Executive Speechwriter

As a leader in advancing New York’s energy transition, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has remained a credible, objective and trusted partner in our State’s energy planning as well as deploying new and innovative technologies to expand New York’s economy. NYSERDA has worked for the past 50 years to protect the environment and help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, lower energy costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA engages with stakeholders including residents, business owners, developers, community leaders, local government officials, universities, utilities, investors, entrepreneurs, and more, to develop, invest, and foster conditions that:

• Attract the private sector capital investment needed to expand New York’s clean energy economy.
• Overcome barriers to using clean energy at a large-scale in New York.
• Enable New York’s communities and residents to benefit equitably in the clean energy transition.

Job Overview

NYSERDA is seeking an Executive Speechwriter to create executive speeches, talking points, briefings and select written collateral for the President & CEO and other senior leadership as needed. Working under the direction of the Chief of Staff in NYSERDA’s Office of the President & CEO, the speechwriter will serve as a thought-partner to help articulate NYSERDA’s mission and vision and deepen its relationship with external stakeholders. The ideal candidate for this role is an exceptional writer with strong interpersonal skills, strategically minded and mission oriented, and comfortable making recommendations for the application of existing and new content frameworks.

This individual will be expected to track state, national and international clean energy trends and priorities for strategic incorporation into communications and other collateral. The ideal candidate is an independent, self-motivated researcher who is comfortable reaching out to subject matter experts to solicit expertise (as needed), and is eager to immerse themselves in, and to get up to speed quickly on New York’s clean energy history, communities, key external stakeholders and policy development to provide informed and strategic guidance to enhance executive communications.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead on drafting executive remarks, talking points and/or briefings for external and internal speaking engagements with the ability to deliver them in a relevant and timely manner; working with a diversity of internal stakeholders to ensure accuracy and maintain a consistent voice/style across external and internal executive communications.
• Be a creative storyteller with a keen understanding of audience, probing for details that will make messages relevant and relatable, and taking into consideration current events and the external environment, including industry news, energy and economic trends, and political and regulatory developments.
• Develop a deep understanding of various external stakeholder groups in order to appropriately tailor messages to audience and offer guidance on visuals, delivery, and tone.
• Provide suggestions on top tier/high-profile clean energy conferences or speaking engagements for senior leadership participation and attendance; work with others in the Office of the President & CEO, Corporate Communications, Marketing, Events Management and Social Media, and Government Affairs to evaluate external speaking opportunities as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain close working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and event organizers in development of executive materials.
• Work jointly with others in the Office of the President & CEO and across partner teams ensuring that all items meet the highest professional standards of accuracy, clarity and style. Liaise with internal teams including, Corporate Communications, Marketing, and Social Media to ensure consistency of message across all external and internal communications.
• Build networks within NYSERDA, NY Green Bank and other energy and environment agencies.
• Ability to demonstrate respect, equity and inclusive behavior and practices of a diverse workforce and community.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.
• Perform all job responsibilities with respect, fairness, consistency, and inclusion.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years’ related experience directly working in a corporate or government communications or public relations with a Bachelor’s degree preferably in journalism, communications, public relations, or related field.
• Demonstrated success with formal and informal remarks at the executive level; experience in the climate and clean energy sectors preferred.
• Excellent work ethic, resolute integrity, detail oriented with a commitment to delivering a high-quality and accurate work product with a track record of putting the success of the team first.
• Ability to assess potential effects of NYSERDA decisions on public attitudes, effectively apprise the Chief of Staff, Senior Vice of President of Corporate Communications, Events and Marketing of such factors and help inform decision making for public response.
• Ability to work effectively with event organizers, members of the news media, executives in NYSERDA and colleagues in other state agencies and industry stakeholders and organizations.
• Excellent writing, journalistic, presentation, and interpersonal skills that resonate with a variety of audiences; ability to communicate persuasively, concisely and unambiguously.
• The ability to express complex technical and organizational concepts in terms understandable to the various audiences including the news media and public.
• Strong project management skills; ability to work well under pressure and a respect for internal and external deadlines; manage multiple diverse activities simultaneously, deliver on commitments and varying deadlines, and operate/make decisions with speed, accuracy and strong judgment.
• Strong computer skills (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Asana, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 4 years’ experience directly working in a corporate or government communications or public relations department; demonstrated success with formal and informal remarks at the executive level; experience in the climate and clean energy sectors preferred.

Please submit two files, one for your cover letter and another for a resume.

NYSERDA is exclusively working with a recruitment partner who will be responsible for the initial screening of the resumes for this position.

Please note that during the application process, you may be prompted to opt-in to Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) scoring. This is an automatic request in the ADP system but is not a feature that is used by NYSERDA in its recruiting and hiring process. Your response will have no impact on your application to NYSERDA.

Salary

The salary range is $78,333 - $131,298 annually. Candidates will be considered based on qualifications and experience. An excellent benefits package is offered.