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Harris County · 8 hours ago

Senior Writer

Houston, TX

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

5+ years exp

Harris County, the largest county in Texas, is seeking a Senior Writer to serve the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis. The role involves crafting clear, human stories from complex policy, producing major speeches, op-eds, and various communication materials that resonate with the community.

Government Administration

Responsibilities

Draft and edit keynote speeches, remarks for key public events, statements, and op-eds

Deliver clean, on-voice drafts with a clear arc, proof points, and a concrete call to action

Carry the annual narrative and quarterly message maps from the Director of Narrative Strategy

Keep tone, cadence, and key lines consistent; tailor for audience and medium

Run the full speech process—intake, research, interviews, outline, drafting, revisions—and align with run-of-show. Craft memorable opens/closes and quotable lines

Partner with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy to source data, examples, and resident-friendly metrics

Maintain a living bank of stories, stats, and citations

Write scripts for short video/explainers

Produce partner toolkits (key lines, sample posts, talking points) and concise issue explainers or case studies as needed

Package approved text so other lanes can deploy it—pull-quotes, 1–2 social captions, a 150–300-word newsroom/email item, and a 60-second script—without changing the frame

Assist the Media Relations Director and Press Secretary on releases/advisories/kits as needed (stay within the approved frame)

Work with the Digital Director to adapt copy for web/email and provide social captions/threads when helpful

Coordinate with the Creative Director on lower-thirds, graphic text, and print layout language

Produce fast, accurate lines and short statements during high-velocity moments in coordination with Media Relations and Narrative Strategy

Write in plain language; include accessibility notes (alt text, captions, readability) and coordinate on-time Spanish versions for priority items through County services or trusted partners

Provide line-edits and coaching to junior writers/interns

Share templates, checklists, and craft tips that raise clarity and consistency across the team

Plan and deliver discrete content packages (e.g., issue explainer + web hub + email + social set + toolkit)

Manage timelines, approvals, and version control; keep stakeholders current

Help the Director of Narrative Strategy with message briefs, updates to the message map and counters, and leadership prep materials

Qualification

Professional writingSpeechwritingStrategic communicationsResearch disciplineProject managementPlain language writingAccessibility commitmentEquityJustice experienceSpanish proficiencyCross-functional collaboration

Required

Bachelor's or graduate degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Journalism, or English is preferred but not required

5–8+ years of professional writing in strategic communications, journalism, speechwriting, or public affairs, with a portfolio that includes 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, human-centered stories

Expert editor with strong structure; comfortable giving and receiving fast, substantive edits

Rigorous research discipline: interviews, source vetting, fact-checking, and building proof-point packets with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy (CAA)

Cross-functional collaborator with Media Relations, Digital, and Creative; steady judgment under deadline pressure and in rapid-response moments

Fluent at adapting one core idea across channels (press, speeches, web/email, social, print) without losing clarity or voice

Commitment to equity, justice, and the values of the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and experience developing or executing communications related to equity and justice, including work that engages or serves communities of color

Commitment to equity, plain language, accessibility, and language inclusion; experience working with translators or translation services

Strong project management: version control, approvals, and juggling multiple deadlines with clear, calm communication