Writer-Editor (Speechwriter)
What you'd do
This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of the Administrator, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs. This position primary purpose is serving as the principal speechwriter for the DEA Administrator and Principal Deputy Administrator, developing original speeches, remarks, talking points, testimony support materials, and presentations.
Major duties
As a Writer-Editor (Speechwriter), your typical work assignments may include: Determining dispositions of products, such as which ones are to be retained as active, archived, or suspended from distribution by the agency. Serving as an authority in the area of speech writing, talking points, and strategic communications and messaging. Developing and maintaining agency standards governing executive speech development, message coordination, executive review procedures, research methodologies, clearance processes, speech archives, and quality assurance practices to ensure consistency, factual accuracy, and alignment with Department of Justice and Administration priorities. Providing continuous review of the DEA's many complex and diverse programs to ensure that the agency policy is correctly depicted when presented to the public.
What you need to qualify
For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement. Applicants applying for the GS-14 must meet one of the following requirements: Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-13 grade level. Specialized 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. Qualifying experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Executive speechwriting: Researching, drafting, editing, finalizing various speeches, press releases, and other essential communications for leadership, senior management, press, and other high-profile public audiences; 2) Research and Strategic messaging: Gathering and synthesizing information from multiple authoritative sources, i.e., operational reporting, intelligence assessments, legislative history in order to translate complex law-enforcement, national-security, public-health, and policy matters into clear, accurate, compelling messages that advance an organization's priorities and maintain consistency with department or agency positions; 3) Stakeholder collaboration: Working with senior leaders, subject-matter experts, public-affairs personnel, attorneys, policy officials, and operational components to collect information, reconcile competing edits, and obtain necessary clearances; 4) Deadline and workflow management: Managing multiple high-priority assignments, shifting requirements, extensive review processes, and short deadlines while maintaining accuracy and writing quality. Incorporating leadership feedback promptly, advising senior officials on message clarity and effectiveness, and revising communications to address changes in audience, policy, events, or delivery circumstances; 5) Executive voice and oral delivery: Writing in the executive's authentic voice and producing remarks designed for effective oral delivery, including appropriate cadence, timing, transitions, emphasis, and narrative structure. Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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