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Speechwriter and Communications Lead to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Posting date:	28 January 2025
Salary:	£71,370 to £77,813 per year
Additional salary information:	This role is also entitled to a Private Office Allowance.
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	09 February 2025
Location:	Westminster
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	387880/1

Summary

The Speechwriter and Communications Lead is a critical position in the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster’s office, providing expert drafting and editorial skills to oversee all speeches, comment pieces and other named communication products from the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office.

This fast-paced and challenging role involves close engagement with Ministers, special advisers, and senior colleagues across the department and Whitehall.

You will report to the Principal Private Secretary and work closely with the Head of News and External Affairs, dividing your time between the Private Office and Communications teams. You will need to support the department’s wider communications strategy and integrate speeches and other named communications products to achieve our objectives and reach diverse target audiences.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Draft speeches, op-eds, parliamentary statements and other named communications products for the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, working with him and his advisers to articulate his priorities and communicate his messages in a clear and compelling way.

• Provide advice on communications strategy and other interventions. Integrate media and social media activity around speeches, identifying and applying appropriate tactics to boost this when appropriate.

• Adapt your writing to target different audiences and for different mediums of communication, and effectively assess the impact of communications on different audiences.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Ministers, private offices, special advisers and senior officials to ensure a streamlined speechwriting and approval process.
• Work closely with policy colleagues from the Cabinet Office, partner organisations and other government departments to help communicate priorities and source compelling facts, evidence and examples for use in speeches.
• Work effectively with the wider communications team, so that speechwriting plans are joined up with wider communications strategies.

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