"Writer (Office of the President)"

We are seeking a Writer who will serve as an integral part of the President's Office team, working to tell the story of Johns Hopkins University and convey the priorities of the President to a broad array of national and local audiences. Through speeches, talking points, media statements, and other messages, the writer will help articulate the vision and ideas of the University President in compelling and creative ways. The work will cover topics ranging from issues facing higher education and public policy, to the student experience, to the University’s engagement with Baltimore, among many others.

The Writer will report to the Sr. Director of Leadership Communications and Engagement. This team is made up of writers who love a good story that is grounded in deep and thoughtful research and told in compelling language. The writer must have demonstrated talents for producing high-quality written work on deadline, for gathering complex information and translating it to a variety of audiences, and for navigating and interpreting feedback from multiple sources. A successful candidate will be self-motivated, flexible, and highly collaborative, and will bring both humanity and good humor to their work.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Research and draft a range of written and spoken communications, including speeches, talking points, letters, quotes, columns, and other materials.
• Ensure the President’s remarks serve the event and the audience by reviewing all briefing materials on meetings, events, and other interactions with speaking components.
• Conduct research and interviews for written and spoken communications.
• Review remarks, letters, and communications materials prepared for the President, including those drafted by other offices, and ensure that they are accurate, appropriate, and carefully proofed.
• Build and sustain relationships with colleagues in offices of university leadership, faculty, staff, and other constituents to fuel and inform communications materials.
• Monitor and analyze major issues in higher education, public policy, and popular culture, as well as ongoing developments across our campuses in order to appropriately address these issues in communications.
• Apply discretion and diplomacy while working with sensitive information to advance the priorities of the Office of the President.

*NOTE: Please include three writing samples with resume and cover letter.*

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Two years of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Skills and Knowledge

• Consistently excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Excellent research, analytical and storytelling skills.
• Knowledge of grammar usage and editorial style guidelines.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information quickly and accurately.
• Ability to work quickly on deadline, while balancing competing priorities and tackling multiple assignments.
• Ability to maintain the utmost discretion and diplomacy and to interact effectively with high-level individuals.
• Ability to be flexible, self-motivated and collaborative in order to deliver high quality work product in multiple communications mediums.

Classified Title: Speech Writer
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Writer (Office of the President)
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PD
Starting Salary Range: $62,900 - $110,100 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Homewood Campus
Department name: President Office of
Personnel area: University Administration