Senior Writer

OVERVIEW

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is hiring a Senior Writer to work with the Messaging and Polling team to develop compelling and creative opinion-based writing that will advance FGA policy solutions in widely read national publications. 

We’re looking for an excellent writer who can distill complicated topics into engaging content that connects with readers on a personal level. You’ll primarily be writing op-eds, but special projects may involve writing other types of long-form content. This is not the role for you if you’re looking to land your own byline in national publications—most, if not all, of what you write in this role will be ghostwritten for FGA staff and allies as part of our strategy to engage our audiences, build relationships, and ultimately achieve policy wins. 

The ideal candidate will not only be a strong writer but also a strong communicator—this role is unique in that you’ll also be expected to write content for special projects; edit FGA materials to maintain our style and grammar; and craft and edit speeches, testimony, and presentations for FGA staff and allies. 

If you are self-motivated, able to work efficiently with little supervision, and comfortable working across teams and receiving feedback on your writing, you may be a good fit for this role. 

CULTURE AND FIT

The people who consistently succeed at FGA are those whose actions and behavior reflect our five Core Values. If you adhere to these values and answer “yes” to each of these questions, you may be a fit.

1) Candid to Solve: Being willing to have tough conversations in order to solve issues and build trust.

• Do you seek out constructive feedback—and provide it to others—to solve issues and build trust with coworkers? 

2) Grow or Die: We don’t have a neutral gear; we must consistently challenge ourselves and each other to grow in our talents and skills.

• Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and do you seek out complementary skills and growth in order to mitigate your weaknesses? 

3) Politically Savvy: Policy doesn’t change in a vacuum, but in a political reality that we must understand and account for.

• Do you agree that embracing the realities of politics is necessary to change public policy? 

4) Partnership-Oriented: Internal and external relationships are not transactional. That starts with our team members and the perspective that we need the rest of the team to succeed in order to win personally.

• Are you comfortable creating your own structure for work, such as setting work hours, your own priorities, and creating clarity and a workplan from a broad goal? Do you tend to be the one who initiates conversations with colleagues, rather than waiting for them to come to you?

5) Bought in to Win: We’re at FGA because we want to change policy. No one is counting hours or widgets, we are here to get results, and sometimes that will require going the extra mile or doing a job that isn’t technically ours.

• Do you wholeheartedly agree with the policies that we advocate and the underlying principles that people’s lives are made better through work, not government welfare, and that a free market creates greater freedom and equality than any command-and-control government system?

The vast majority of those who don’t get hired (or don’t last) at FGA are due to a lack of fit with these values. Be prepared to have very candid conversations about them in our interview process.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Writer will have five primary roles, broken down into key responsibilities. They are:

Draft Original and Thought-Provoking Op-Eds 

• The right candidate will have excellent written communication skills and the ability to write about policy topics in a high-impact, compelling way. All writing will adhere to FGA’s unique brand voice, style, and messaging. 
• You’ll write ghostwritten op-eds for national publications, blog posts, and other long-form content on our policy areas to engage lawmakers and help achieve policy wins.
• The ideal candidate will be able to work across teams to determine content needs, accept constructive feedback, and adapt rapidly to changing priorities and deadlines. 

Provide Editing Assistance 

• This role will assist with editing duties as assigned and in the Managing Editor’s absence. You’ll be expected to quickly develop a strong command of FGA’s Style Guide. Familiarity with the AP Stylebook is a plus. 
• The ideal candidate will be able to work well under pressure and under tight deadlines while delivering a high-quality product consistent with the FGA Style Guide and free of errors.

Writing and Editing Support for Special Projects 

• Above all, the ideal candidate will be a great storyteller—able to glean the human side of public policy and convey it compellingly to specific legislative audiences. 
• This role will require flexibility and versatility in writing skills as you apply writing, messaging, and logistics support to special projects that support company priorities. 

Messaging Development 

• This role will require a deep understanding of FGA’s mission and brand voice. Part of the role will be ensuring all content—written and edited—matches this brand voice while remaining resonant with audiences. 
• The Senior Writer will assist the Messaging and Polling team in developing messaging for policy solutions based on poll results and will periodically author compelling content that explores polling data. 

Craft and Edit Compelling Speeches, Testimony, and Presentations 

• This role will involve crafting and editing speeches, testimony, and presentations on behalf of FGA staff and allies. 
• The ideal candidate will have a strong command of what makes a great speech or testimony and will quickly become the trusted, go-to source for FGA staff and allies who need to create a speech, testimony, or presentation. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of five years’ experience in writing, editing, and communications in the public policy space. Substantial work experience may be a substitute for a bachelor’s degree.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work efficiently as a team member and independently in a remote office environment. The right candidate will have strong interpersonal communication skills and a willingness to pick up the phone to get answers or resolve confusion.
• Candidates MUST be comfortable ghostwriting—most, if not all, of what you write will not be published under your name. A portfolio of previously published work—whether under your own byline or ghostwritten—is a plus. 
• A demonstrated background in legislative work—state or federal—is a plus, but a strong, demonstrated understanding of the needs of legislators and staff is required. 
• Experience with crafting testimony, talking points, speechwriting or similar persuasive materials for yourself, an organization, or a principal. 
• Match FGA’s Core Values (described above).

TIMING, LOCATION, AND COMPENSATION

FGA is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. FGA’s headquarters are in Naples, FL, but nearly all of FGA’s staff work remotely. FGA has built a highly successful remote work culture over the past decade with systems and structures designed for clarity, flexibility, and great communication. Key elements of the environment include:

• Quarterly in-person team meetings at which you’ll build deeper relationships, set clear goals aligned with FGA’s big vision, and brainstorm how to seize new opportunities
• An intensive 90-day orientation to familiarize you with the FGA team, our policies, and how we operate
• Home office setup, including equipment and communication tools you need to hit the ground running

FGA offers a competitive salary of between $75,000–$95,000, depending on experience, education, and qualifications, and a benefits package, including a six percent retirement match, health benefit, and generous paid leave plan.

Salary Description

$75,000 to $95,000