Founded in 2015 by Melinda French Gates, Pivotal expands opportunity and equality for all people through high-impact investments, philanthropy, partnerships, and advocacy. We accelerate social progress by removing barriers that hold people back.
We strive to be creative and innovative in our work and flexible in the approach we take to solving problems. To date, we have invested in over 150 organizations, including nonprofits, private sector companies, venture funds, and advocacy groups that are on the frontlines of the issues we work on. Some areas we currently focus on: women in technology and innovation; women in public office; women and girls of color; adolescent mental health; paid family and medical leave; and caregiving.
Inspired by our founder, we reach across communities and sectors to bring together changemakers who can scale up proven ideas and catalyze new ones. We learn from their experiences, amplify their resources, then step back so they can lead.
Our impatience with the status quo is fueled by an optimism that progress is always possible.
Role DescriptionAs a core member of the Communications Team, the Senior Manager, Speechwriting and Editorial Content is responsible for delivering world-class thinking, writing, editing, and storytelling in support of Melinda French Gates, Pivotal Ventures, and its spokespeople. In addition to personally drafting a steady stream of high-quality writing, the Senior Manager serves as a leader on the writing team, managing other writers, supporting them to achieve their performance and professional development goals, and holding their work to a high standard of excellence.
The Senior Manager, Speechwriting and Editorial Content will work closely with the Director, Speechwriting and Editorial Content and other colleagues to develop highly visible speeches, op-eds, blog posts, video scripts, website copy, social media posts, and other internal and external communications as needed—often with minimal input or direction. You will also contribute strategic thinking to the broader team, helping shape the public voices of Melinda French Gates, the Pivotal Ventures brand, and its spokespeople.
Role ResponsibilitiesSpeechwriting and Editorial Responsibilities

• Write a variety of content in the voice of Melinda French Gates including speeches, op-eds, social media posts and more.
• Simultaneously manage multiple writing projects from conception to completion—coordinating writers, editors, and internal and external stakeholders while demonstrating excellent editorial judgment, meticulous attention to detail, thoughtful relationship-building skills, and diplomatic awareness of when to apply appropriate influence to advance the work.
• Work with internal teams to generate original thinking and creative ideas for pitches and proposals that advance strategic goals, secure placement in premier publications, and enable the Principal and Pivotal to join and lead national conversations.
• Support the operations of the writing team, including archiving content, fact-checking, and reporting out team activities.
• Help the Pivotal brand and its spokespeople develop and hone unique public voices.
• Stay immersed in key programmatic investment areas, breaking news, op-ed pieces, white paper publication, upcoming events, and history of global health, philanthropy, and other fields of interest to the Principal and Pivotal - including building and maintaining positive relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Management Responsibilities

• Manage and edit a team of writers responsible for delivering a high volume of world-class thinking and writing—including highly visible, highly scrutinized speeches; op-eds in top-tier publications; digital content seen by an audience of millions; and other executive communications as needed— in support of a global thought leader and other spokespeople at a leading organization working toward social progress. Serve in a leadership capacity on the writing team, leading other writers and supporting them to meet their performance and professional development goals.
• Support the vision of the Director, Speechwriting and Editorial Content and share accountability for holding the writing team’s work to a high standard of excellence.
• Stand in for the Director, Speechwriting and Editorial Content as needed, maintaining seamless continuity of services for the Principal, the organization, and its spokespeople in event of the Director’s absence.
• Assist the Director in developing and directing the writing team’s budget.
• Champion strategic prioritization in the team’s daily work.
• Continually adapt individual role and role of the team in the context of an evolving organization.
• Assist with team recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and ongoing training. Maintain flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to adjust job responsibilities as needs evolve. 
• Navigate a complex ecosystem of internal and external stakeholders through effective relationship building and information flow, including assisting with leading work with external agencies
• Serve as a key contributor to team culture and identity.

Skills And Competencies To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or behavior required to be successful in this role.

• Experience writing for global thought leaders, including meaningful experience writing highly visible, highly scrutinized speeches and op-eds/articles published in premier outlets.
• Consistent track record of successfully leading a team of writers to deliver consistently high-quality content.
• Successfully met timelines in a role that involves balancing multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, while also maintaining meticulous attention to detail and a clear understanding of long-term objectives.
• Expertise in executive communications and demonstrated ability to position prominent voices as thought leaders.
• Advanced leadership, management, process management, research, editing skills.
• A well-honed sense of professional and editorial judgment.
• Experience strategically conducting interviews with principals, technical experts, practitioners, and community members to draw out stories and key insights.
• Ability to quickly and accurately synthesize complicated policy issues into stories and arguments that are compelling, accessible, and persuasive.
• Experience maintaining confidentiality and privacy while exercising constant discretion.
• Ability to influence key internal and external partners, including engaging in productive collaboration and ensuring cross-organizational integration and coordinated work plans—and a well-honed sense of judgment of when to apply appropriate influence to advance work objectives.
• Understanding of cultural and geographical sensitivities and considerations.
• Comfort working both independently and as part of a team. 
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). 
• A well-developed sense of humor and ability to work with a diverse team of individuals.

 
Qualifications 

• 8-10 years of experience writing for high-profile leaders, foundations, daily editorial web sites, or related organizations.
• 4 years of management experience.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Base annual compensation range for this role is from $207,100 - $221,300. This is a full-time position based in Seattle, WA or Washington DC.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, fertility benefit, backup caregiving solution, 144 hours of vacation, 96 hours of sick leave, 401k, HSA, FSA, discretionary annual target performance bonus and more.
APPLICATIONTo apply, send submit your application via the Pivotal Ventures Careers page.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Pivotal values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and all applicants seeking employment. All employment decisions at Pivotal are based on the candidate’s or employee’s capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran, military, or marital status, sensory, physical, or mental disability, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please contact peopleandculture@pivotalventures.org.