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Technical Writer-Editor (Scientific)

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in the Communications Branch of the Office of Science Policy and Communications (OSPC) at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/22/2024 to 07/26/2024
Salary
$86,962 to - $167,336 per year

Salary displayed is the absolute maximum and minimum allowed. Pay will be set using the appropriate locality upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NIH-NIDA-MP-24-12448551
Control number
798403100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be a current or former federal employee eligible to apply under merit promotion procedures or otherwise be eligible as a status applicant (e.g., Veterans Employment Opportunity Act) OR be an individual who is eligible through an OPM interchange agreement or for a non-competitive appointment. This job is also open to USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers and Call-To-Active Duty (CAD) Candidates.

Duties

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  • The employee serves as a senior science writer-editor responsible for providing high level consultation and direction to professionals and senior management on communicating politically sensitive or controversial materials, policies, and for explaining programs administered by the bureau or agency, and other comparable purposes.
  • Researches, analyzes, distills and presents information related to basic, clinical, social and/or behavioral research.
  • Employee analyzes both the subject and the audience and presents material in both style and format according to the medium presented and its audience.
  • Interprets scientific and technical information; identifies and prioritizes critical content; ensures information aligns with the intended audience and is consistent with policy and program goals; re-writes and edits material for clarity, persuasiveness, and adherence to format and style conventions of targeted information outlet.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-12 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: writing and editing products that explain and interpret the work of an organization, disseminate technical or scientific information, and summarize research findings; Writing scientific and technical information tailored for a specific audience; conducting research on a specific subject matter using published journals, on-line sources, observations and interviews with subject matter experts; editing materials for consistency, clarity and conformance to grammar and style guides; advising authors and designers of effective formats and illustrations to augment a written message.

You qualify at the GS-13 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: Writing and editing products that articulate, interpret, and explain complex or potentially controversial policies, programs, and research findings; researching, analyzing, and presenting scientific and/or technical information that is novel, unique, abstract in nature, and/or has a multiplicity of themes; editing materials for conformance to grammar and style guides, accuracy of scientific/technical terminologies, and consistency with the organization's mission; advising on the intended audience, formatting, and approaches of presenting scientific and technical information; and authorizing the clearance of materials for publication.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12448551

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.
  • Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
  • Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.?
  • 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 here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: compressed schedules, and flexible schedules.
  • This position is eligible for remote work, a position designation where little to no onsite presence is required (e.g., once or twice annually). You may work anywhere in the U.S., including any of the territories. Worksites outside of the U.S. are prohibited. Your pay is determined by the geographically defined pay locality applicable to your approved worksite (e.g., home residence). Reporting to an NIH location may also be required during the onboarding process. Visit NIH's Remote Work page for more information and requirements.
  • A one-year trial/probationary period may be required upon selection/ placement.
  • If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. This information is required annually. For information, visit the NIH Ethics website: https://ethics.od.nih.gov/fd.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • 1. Ability to gather, analyze, and consult on communication and publication policies and programs.
  • 2. Ability to develop authoritative written information on the programs, policies, functions, and research of the organization.
  • 3. Knowledge of editing principles, concepts, techniques and style requirements to develop and present a broad range of information.
  • 4. Knowledge of computer technology such as desktop and web publishing systems, graphics software and social media applications to create and edit materials for publication.
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Teamwork

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

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