Writer (DoD Speechwriter)

Do you enjoy producing speeches for high-visibility military leaders? Are you able to plan, create, and edit communications and outreach materials across modalities?

Ripple Effect is looking for a Writer with at least 4 years of speechwriting, editing, and engagement experience, to support our client’s mission. This role will work closely with the Army's Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC) Strategic Communications Division to write and edit documents including speeches, marketing materials, proposals, reports, manuals, presentations, and other deliverable to support the Public Affairs Office in order to meet high-visibility, quick-turn requests.

If this position sounds of interest, there’s a place for you here at Ripple Effect! We offer a diverse and engaging work environment, with a multitude of incentives and flexible work options that work for you and your lifestyle. 

General Information 

• Job Code: CAT-WE-03
• Location: Ft. Detrick, Frederick, MD
• Employee Type: Exempt, Full-Time Regular  
  (Ask our recruiters about flexible work arrangements) 
• Telework: None
• Travel Required: At client request
• Clearance: NACI
• Citizenship: U.S. Required by government contract
• Number of Openings: 2
• Salary Range: $71,704.00 - $82,460.00 per year (how we pay and promote) 

Responsibilities 

• Collaborate & support the Command Information, Public Affairs, Protocol & Engagements Manager as needed, working with writer/editor personnel to develop story ideas and approaches, as well as experts throughout the command.
• Interview subject matter experts on complex issues and write plain-language newsletter articles that are ready for publishing. 
• Gather information from a variety of sources, to include assessing presentation style during various speaking engagements, to develop content and draft Power Point slide-sets, press releases, video scripts, informational products, and social media posts for annual campaigns, among others. 
• Edit a variety of written material, including internal and external command publications, to ensure they are completely free of errors.  
• Write and edit in Associated Press (AP) style. 
• Write and edit for web style with an understanding of operational security requirements.   
• Assist and support with events, VIP Visits, and other MRDC Command engagements as needed, including lunches/coffee, name tags, take away packet preparation, etc. 
• Rapidly research topics and write talking points or speeches for executive leadership to include but not limited to military, industry, and academic events, conferences, symposia, graduations, partnership days, etc.
• Attend calendar scrubs and syncs to ensure coverage and awareness of command events.  

Minimum Education and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree
• At least 4 years of writing experience in healthcare, research, or a regulated environment, to include speechwriting

Basic Requirements 

• Knowledge of Associated Press (AP) writing style.
• Experience with health, medicine, and science topics, writing, and lay translation
• Relevant experience supporting military and/or Defense communications and outreach efforts
• Experience in event planning and support (e.g., logistics, implementation, advertising, content creation, post-event reporting, etc.)
• Experience working independently in a fast-paced environment where information and directions from multiple expert and leadership sources must be integrated to create a final product
• Experience communicating science and health topics to lay audiences
• Portfolio that includes communications products (e.g., speeches, multimedia, press releases, presentations, event content) used by senior military leadership
• Must be able and willing to report to client site (Frederick, MD) on a daily basis

To be successful at Ripple Effect, you must be able to pay attention to details, clearly communicate, work independently, and have an eagerness to learn. Learn more about what makes Ripple so great by checking out our capabilities.  

Skills That Set You Apart 

• Experience in project coordination, deliverable timeline creation and tracking, and calendar management
• Experience in a military public affairs office

If you don’t have all of the skills above, don’t be discouraged—no resume paints a complete picture of a person. There’s a good chance you’re more wonderful than you think, so please apply! 

About Ripple Effect 

Ripple Effect is an award-winning women-owned small business providing professional consulting and exceptional talent for federal, private, and non-profit clients. We deliver multi-disciplinary solutions across Communications & Outreach, Research & Evaluation, Program Management & Policy, Digital Transformation, and Technical & Scientific Support solutions with a focus on science, research, and healthcare domains. 

Hiring Process | Life at Ripple  

Ripple Effect rewards our employees for their contributions to our mission in many ways, from competitive pay and exceptional benefits to a range of work/life programs based on your employment classification and personalized preferences. 

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Ripple Effect is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please let us know by contacting our HR department at [email protected] or your recruiter. Eligibility for employment will be verified using E-verify.