Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

The selectee will serve as an Executive Writer in the Office of Communication and Media Relations, Strategic Communication Division. Typical work assignments include:

• Accurately writes, reviews, and edits executive level remarks, speeches, talking points, congressional testimony, statements, and other authoritative written information as it pertains to mission operations, providing appropriate tone and emotion tailored to the individual speaker and target audience. Obtains and synthesizes information and subsequently conveys that information in written, verbal, or graphic format to both external and internal audiences often under extreme time constraints. Utilizes the Associated Press writing standards for publishing journals or columns for major national news outlet(s); includes fact gathering, interviewing, storytelling, etc.).

• Prepares letters to the editor for major national and local newspapers or other media outlets in response to stories presented about a major law enforcement organization. Prepares columns, editorials and Op-Eds addressing a myriad of highly complex and diverse issues. Prepares talking points in advance of announcements of major agency initiatives involving the general public and the agency workforce.

• Performs necessary research to develop authoritative information to be reflected in all communication covering law enforcement related topics. Identifies the audience for whom the communication is intended, and tailors each product to promote a thorough understanding of complex and technical subjects addressed.

• Selects most pertinent information for inclusion in products removing unnecessary items due to time constraints, insufficient importance, or potential lack of interest by members of the audience. Is mindful of classified or law enforcement sensitive information in order to prevent release of such information into the general public or to those without proper clearance

• Maintains awareness and relationships with the kinds of organizations and stakeholders to which speeches and other authoritative papers would likely be presented such as major media outlets, government offices, etc. Reviews feedback to acquire lessons learned to use to enhance the effectiveness of future products.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment.
• Submit to random drug testing while you occupy the position.

Conditions of Employment:

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Obtain and maintain a top-secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
• The person selected for this position may be subject to a one-year trial period.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also have extensive experience writing for an executive of a large and diverse state, local or national law enforcement agency. 

GS-14:  You qualify for the GS-14 level (starting salary $126,233) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level performing duties such as:

• Writing executive level speeches, congressional testimony and other documents and written materials for executive level personnel in a large and diverse state, local or national law enforcement agency.
• Preparing letters to the editor for major national and local newspapers and other media outlets.
• Preparing columns, editorials and Op-eds addressing a myriad of highly complex, law enforcement sensitive issues.
• Maintaining relationships with other law enforcement agency personnel and reporters from a variety of print, radio, television and online outlets.
• Analyzing the impact of new, revised and proposed legislation, Executive orders, and policies for application to potential speeches.
• Reviewing law enforcement sensitive and/or classified information to determine appropriate release to the general public.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is NOT considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans’ preference.

Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP/CTAP) Eligibles:  If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP/CTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP or CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website  http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp . To be considered eligible under ICTAP or CTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above.  In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. 

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Selective Placement Factor (Selective placement factors are applied in addition to minimum qualifications.  Applicants who do not meet a selective factor are ineligible for further consideration): 

• You must have skill in writing using the Associated Press Writing Style and have published writings using the Associated Press writing style.  If yes, and in order to receive further consideration, you must attach copies of your published document(s) in PDF format under the tab “AP Writing Style Document(s)”.  If documents, in PDF format, are not uploaded to support your YES answer, you will be ineligible for further consideration.

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, a score will automatically be calculated based on your answers to the vacancy specific questions to place you in one of three categories. All answers provided in the online process must be substantiated by your resume. Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices and reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered.  If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified. The competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job are:

1.Knowledge and skill in writing, editing and presenting information across various delivery methods such as speeches, articles, social media, etc.
2. Thorough knowledge in the style requirements of the media and related publications to ensure that all written materials, including speeches, journalistic articles, Congressional response, and taskings are clear, concise, and accurate.
3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the protection and release of sensitive information to the public.
4.Skill in independently collecting information from dynamic and static sources, and subsequently conveying that information in multiple formats to a variety of audiences.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the below categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.

2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF’s and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.  

An interview may be required for this position.  If an interview is required, failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.