Speech Writer

Who We Are Colorado Governor-elect Phil Weiser is committed to an administration that represents all of Colorado, and serves and protects every Coloradan. Governor-elect Weiser and his team will lead State government to ensure that we serve the people of Colorado, working to make their lives better, and together, we meet opportunities and challenges with creativity, collaboration, and compassion. His commitment to serve as the People’s Governor means that he and his team will have a sustained focus on how to make Colorado safer, more affordable, more sustainable, and a great place to live, build a business, and raise a family.

We Have Strong Core Values Our core values drive our actions. We are: 1) principled, maintaining the highest ethical standards, acting with integrity, and operating transparently; 2) public servants, who are always ensuring our work is not about us, but instead is about improving the lives of the people of Colorado; 3) innovative, by seeking to solve problems creatively and operate with a continuous improvement mindset; and 4) "better together," by working to support each other as a team and collaborate effectively.

Department Information The Office of the Governor oversees the operation of the executive branch of state government, including the coordination, direction, and planning of agency operations. The Governor’s staff includes offices for budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling. Department: Office of the Governor

Position Title: Speechwriter

Summary of Functions: The Speechwriter is responsible for the remarks delivered each year by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the First Lady, as well as other briefings and communications materials, from op-eds to press releases to talking points, working closely with the Governor, the policy and communications teams, and other stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Draft speeches and talking points for the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the First Lady, including writing, research, story gathering, and editorial support for several hundred speeches a year

• Lead the writing of the annual State of the State address and work with a broad range of stakeholders on it and on other high-priority projects

• Respond to the Governor’s evolving communications need

• Oversee the speechwriting process for other contributors and work collaboratively with content partners

• Develop fresh thinking and creative ideas for speeches and other content

• Transform complex material into digestible, conversational language and use storytelling to make policy relatable to constituents

• Research and fact-check remarks and supporting materials

• Work with the communications team to translate speeches into a multi-platform communications plan

• Manage complex project timelines under tight deadlines to meet the Governor’s needs

Organizational Relationships: Chief Communications Officer; Governor’s Office; Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Office of the First Lady; Press team; Community engagement team Preferred Education/Experience:

• College degree or work experience equivalent

• 2-4 years experience in communications/project management

Preferred Qualifications:

• Government experience

• Excellent communication and writing skills

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment

• Attention to detail and organization skills

Conditions of employment: Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed HOW TO APPLY: Please submit an online application for this position at buildingcoloradosfuturetogether.org. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date. A resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

Benefits The State of Colorado offers a competitive benefits package to permanent employees:

• PERA retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage

• Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage

• Life and AD&D Insurance

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

• 11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave

• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.

ADAAA Requests The State of Colorado is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our office will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected].

We believe that diverse teams produce better results and encourage people of a variety of backgrounds and qualifications to apply.