Job Title: Speechwriter and content editor โ Communications Specialist
Location: Washington, DC
The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.
About this position
We are looking for a fully bilingual speech writer and communicator to join our executive communications team in Washington, D.C. As a Speechwriter and content editor you will be a part of a small group of professionals responsible for executive communications. Candidates should also be able to work under pressure, tight deadlines and have a demonstrated ability to produce great content in multiple formats.
You will work in Executive Communications Team part of the Knowledge, Innovation and Communications Sector. The main responsibility of the team is to support the communications of the Office of the President, producing speeches, talking points, op-eds, background information for interviews, and develop cross-cutting messages to help position the work of the IDB Group. The team maintains close coordination with the Communications Division, working under the same Sector, to ensure proper alignment and coordination of all communication efforts with our country offices, operational sectors, corporate functions, IDB Lab and IDB Invest.
What you will do:
The selected candidate will be a proven leader in helping senior executives succeed with internal and external communications that position them as thought leaders, engage key audiences, and fulfill their strategic communications objectives. Specific responsibilities would be:
- Speech Writing:
- Draft and edit speeches, keynote addresses, formal remarks, scripts for pre-recorded videos, panel remarks, and other public-facing materials tailored to various audiences.
- Collaborate with subject matter experts within the organization to ensure the accuracy, high quality and relevancy of content.
- Modify speeches based on feedback from the president and other stakeholders.
- Introduce document version control best practices and standardize internal processes for document sharing to always ensure accuracy and effectiveness of interventions.
- Ensures that all speeches adhere to approved public positions on major issues.
- Provides consistency in all and across all executive communications with brand, institutional position and messages.
- Monitors the quality and style of all executive level written communications.
- Create and manage a speech repository, which will be utilized for future speeches.
- Research:
- Conduct in-depth research to support speech content, ensuring the relevance, accuracy, and timeliness of information.
- Stay updated on current events, especially as they relate to the mission and vision of the organization.
- Maintains a reference file and familiarity with opinion leadersโ speeches and positions on public issues.
- Maintains familiarity with current events and literature appropriate to the development of high quality written and spoken communication.
- Translation and Localization:
- Ensure that speeches resonate with local audiences by considering cultural nuances, especially when transitioning between English and Portuguese/Spanish.
- Translate speeches, statements, and other written materials between English and Portuguese/Spanish.
- Collaboration:
- Work closely with the communications team, policy advisors, and other relevant departments to align the president's speech content with overarching organizational messaging.
- Liaise with the media relations manager to understand press and media needs, ensuring speeches are media-friendly when necessary.
- Continuous Learning:
- Stay updated on best practices in speechwriting and public speaking.
- Regularly attend workshops, seminars, or courses to enhance bilingual writing proficiency.
What you will need:
ยท Education: You hold a masterโs degree in communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Business Administration, or related field.
ยท Experience:
o At least 7 years of proven experience related to the key responsibilities of the position. Including experience in executive and internal communications working with senior leaders, public relations, or journalism, preferably in an international institution or multinational corporation.
o Excellent writing skills, including experience in creating, editing, and proofreading within a professional organization.
o Understanding of the varied political and policy contexts in which the IDB Group operates.
o Excellent time management to meet strict deadlines and ability to work under pressure.
o Be flexible, resilient, and able to thrive in a dynamic, rapid-paced environment.
o Ability to synthesize information from a wide range of sources to develop thoughtful and original ideas.
o Very high rigor and ability to understand/research data, facts, trends, examples, and stories.
o Knowledge and practical experience with international organizations is an asset.
o Strong crisis communications experience.
o Experience in LAC countries is strongly preferred. Knowledge of Washington D.C., regional and international media preferred.
o Outstanding social and communication skills with the ability to consult, partner and work effectively with senior leaders and business partners across countries, sectors, and group members.
ยท Languages:
o English and Spanish proficiency, or
o English and Portuguese proficiency.
Key skills
Technical track:
ยท Learn continuously
ยท Collaborate and share knowledge
ยท Focus on clients
ยท Communicate and influence
ยท Innovate and try new things
Other skills
ยท Professional experience writing speeches of various lengths and technical detail for a wide variety of audiences.
ยท Demonstrated understanding of standard project management tools and concepts.
ยท Strong skills in creative writing and storytelling across multiple platforms, proposal development, speeches, editing, and report writing.
ยท Possess a strong understanding of the latest forms of modern communication from digital media/social media, to understanding the media landscape.
ยท Strong digital literacy and MS Office abilities with an ability to work productively in SharePoint and MS Onedrive to accomplish tasks.
ยท Ability to influence through meaningful insights and recommendations.
- Translation and Localization: