Duties

Summary

NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.

This position is that of a Writer Editor (Articles Editor) located in the Office of the Chairman, Office of Publications, at the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Office of Publications provides a wide range of writing, editing, and production of Endowment publications necessary for the accomplishment of the agency's mission.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Writer Editor you will:

• Provides advice to the Humanities Editors. Selects content for Humanities magazine, particularly for major packages of articles. Researches and develops topics encompassing all humanities subjects, historical and contemporary scholarship, and consultation with experts in the field.

• Assigns articles to freelance writers and commissions scholars and guest writers. Recruits new freelance writers on an ongoing basis. Guides writers through all drafts to completion.

• Edits and proofreads all magazine content, from features and editor's note through regular departments. Edits, copyedits, and proofreads galleys, page proofs, and bluelines.

• Helps maintain style guide for Endowment publications.

• Edits and proofreads brochures, flyers, invitations, and posters for Endowment programs.

• Researches, conducts interviews, and writes articles for the magazine on a regular basis. Writes ongoing departments for the magazine. Writes for other publications as requested.

• Ghostwrites articles, performing research and conducting interviews on short deadline as needed. Provides questions and background research to aid the Chairman in interviewing scholars and writers for Humanities magazine.

• Selects and adapts excerpts from a variety of genres to fit Humanities style: scholarly works, exhibition catalogs, poetry, fiction, letters, scripts, and articles.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Favorable background investigation
• Status applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade
• Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the close of this announcement
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

At the GS- 12 level Qualified candidates must possess:
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level or equivalent experience.

Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, for example: Experience in conducting research, develop story ideas, conduct journalistic and academic-style research to produce articles, features, and act as a copyeditor and production editor for the magazine and other projects. Proofreading on a variety of paper and digital projects representing the agency. Work with outside writers, carrying out a share of all the editorial and production tasks required for the making of magazines, pamphlets, reports, and other publications.

As part of the online application process you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies:

• Oral Communication
• Planning and Evaluating
• Writing

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

1.If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the ICTAP must be well-qualified for the position. To be well qualified, applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and meet the well-qualified level (mid-level) of the crediting plan for all factors. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice, SF-50, Notice of Personnel Action, 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. Section 833(h) or Section 8456.

2. If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, or you will not be considered under the merit promotion process. Also, you should submit your most recent performance appraisal.

3. Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998: Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous active duty service may apply. If you are applying under this provision, please submit a copy of your DD-214 (unedited long version).

4. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

5. You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans; returned volunteers from the Peace Corps or Vista , etc. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking, if any, on your application and follow all other instructions for applying shown in this announcement.

6. Reasonable Accommodation, this agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis.

7. 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. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

8. Equal Opportunity Employer: The Pretrial Services Agency is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other non-merit based factors.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your rating will be based on your responses to the job specific information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly show how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities will result in a rating of "Qualified" by the rating panel.1.Knowledge, skill, and ability to recognize the sense of urgency and the appropriateness and importance of taking immediate, proactive action, and giving sound advice, when controversial, sensitive or critical issues arise that have a real or potential impact on the mission, policies, programs and reputation of the Endowment and its staff; skill to communicate effectively in unstructured settings;

2.Knowledge and skill sufficient for presenting ideas in ways that will increase understanding among publics with varying levels of comprehension of agency programs and policies;

3. Ability to effectively work in conditions that demand frequent changes in priorities. Skill in adjusting priorities to accommodate fluctuating deadlines and workloads.

4.Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, and to supervise others whose work must be accomplished under the same conditions;

5. Skill in coordinating speeches, conferences, site visits and news conferences to ensure that the media and communications components of such events occur in a timely, effective and efficient manner.

Once the application process is completed, your application will be reviewed to ensure you meet the job requirements. You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training, job- related awards and supervisory appraisal of performance. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your resume will be forwarded to a panel for rating. Category Rating will be used to evaluate applicants using the following categories to further determine which applicants will be referred to the selecting official for final consideration.

Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level on all evaluation criteria.

Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level on evaluation criteria.

Qualified: Applicants possessing the specialized experience described above.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:1. Your Resume listing hours worked per week, salary, dates of employment and duties performed.2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education and/or to satisfy a basic professional requirement. Transcripts must include the school name, student name, degree and date awarded, if applicable. (Note: If you are selected for the position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day)
• Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service). (Award Notification of Personnel Actions are not acceptable)
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
• DD-214 (member 4 copy), SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
• Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
• Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.