The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) seeks an outstanding Executive Speechwriter to provide communications support to UNDP’s leadership. This is a rare opportunity for the right individual to make a vital contribution to elevating UNDP’s profile in global dialogues on sustainable human development, eradicating poverty, and reducing inequalities.
Background
UNDP’s Speechwriter is responsible for developing high-impact communications for the organization’s Administrator and Associate Administrator. This position requires strategic thinking with the ability to deliver consistently high quality, well written, thought-provoking materials on a range of topics under pressure and tight deadlines. The Speechwriter will be part of a small executive communications team in the Executive Office. He/she will have dual reporting to the Executive Office and to the Communications Group in the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead on the drafting of English-language lectures and speeches for the Administrator and Associate Administrator, consistently ensuring a high level of accuracy and flexibility in creating, writing, and adapting content and presentation for a wide variety of audiences. This includes:
- Undertaking original research on a range of development topics as needed to inform the speech/lecture and soliciting inputs from across the organization.
- Analyzing complex information, including statistics, financial information and other qualitative and quantitative data, to develop and support key messages to be used in speeches/lectures and other communications material as required.
- Researching audience expectations, event agenda and topics, and assist in focusing the purpose of each speech or lecture to tailor messages for audience appeal and impact.
- Draft/review/edit other substantive material for the Executive Office as requested including statements, briefings, op-eds, opinions, articles, talking points, key messages and other written communications. This may include targeted messages for internal communications within UNDP or for specific stakeholders and partners, as needed by the Executive Office.
- Work with senior managers and communications colleagues in various UNDP Bureaux to incorporate Executive Office messaging into their speeches and other communications materials.
- Coordinate with the Executive Office and the Communications Group on publishing speeches and presentation content on UNDP’s corporate website including maintaining an up-to-date archive of speeches
- Extract key messages from speeches/presentations/articles for dissemination through social media channels, in close collaboration with the Communications Group.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
- Ability to get things done
- Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.
- Exceptional judgment and professionalism
Functional Competencies:
Writing and editing:
- Ability to originate or edit content for a wide variety of specialized and general audiences, such as governments, donors, international financial institutions, private sector and civil society leaders, and media.
- Proven ability to shape strong messages and communicate complex processes, technical information, statistics, and stories in clear, concise, compelling writing that is also well-adapted to verbal delivery.
Research:
- Ability to undertake substantive research on various policy related issues, including for example through literature reviews, and ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative data to inform policy recommendations.
- Ability to coordinate cooperatively with multi-disciplinary teams on multiple topics in order to assemble and process information and ensure accuracy
Knowledge Management:
- Ability to efficiently organize and share information and knowledge across multiple levels and teams to ensure that messages are multiplied and disseminated across the organization and externally.
Planning and organizing:
- Demonstrated ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a demanding, multi-stakeholder environment, to prioritize among these tasks, and to work toward short deadlines.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- An advanced university degree in journalism, communications, social science, international relations or development-related field.
Experience:
- At least seven years of experience working in international development, including writing English-language speeches and/or articles, at least three of which should be on behalf of senior executives, government leaders or leaders in other fields.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex and technical messages into plain language for audience appeal and impact.
- Demonstrated track record of performing excellently under pressure and adhering to strict deadlines while maintaining a sophisticated understanding of organizational and external contexts.
- Excellent general understanding of international human development, poverty, human rights and other related issues
- Familiarity with the UN system in general and/or with UNDP’s mission in particular are an asset
Language:
- Fluency in written and spoken English; working knowledge of other UN languages is an asset
Candidates will be asked to provide writing samples and a written test will be administered to short-listed candidates
For further information and to apply for this position, please go to: http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=50459
Speechwriter Job at UNDP
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