Writer-Editor
What you'd do
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Intelligence located in Washington DC. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Major duties
You will serve as a writer-editor in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Intelligence (OI), writing, editing, reviewing, and disseminating written products and materials for OI, with a primary responsibility for producing a broad range of creative informative prints and electronic products in support of organizational communication objectives This position starts at a salary of $102,415.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $158,322.00 (GS-13, Step 10). GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts. Major Duties for this position include, but are not limited to: Developing and Disseminate Diverse Written Products: Responsible for creating a broad range of informative print and electronic materials, including reports, policies, training guides, and briefings, for the Office of Intelligence (OI), ensuring clarity, usefulness, and appropriate presentation of complex or sensitive topics for various audiences. Reviewing and Editing Intelligence-related Products: Critically reviews and edits classified and unclassified intelligence-related products for accuracy, appropriate messaging, and strict adherence to tradecraft and style guides. Managing Publication Quality and Processes: Overseeing the text, formatting, and layout of publications, coordinating with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and external entities, and conducting final proofreading to ensure high-quality, accurate, and timely dissemination of materials. Facilitating Communications and Developing Editorial Standards: Writes and edits formal memoranda, assists in facilitating OI-wide and CBP-wide communications, and develops and implements OI's editorial policies, practices, guidelines, and standards to maintain consistency and quality across all written outputs. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: 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.
What you need to qualify
Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Serving as a Writer-Editor and Disseminator of Intelligence Products: assisting in Developing and disseminating a broad range of authoritative, creative, and informative print and electronic products, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and appropriate presentation for diverse audiences. Contributing to the Full Publication Lifecycle, including text, formatting, and layout, review coordination, and the timely and high-quality release of all materials; Contributing to the establishment and implementation of Editorial Policies and Standards: facilitating Program wide communications, editorial policies, practices, guidelines, and standards, and resolving content and technical application issues in direct consultation with senior officials. Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Serving as an Authoritative Writer-Editor and Disseminator of Intelligence Products: Developing and disseminating a broad range of authoritative, creative, and informative print and electronic products, including complex and potentially controversial topics, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and appropriate presentation for diverse audiences, and proactively identifying and resolving inter-component conflicts; Overseeing and Managing the Full Publication Lifecycle: Providing expert oversight for the entire publication process, including text, formatting, and layout; serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to collaborate with other SMEs, manages review coordination, and ensures the timely and high-quality release of all materials; Establishing and Implementing Editorial Policies and Standards: Serving as an expert editor facilitating Program wide communications, developing and implementing editorial policies, practices, guidelines, and standards, and resolving complex content and technical application issues in direct consultation with senior officials. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. 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. You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 07/29/2026. 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. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
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