At a Glance
- Tasks: Create impactful speeches for the CEO and Board to engage key stakeholders.
- Company: Join a government regulator shaping public policy and communications.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid working environment with competitive pay of £500-550/day.
- Why this job: Influence public positioning through storytelling and high-level communications.
- Qualifications: Proven speechwriting experience and strong understanding of UK policy-making required.
- Other info: This is an interim role lasting 6 months, starting ASAP.
The predicted salary is between 66000 - 77000 £ per year.
A government regulator is looking to recruit a Senior Speechwriter to join their Policy team. The role involves creating impactful speeches for the CEO and Board to engage key stakeholders, such as Ministers, regulators, and industry bodies.
The ideal candidate will excel in storytelling, policy understanding, and political sensitivity, crafting clear and engaging messages from complex content. Collaboration across teams and managing high-profile speaking opportunities are central to ensuring strategic goals are met. This is a chance to influence public positioning through high-level communications and storytelling.
What you'll need to succeed
- To develop and deliver compelling, strategic and high-impact speeches, briefings and thought leadership content on behalf of the CEO and Board members.
- This role is critical in shaping how the organisation influences and engages with key external stakeholders - including Ministers, government departments, other UK and international regulators, parliamentarians and industry bodies.
- The postholder will combine exceptional writing and storytelling skills with policy understanding, strategic awareness and political sensitivity, ensuring the organisation's voice is persuasive, consistent and aligned with its regulatory and corporate objectives.
- Lead the drafting of speeches, talking points, position papers, and high-level briefings for the CEO, Board members and senior executives, tailored to high-profile and informed external audiences and events.
- Meeting policy officials and front-line regulatory staff to develop the messages for speeches and to keep up to date with the latest developments across all policy, strategy and regulatory issues.
- Translate complex policy and regulatory content into accessible, authoritative and engaging messaging.
- Collaborate closely with colleagues in Policy, Public Affairs, Communications, and Legal to ensure content accuracy, alignment with strategic goals, and tone appropriate to the organisation's voice.
- Proactively manage a forward look of major external speaking opportunities, ensuring key messages are timed and framed for maximum impact.
- Develop content that is tailored to a variety of audiences, formats and platforms, including live speeches, op-eds, digital communications, and international events.
- Source compelling facts, case studies and evidence to strengthen messages and brings work to life for audiences.
- Support the wider communications strategy by ensuring speeches and high-level communications products reinforce the organisations public positioning and regulatory objectives.
- Advise senior leaders on tone, delivery and key messaging opportunities, often on politically or reputationally sensitive issues.
- Work under pressure and at pace when required, including drafting for urgent briefings or reactive communications needs.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships across the organisation and with external partners, including civil servants, regulators and policy influencers.
Essential Criteria
- Proven experience in speechwriting for senior leaders in government, regulation, public policy or a similarly complex environment.
- Exceptional writing skills, with a strong grasp of tone, structure and storytelling for different audiences and formats.
- Strong understanding of UK policy-making and political processes, with the ability to tailor content to influence external stakeholders such as Ministers, civil servants, parliamentarians and regulators.
- Knowledge of pensions policy, financial regulation or public policy.
- Excellent judgement, with experience advising senior stakeholders and representing their voice authentically and persuasively.
- Demonstrated ability to absorb and translate complex or technical content quickly and accurately.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines without compromising quality.
- A collaborative working style and ability to build trusted relationships across functions and disciplines.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience writing for or advising within a regulatory or financial services environment.
- Familiarity with the pensions landscape and wider regulatory ecosystem in the UK and internationally.
- Experience of integrating speechwriting with broader communications strategies.
- Experience supporting senior leaders in external engagements across a variety of formats (e.g. conferences, media appearances, stakeholder events).
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.
Senior Speechwriter employer: Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
Contact Detail:
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Speechwriter
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest developments in UK policy-making and financial regulation. This knowledge will not only help you understand the context of the speeches you'll be writing but also demonstrate your expertise during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the regulatory and public policy sectors. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into the industry, which can be invaluable when discussing your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills by analysing impactful speeches from leaders in government and regulation. Pay attention to their tone, structure, and how they engage their audience, as this will help you craft compelling narratives in your own work.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience in managing high-pressure situations and tight deadlines. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated similar challenges in your previous roles, as this is crucial for a Senior Speechwriter.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Speechwriter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Senior Speechwriter position. Familiarise yourself with the key stakeholders and the type of content you will be expected to produce.
Tailor Your CV: Highlight your relevant experience in speechwriting, particularly for senior leaders in government or regulatory environments. Emphasise your storytelling skills and understanding of UK policy-making processes.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to showcase your passion for the role and your ability to translate complex policy into engaging speeches. Mention specific examples of your previous work that align with the job description.
Showcase Your Writing Skills: If possible, include samples of your previous speechwriting or related work. This could be excerpts from speeches you've written or other relevant communications that demonstrate your writing style and effectiveness.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
✨Showcase Your Storytelling Skills
As a Senior Speechwriter, your ability to craft compelling narratives is crucial. Prepare examples of speeches or written pieces that demonstrate your storytelling prowess, especially those that have engaged high-profile audiences.
✨Understand the Political Landscape
Familiarise yourself with current UK policy-making processes and key political figures relevant to the role. Being able to discuss recent developments and their implications will show your strategic awareness and readiness for the position.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Experience
Highlight instances where you've worked closely with various teams, such as Policy, Public Affairs, or Communications. Discuss how you ensured alignment in messaging and content accuracy, which is vital for this role.
✨Prepare for High-Pressure Scenarios
Be ready to discuss how you've managed tight deadlines and urgent requests in the past. Share specific examples of how you maintained quality under pressure, as this role may require quick turnarounds for important briefings.