Incumbent serves as editor and lead writer for USAGM; written material includes speeches, white papers, factsheets, prepared remarks and related material for publication and internet distribution. The Communications Specialist, Writer-Editor will work with the Chief Global Communications Officer to plan and manage the overarching vision that comprises all of the agency's external content. Position involves following specific duties.
Summary
Incumbent serves as editor and lead writer for USAGM; written material includes speeches, white papers, factsheets, prepared remarks and related material for publication and internet distribution. The Communications Specialist, Writer-Editor will work with the Chief Global Communications Officer to plan and manage the overarching vision that comprises all of the agency's external content. Position involves following specific duties.
Structures the speech to the audience and sets the appropriate context and tone for the event.
Develops content to explain important and complex policies to key stakeholders including Capitol Hill and media industry leaders.
Serves as writer and editor, with responsibility for establishing and enforcing guidelines for the editorial tone and style of all communications content:
Works with the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) team to develop and manage a plan to keep content fresh and current.
Provides editorial oversight and support on all major external communication materials to ensure consistent, high quality and strategically aligned messaging.
Reviews and edits all OPA materials for grammar, punctuation, spelling and style.
Provides quality review and control over all documentation and presentation materials. Serves as a technical expert on written and editorial policy.
Updates and maintains USAGM's style guide on grammar, punctuation and word usage.
Works with the Chief Global Communications Officer to support public relations, communications, and campaigns.
Leverages creativity, analytical thinking, a succinct writing style, and the ability to work independently with little oversight.
Assignments at GS-13 will be structured to develop incumbents to perform at the target level, as described above.
Candidates MUST meet all qualification requirements by closing date.
Applicants must complete online questionnaire.
If selected, this position will require the completion of the SF-85.
The position is not included in bargaining unit and not covered by a union agreement.
Qualifications
GS-14: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-13, which is directly related to this line of work.
Specialized experience at this level includes writing and editing speeches, testimony, presentations, and similar materials that are delivered by Federal agency and/or corporate managers and executives to Congress and/or nationally significant audiences, such as a speech to a group of executives at a national symposium or conference, and/or disseminated as definitive agency or corporate content in agency or corporate publications or through internet, radio, or TV distribution channels. Specialized experience must also demonstrate a knowledge of major media news distribution involving current events, U.S. foreign policy, and international affairs to write and edit authoritative speeches and similar materials on these topics, as found in major news TV and radio networks, equivalent to the U.S. Agency for Global Media and in national newspaper and magazine publication companies.
GS-13: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12, which is directly related to this line of work.
Specialized experience at this level includes writing and editing speeches, testimony, presentations, and similar materials that are delivered by Federal agency and/or corporate managers and executives to diverse audiences, such as a speech to a group of technical specialists at a seminar or conference, and/or disseminated as agency or corporate content in agency or corporate publications or through internet, radio, or TV distribution channels. Specialized experience must also demonstrate a knowledge of major media news distribution involving current events, U.S. foreign policy, and international affairs to write and edit authoritative speeches and similar materials on these topics, as found in major news TV and radio networks, equivalent to the U.S. Agency for Global Media and in national newspaper and magazine publication companies.
Education
There is no specific educational requirement and no substitution of education for experience at GS-13 or GS-14; however, education, especially that which includes relevant coursework, as supported by transcripts, may be considered as enhancing during the selection process.
Additional information
1. If you are a current career or career-conditional federal employee or former federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you MUST submit a copy of your latest SF-50, 'Notification of Personnel Action' and/or a copy of the SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, or you will not be considered under the Merit Promotion process.
2. If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a Notice of Personnel Action (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
3. Individuals who are eligible for consideration under a special hiring authority, (i.e. 30% compensable veterans, severely handicapped individuals, former Peace Corps and VISTA Volunteers) will be accepted and considered non-competitively for this vacancy. Eligibles must indicate on their application if they are applying under a special program and must submit proof of eligibility with their application. Applicants who wish to be considered under an appropriate special hiring authority as well as under the competitive examining process must submit two applications. When only one application is received from a special hiring authority eligible, it will be considered under the appropriate special hiring authority only.
4. If you are a veteran applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act, (VEOA), you must clearly annotate 'VEOA' on your resume. Veterans' documentation in filling under VEOA or claiming veterans' preference, (i.e. DD-214 or statement of service, VA letter, SF-15). If you are filling under VEOA, you must include in your application package a copy #4 of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your unit which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating and the campaign medals you have received. For more information on VEOA, consult the Vets Guide at:https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/veoa/
5. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
6. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlines in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other federal agencies personnel offices and on OPM's website at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications
Additional selections may be made if additional/identical vacancies occur within 90 days of certificate issuance.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once your resume or application is submitted a review of your qualification will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements required for this position.
Attention to Detail
Communications and Media
External Awareness
Strategic Thinking
Writing
Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed and compared to your responses on the occupational questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications your application package will be further reviewed by a Human Resources Specialist to assess the quality, depth, and complexity of your accomplishments, experience, and education as they are related to this position. Providing false information may be grounds for not selecting you or termination after appointment. Please follow all instructions carefully, as errors or omissions may affect your rating.
Applicants who are referred to the selecting official will be asked to provide two writing samples, one which includes the contents of a speech that they prepared for delivery by an executive of a Federal agency or large to medium sized corporations; and, one that demonstrates their ability to consolidate diverse information from multiple sources into a concise and comprehensive document.
All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):
Resume
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s), which may not be required for all applicants:
Cover Letter, DD-214/ Statement of Service, Disability Letter (Schedule A), Disability Letter (VA), Miscellaneous Documents, Resume, SF-15, SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action, Transcript, and Writing Sample
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource office.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/09/2020 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log into your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click the Submit Application button to submit your application package.
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://login.usajobs.gov/account/signin. The page will display the positions for which you've applied as well as the status of each application. Click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job, then click on Additional Application Information to see the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Nex click on Update Application to complete the application process.
Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials, by 11:59 P.M. on 01/09/2020 will result in your not being considered for employment.https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10672275
Communications and External Affairs
330 Independence Avenue SW
Room 4700 Cohen Building
Washington, DC 20237
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):
Resume
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s), which may not be required for all applicants:
Cover Letter, DD-214/ Statement of Service, Disability Letter (Schedule A), Disability Letter (VA), Miscellaneous Documents, Resume, SF-15, SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action, Transcript, and Writing Sample
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.
If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource office.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/09/2020 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log into your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click the Submit Application button to submit your application package.
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://login.usajobs.gov/account/signin. The page will display the positions for which you've applied as well as the status of each application. Click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job, then click on Additional Application Information to see the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Nex click on Update Application to complete the application process.
Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials, by 11:59 P.M. on 01/09/2020 will result in your not being considered for employment.https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10672275
Communications and External Affairs
330 Independence Avenue SW
Room 4700 Cohen Building
Washington, DC 20237
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
