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Technical Writer-Editor DIRECT-HIRE

National Transportation Safety Board
Office of the Managing Director, Executive Secretariat Division

Summary

This position is in the Office of the Managing Director, Executive Secretariat Division. The Office of the Managing Director provides the strategic direction of the organization and guides and support the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) programs to ensure independence, competency, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Board. The Executive Secretariat Division coordinates all official written material sent to the NTSB and isued by the agency.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 06/09/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 9, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322 per year

Newly appointed employees, starting salary rate may be set at the step 1 of the GS-13.

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
MD-12969729-26-KM
Control number
870931100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Direct-Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veteran's preference and category rating of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Direct Hire Authority for Shortage Category/Critical need positions to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

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Duties

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As a Technical Writer-Editor DIRECT-HIRE,GS-1083-13, you will perform the following major duties:

  • Manages the production of key agency reports, including the Annual Report to Congress, budget submissions, and the Performance and Accountability Report. Coordinates with project managers to write, rewrite, and edit agency reports, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with agency goals. Collaborates with the Investigator-in-Charge and other modal staff to address editorial and technical concerns and assists in determining the relevance of information for inclusion in documents.
  • Serves as the agency's expert on style, grammar, and usage, and oversees updates to the Product Development Guide (e.g. NTSB style guide) to reflect changes in technical editorial policy. Provides training and guidance to junior writers, editors, and new staff, helping them align with the agency's tone, phrasing, and writing standards. Reviews the work of mentors' junior staff, offering constructive feedback and ensuring consistent quality for correspondence, agency directives, and other routine documents.
  • Writes and/or revises internal policy documents, including Board orders, operation bulletins, and standard operating procedures. Sets standards and guidelines for document production within the agency.
  • Develops content for replies to incoming general correspondence related to the public's questions, especially regarding recent transportation events and investigations, suggestions for transportation safety improvements, and other issues and requests. Often confers with the Investigator-in-Charge, modal directors or deputies, and modal division chiefs for technical content and scope.
  • Writes, rewrites, and edits correspondence, memoranda, and other products (e.g., chairman correspondence, notation memos) for the Office Director's and the Chair's signatures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be regi or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
  • Resume and supporting documents (see "How to Apply" section.)
  • Suitability for Federal employment
  • Bargaining Unit Position: NO
  • Direct Deposit is required.
  • This position is subject to a one-year probationary period.
  • THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBILE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
  • This position is eligible for ad-hoc/situational telework as determined by the agency policy.
  • A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Two-Page Resume Limit: Resumes must not be more than two standard single-sided pages (or one page if submitting a front and back, hard-copy).

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following Basic Requirements:

A.
Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Must have included a total of 15 semester hours in an appropriate scientific, technical, or social science field(s), and at least one course above the introductory level in the field(s) covered by the position. For technical manuals and specifications writers or editors, the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through vocational or educational training above the high school level at a public, private, or Armed Forces school. OR

B. Experience that required substantial subject-matter or technical knowledge of the field. This experience must have demonstrated the ability to acquire and present technical information through independent reading, interviews with subject-matter specialists, observation of tests and experiments, interpretation of blueprints or diagrams, or other appropriate methods. Such experience may have been acquired as a writer or editor of technical reports, articles, manuals, or specifications.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, applicants must also possess the following specialized experience:

Applicants MUST possess one year of specialized experience typically in or directly related to the position being filled equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service or obtained in the private or public sector. Specialized Experience is defined as: Experience drafting, editing, and writing technical replies to the public regarding transportation events, investigations, or safety issues in clear accessible language; managing the creation, review, and publication of key agency reports ensuring accuracy, consistency and timely response; write, revise, and maintain internal policy documents, including standard operating procedures and compliance documentation.

The ideal candidate is an experienced mid-career professional with comprehensive knowledge and experience with English grammar, plain language writing, and editing practices. Has experience writing, editing, and publishing complex documents of a scientific or technical nature and/or political appointments.

NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

EDUCATION

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Must have included a total of 15 semester hours in an appropriate scientific, technical, or social science field(s), and at least one course above the introductory level in the field(s) covered by the position. For technical manuals and specifications writers or editors, the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through vocational or educational training above the high school level at a public, private, or Armed Forces school.

GENERAL EDUCATION: All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn. Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

  • The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and various benefits as well as work life amenities such as alternate work schedules, telework, flextime, fitness and transit benefits.
  • Moving expenses associated with permanent change of station (PCS) ARE NOT authorized for this position.
  • If you left Federal Employment and received a buy out and you are selected for this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the payment.
  • Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply 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 CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) meet the basic qualification standards (including minimum educational and experience requirements; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 and above on the rating criteria for this position; and, (4) submit the appropriate documentation ( to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
  • Note: 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.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
  • Ad-hoc/situational telework as determined by the agency policy.
  • NTSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
  • The National Transportation Safety Board provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the National Transportation Safety Board directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position will be filled through the Direct Hire Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. Your application will be considered based on education, training, and quality of your experience. For more information on Direct-Hire Authority visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

Your application must include your resume and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Referral: Applicants who meet the qualification requirements may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Candidates may be required to participate in a selection interview (telephonic and/or in person) at the discretion of the Selecting Official in accordance with hiring practices.

National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): Independently Advancing Transportation Safety

NTSB is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation-railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.

Agency contact information

Human Resources Division
Email
recruitment@ntsb.gov
Address
Office of the Managing Director
490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW
Washington, DC 20594
US

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