Writer-Editor

Indian Health Service • Rockville, MD

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Executive Secretariat Staff, Office of the Director, Indian Health Service (IHS), and reports to IHS Headquarters. The official duty station may be Bemidji, Minnesota; Billings, Montana; Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Rapid City, South Dakota; or Rockville, Maryland.

The Writer-Editor produces clear, accurate, well-written documents that follow established grammatical, stylistic, and syntactical standards and applicable HHS, Public Health Service, and IHS policies. The role drafts original correspondence and edits correspondence and other written materials for senior officials, including the IHS Director and Secretary, ensuring that documents address relevant issues and questions, present policy statements consistently, and communicate effectively to varied audiences.

The position interprets scientific, technical, and programmatic information and translates it into language appropriate for different audiences. It also provides consultation, technical assistance, and training to IHS staff on writing, editing, reviewing, formatting, and preparing documents for executive signatures. The Writer-Editor helps resolve disagreements among document originators and reviewers, contributes to decisions about content and presentation, stays current on federal executive correspondence standards, and reviews senior-leader messages for accuracy and consistency in strategic communications.

The position may be filled at the GS-12 or GS-13 level, with promotion potential to GS-13. Promotion is discretionary and is not guaranteed. Selectees may be subject to a probationary period; ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period. A confidential financial disclosure form is required, as are successful E-Verify completion, a federal background investigation, and a financial suitability review. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, and Selective Service registration is required for applicable males. Candidates must present two valid forms of identification before appointment; a state-issued ID or driver’s license must be REAL ID-compliant. A service agreement of at least one year is required. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized.

Requirements

• For GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level, including writing and editing assignments involving research, analysis, and presentation of information for varied audiences; drafting and editing written products for clarity, accuracy, grammar, style, and consistency; translating technical or programmatic information into clear audience-appropriate language; and applying established writing, editing, publishing, and correspondence guidelines while meeting deadlines.
• For GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level, including complex writing and editing; researching, analyzing, interpreting, and distilling technical, programmatic, or policy information for senior officials and diverse audiences; reviewing executive correspondence, policy statements, and briefing or decision documents for clarity, consistency, accuracy, and compliance with standards; and providing staff guidance or consultation on writing, editing, document preparation, and executive correspondence.
• Applicants must clearly identify duties, responsibilities, and hours per week for each position in their resume; qualifying paid, unpaid, volunteer, and part-time experience may be credited.
• Federal competitive-service merit promotion candidates must meet Time-In-Grade requirements; these requirements do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan.
• All qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Successful completion of E-Verify, a federal background investigation, and a financial suitability review is required.
• A confidential financial disclosure form is required.
• Applicants must present two valid forms of identification before appointment; any state-issued ID or driver's license must be REAL ID-compliant.
• A service agreement of at least one year is required.

Responsibilities

• Ensure documents are well-written, understandable, logically complete, and compliant with grammatical, stylistic, syntactical, HHS, Public Health Service, and IHS standards and policies.
• Compose original correspondence for the IHS Director, the Secretary, executive staff in the Office of the Director, and other officials by special request.
• Write and edit correspondence for clarity of expression and consistency of policy statements.
• Translate scientific, technical, and programmatic information into language appropriate for the intended audiences.
• Provide consultation, technical assistance, and training to IHS staff on document formatting, editing, reviewing, and writing for senior officials’ signatures.
• Resolve conflicts among document originators and reviewers and contribute to decisions about what information to present and how to present it.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal executive-correspondence documentation standards, writing guidelines, and editing and review processes.
• Ensure messaging is consistent and accurately represents IHS and its programs; review senior leaders’ messages for strategic communications.

Benefits

• Federal employees earn annual leave at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, based on federal service.
• IHS may credit newly appointed federal employees for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed