alignment. Craft memorable opens/closes and quotable lines.
Research & proof points: Partner with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy to source data and resident-friendly metrics; maintain a living bank of stories and citations.
Scripts, toolkits & explainers: Write scripts for short videos; produce partner toolkits and concise issue explainers or case studies as needed.
Make copy travel (channel kits): Package approved text for deployment across lanes (pull-quotes, social captions, newsroom items, scripts) without changing the frame.
Cross-lane adaptations (clear boundaries):
Press: Assist the Media Relations Director and Press Secretary on releases/advisories/kits within the approved frame.
Digital: Adapt copy for web/email and provide social captions/threads as helpful.
Creative: Coordinate on lower-thirds, graphic text, and print layout language.
Rapid-response writing: Produce fast, accurate lines during high-velocity moments in coordination with Media Relations and Narrative Strategy.
Accessibility & language access: Write in plain language; include accessibility notes and coordinate on-time Spanish versions through County services or partners.
Mentorship & standards: Provide line-edits and coaching to junior writers; share templates and tips to raise clarity and consistency.
Campaign ownership: Plan and deliver discrete content packages (e.g., issue explainer + web hub + email + social set + toolkit) and manage timelines and approvals.
Strategic support: Assist the Director of Narrative Strategy with message briefs and leadership prep materials.
Qualifications Education : Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Journalism, or English is preferred but not required. Equivalent work experience or certifications may be considered.
Experience : 5–8+ years of professional writing in strategic communications, journalism, speechwriting, or public affairs; portfolio with major speeches, op-eds, long-form features, and web/email/mailer samples. Proven ability to ghostwrite in a principal’s voice and translate complex policy into plain-language stories. Strong editing skills and comfort with fast, substantive edits.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities : Rigorous research discipline; cross-functional collaboration; ability to adapt one core idea across channels; commitment to equity, plain language, accessibility, and language inclusion; experience with translators or translation services; strong project management and version control.
Note Note:
Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume; ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. “See Resume” will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Spanish proficiency is a plus
Government, campaign, or advocacy experience in a diverse urban context is a plus
Houston/Harris County familiarity is helpful but not required
General Information This is a full-time position offering a competitive salary commensurate with experience, comprehensive benefits, relocation assistance, and opportunities for professional growth. Some evenings and weekends are required. Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Positions may close prior to the advertised date at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
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The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis serves Harris County, the largest county in Texas and the third largest in the United States. In a fast-moving policy environment, our decisions shape statewide and national conversations on democracy, justice, health, climate resilience, and economic dignity. Commissioner Rodney Ellis is a nationally respected leader with a decades-long record of advancing civil rights, justice, and equity in Texas. We are building a values-driven communications operation that integrates narrative, press, digital, and creative to meet the moment, move public organizing, and deliver results for residents. Relocation to Houston is required.
Why Harris County Harris County is the third-largest county in the United States and one of the most diverse communities in the nation. Work here can influence statewide and national conversations—from voting rights and public health to climate resilience and economic justice. The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis offers opportunities to do serious, values-driven public service work that travels beyond local headlines.
About The Position You are the office’s principal writer—the person who turns complex policy and lived experience into clear, human stories in Commissioner Ellis’s voice. As Senior Writer & Speechwriter, you will plan and produce high-stakes pieces that set the tone for speeches, op-eds, flagship web pages, mailers, emails, video scripts, and long-form features. You will work with the Director of Narrative Strategy to carry the big idea through every draft, gather proof points with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy, and deliver clean copy under deadline. You will package approved text for press quotes, talking points, newsroom items, and social captions while keeping language consistent across channels.
Typical activities include building a keynote from scratch, sharpening talking points, filing op-eds, and creating concise web/email explainers. You will write in plain language, bake in accessibility, and coordinate timely Spanish versions for priority items.
Key Responsibilities
Signature speeches & remarks: Draft and edit keynote speeches, remarks for events, statements, and op-eds. Deliver clean, on-voice drafts with a clear arc, proof points, and a call to action.
Voice & narrative alignment: Carry the annual narrative and quarterly message maps; maintain tone and lines consistent; tailor for audience and medium.
End-to-end speechmaking: Manage intake, research, interviews, outline, drafting, revisions, and run-of-show alignment. Craft memorable opens/closes and quotable lines.
Research & proof points: Partner with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy to source data and resident-friendly metrics; maintain a living bank of stories and citations.
Scripts, toolkits & explainers: Write scripts for short videos; produce partner toolkits and concise issue explainers or case studies as needed.
Make copy travel (channel kits): Package approved text for deployment across lanes (pull-quotes, social captions, newsroom items, scripts) without changing the frame.
Cross-lane adaptations (clear boundaries):
Press: Assist the Media Relations Director and Press Secretary on releases/advisories/kits within the approved frame.
Digital: Adapt copy for web/email and provide social captions/threads as helpful.
Creative: Coordinate on lower-thirds, graphic text, and print layout language.
Rapid-response writing: Produce fast, accurate lines during high-velocity moments in coordination with Media Relations and Narrative Strategy.
Accessibility & language access: Write in plain language; include accessibility notes and coordinate on-time Spanish versions through County services or partners.
Mentorship & standards: Provide line-edits and coaching to junior writers; share templates and tips to raise clarity and consistency.
Campaign ownership: Plan and deliver discrete content packages (e.g., issue explainer + web hub + email + social set + toolkit) and manage timelines and approvals.
Strategic support: Assist the Director of Narrative Strategy with message briefs and leadership prep materials.
Qualifications Education : Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Journalism, or English is preferred but not required. Equivalent work experience or certifications may be considered.
Experience : 5–8+ years of professional writing in strategic communications, journalism, speechwriting, or public affairs; portfolio with major speeches, op-eds, long-form features, and web/email/mailer samples. Proven ability to ghostwrite in a principal’s voice and translate complex policy into plain-language stories. Strong editing skills and comfort with fast, substantive edits.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities : Rigorous research discipline; cross-functional collaboration; ability to adapt one core idea across channels; commitment to equity, plain language, accessibility, and language inclusion; experience with translators or translation services; strong project management and version control.
Note Note:
Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume; ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. “See Resume” will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Spanish proficiency is a plus
Government, campaign, or advocacy experience in a diverse urban context is a plus
Houston/Harris County familiarity is helpful but not required
General Information This is a full-time position offering a competitive salary commensurate with experience, comprehensive benefits, relocation assistance, and opportunities for professional growth. Some evenings and weekends are required. Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Positions may close prior to the advertised date at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
#J-18808-Ljbffr