Senior Writer
Harris County
Full-time
On-site
Houston, Texas, United States
$110,000 - $130,000 USD yearly
Media & Communications
Position Description
- About the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis
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. Alongside a strategic leadership team, an expert policy division, and a community affairs team with deep ties across the county, we’re building one of the most sophisticated and values-driven communications shops in local government.
Our communications operation integrates narrative, press, digital, and creative into a unified engine that meets the moment, moves public organizing, and delivers results for the people we serve. We hold high standards and provide high support, offering candid feedback, teamwork without ego, strategic thinking, calm decision-making, and a shared commitment to human dignity and public service.
If you want to do work that leaves a mark—on your career, on this country, and on issues that shape our future—you belong here. We recruit nationally; 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. What happens here often shapes statewide and national conversations—from voting rights and public health to climate resilience and economic justice. Serving Harris County means working at scale, under real scrutiny, with real consequences for millions of residents. The Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis operates at the intersection of policy, community, and national relevance—offering communications professionals an opportunity to do serious, values-driven public service work that travels far 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 plan and produce the high-stakes pieces that set the tone for everything else: major speeches and remarks, op-eds, flagship web pages, mailers, emails, video scripts, and long-form features that show what changed, who benefits, and how residents can act.
You work hand-in-hand with the Director of Narrative Strategy to carry the big idea through every draft. You gather proof points with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy, shape crisp arcs with memorable lines, and deliver clean copy under deadline. You also package approved text so it travels—quotes and talking points for press, a 150–300-word newsroom/email item, and short captions or threads for social—keeping language consistent across channels without stepping on lane owners.
In a typical week, you might build a keynote from scratch, sharpen talking points for a fast briefing, file an op-ed that advances the frame, and stand up a concise explainer for web and email. Throughout, you write in plain language, bake in accessibility, and coordinate timely Spanish versions for priority items—so our work is credible, usable, and worthy of the people we serve.
Key Responsibilities- Signature speeches & remarks:
- 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.
- Voice & narrative alignment:
- 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.
- End-to-end speechmaking:
- Run the full speech process—intake, research, interviews, outline, drafting, revisions—and align with run-of-show. Craft memorable opens/closes and quotable lines.
- Research & proof points:
- Partner with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy to source data, examples, and resident-friendly metrics.
- Maintain a living bank of stories, stats, and citations.
- Scripts, toolkits & explainers:
- Write scripts for short video/explainers.
- Produce partner toolkits (key lines, sample posts, talking points) and concise issue explainers or case studies as needed.
- Make copy travel (channel kits):
- 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.
- Cross-lane adaptations (clear boundaries):
- Press: Assist the Media Relations Director and Press Secretary on releases/advisories/kits as needed (stay within the approved frame).
- Digital: Work with the Digital Director to adapt copy for web/email and provide social captions/threads when helpful.
- Creative: Coordinate with the Creative Director on lower-thirds, graphic text, and print layout language.
- Rapid-response writing:
- Produce fast, accurate lines and short statements during high-velocity moments in coordination with Media Relations and Narrative Strategy.
- Accessibility & language access:
- 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.
- Mentorship & standards:
- Provide line-edits and coaching to junior writers/interns.
- Share templates, checklists, and craft tips that raise clarity and consistency across the team.
- Campaign ownership:
- 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.
- Strategic support:
- Help the Director of Narrative Strategy with message briefs, updates to the message map and counters, and leadership prep materials.
- Help the Director of Narrative Strategy with message briefs, updates to the message map and counters, and leadership prep materials.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate. - Signature speeches & remarks:
Requirements
Education:
- Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Journalism, or English is preferred but not required.
- Equivalent work experience or certifications may also be considered.
- 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.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.- Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Journalism, or English is preferred but not required.
Preferences
- Spanish proficiency a plus
- Government, campaign, or advocacy experience in a diverse urban context is a plus
- Houston/Harris County familiarity helpful but not required
General Information
This is a full-time position offering a competitive yearly salary commensurate with experience; comprehensive benefits, including 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.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.