Writer-Editor

Summary

This position serves as the Writer-Editor within the Strategic Communication Branch of the Planning, Performance & Integration Office. The position supports the continued growth of the WHS customer base and implementation of enterprise solutions by providing professional writing, editing, and strategic communication expertise that improves product turnaround times, enhances communication quality, and ensures the accuracy and consistency of organizational messaging.

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Duties

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Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:

• Develop, edit, and coordinate high-level executive communication products for senior leadership-including speeches, talking points, scripts, briefing packages, and materials for executive governance forums (e.g., SAOF and PGC)-ensuring strategic alignment with agency priorities and leadership intent.
• Research, write, and curate content for internal and external enterprise outreach campaigns, producing reports, newsletters, feature articles, digital media, executive mailbox announcements, and workforce updates to promote organizational services and initiatives.
• Manage and enforce organizational branding standards across diverse media formats (brochures, guidebooks, digital publications, and presentations), maintaining style guides, templates, and messaging frameworks to ensure consistent visual identity and messaging across all distribution channels.
• Serve as the principal editor providing comprehensive quality assurance on materials prepared across directorates, editing for clarity, grammar, tone, and readability while enforcing strict compliance with DoD Manual 5110.04 (Manual for Written Material: Correspondence Management).
• Advise leadership, program managers, and staff on professional writing techniques and communication best practices; coordinate publication schedules and review workflows; and maintain communication archives, reference repositories, and records in accordance with federal and DoD standards.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• This position is subject to the DoD Priority Placement Program
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
• This position may require up to 5% occasional travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft
• The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your experience:

1. Researching, drafting, and editing high-level executive communication materials-such as executive correspondence, speeches, leadership talking points, scripts, and senior governance briefing decks-ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, leadership intent, and policy directives; and
2. Conducting comprehensive editorial reviews and quality control on complex written products prepared by diverse authors to ensure accuracy, clarity, grammar, and adherence to established style manuals and correspondence standards; and
3. Developing, implementing, and enforcing branding guidelines, messaging repositories, and publication templates across diverse products.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages . For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit:

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants (DODI 1400.25, volume 300).

Nepotism : Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.