Senior Health Writer/Editor – NIH Federal Contractor

Ripple Effect; Bethesda (MD); Remote; USD 89,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote telework

Best Places to Work recognition

NIH-focused mission

Job summary

Ripple Effect seeks a senior Consumer Health Writer/Editor to lead content efforts for NIH AIDS Research projects. You will provide advanced technical leadership for complex writing initiatives, oversee content strategies, ensure quality and regulatory compliance, and manage timelines and budgets while mentoring staff.

You will guide client relationships and cross-functional collaboration with autonomy. The role emphasizes editing standards, federal contracting experience, NIH workflows, and a

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant experience in health/medical writing or editing.
• 2 years of medical or consumer health writing and copy-editing experience.

Responsibilities

• Technical Execution: Oversees production of technical reports, manuals, and documents; reviews quality and scope.
• Writing Activities: Plans and oversees major documentation sets; assigns tasks and tracks budgets.
• Editing Activities: Sets editorial standards; performs final reviews and ensures regulatory compliance.
• Communication: Leads documentation communications; prepares memos and status reports.
• Schedule & Timelines: Monitors progress; ensures timely deliverables and stakeholder updates.
• Quality Management: Enforces editorial standards and quality control across documents.
• Data Analysis: Uses data to evaluate content effectiveness and inform improvements.
• Regulatory & Contractual Compliance: Ensures policies are followed and documents meet requirements.
• Documentation & Publication: Leads development of technical docs and publication processes.
• Problem Solving & Improvement: Identifies inefficiencies and implements workflow improvements.
• Business Relations: Builds client and internal stakeholder relationships for high-quality outputs.
• Supervision: Works independently with broad guidance; mentors others.

Skills

Advanced technical writing

Editorial standards enforcement

Mentoring writers

AI tools in editorial workflows

Education

Science or health degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Job description

This is a senior-level individual contributor/lead role (effectively a Writing/Editing Lead) within a 200-person federal consulting firm. It sits at the intersection of health communications, NIH federal contracting, and content operations — a valuable niche with consistent demand.

Compensation analysis: The $88,600–$101,900 range is slightly below market for a senior technical writer/editor in the DC/Maryland corridor, where comparable roles at large federal contractors typically range from $95K–$120K+. However, the full-time telework arrangement and the NIH mission focus (HIV/AIDS research) may offset this for mission-driven candidates.

• Federal regulatory and 508 compliance writing — a specialized, high-demand skill set
• NIH contracting workflows and government documentation standards
• Content leadership: mentoring writers, enforcing editorial standards, managing cross-functional stakeholders
• AI tool integration into editorial workflows — an emerging and marketable competency

Green flags: Woman-owned business with consistent "Best Places to Work" recognition (2024 & 2025), full telework, and a stable NIH client base providing job security. The mentorship and autonomy expected at this level signals real career ownership.

Potential red flag: The salary band is narrow and the role appears to have limited upward mobility described — candidates should ask about promotion pathways and whether this is a contract-dependent position tied to a specific NIH award.

Ideal for health communicators who want to deepen federal sector expertise without relocating to the DC area.

• Salary Range: $88,626.66 – $101,920.65 per year

Position Overview

Are you passionate about elevating content into clear, compelling narratives that resonate?

As a Consumer Health Writer/Editor with Ripple Effect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our success on work with the NIH Office of AIDS Research. Your work will provide advanced technical leadership for complex writing initiatives, overseeing content approaches, quality standards, and compliance. You will independently manage timelines, budgets, and documentation while mentoring team members and guiding best practices. You will also lead content discussions, analyze complex information, and build trusted client relationships by exercising broad guidance, expert judgment, and autonomy in execution and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Technical Execution: Oversees the production of technical reports, manuals, and other documents, reviewing team deliverables for quality and responsiveness and recommending improvements to meet project scope and requirements.
• Writing Activities: Plans and oversees production of major documentation sets, assigns writing tasks, aligns content with scope and stakeholder needs, monitors schedules/budgets, and guides team output.
• Editing Activities: Sets and enforces editorial standards, conducts final-level reviews, implements corrective actions for content issues, ensures regulatory/contract compliance, and manages quality accountability.
• Communication: Leads communications for documentation projects, preparing and reviewing written materials (e.g., status reports, technical memos) and guiding team members on effective communication practices to ensure clarity and consistency.
• Schedule & Timelines: Monitors and reports on writing/editing project progress, ensures deliverables are completed on schedule, and provides updates to stakeholders to keep all parties aligned and informed.
• Quality Management: Maintains and enforces editorial standards for all technical documents, ensuring the completeness, timeliness, and overall quality of finished products and implementing corrective actions to address any content issues.
• Data Analysis: Leverages analytical insights to evaluate documentation needs and content effectiveness, interpreting feedback or data to inform improvements in writing processes and deliverables.
• Regulatory & Contractual Compliance: Ensures consistent application of organizational policies in all documentation and verifies that technical publications adhere to relevant regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Documentation & Publication: Leads the development of technical documentation and publication processes, establishing clear procedures and ensuring all written materials are comprehensive, accurate, and accessible.
• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement: Drives continuous improvement in editorial workflows by proactively identifying process inefficiencies or content gaps, implementing creative solutions to documentation challenges, and streamlining team workflows.
• Business Relations: Builds strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders by ensuring documentation meets their needs and by coordinating cross-departmental efforts to produce high-quality written materials in support of organizational goals.
• Supervision: Works independently with broad guidance supporting increasingly complex tasks. Uses experience to manage complex tasks and mentor others; consults supervisor as needed.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant experience
• 2 years of medical or consumer health writing and copy-editing experience

Basic Requirements

• Ability to produce complex technical writing and documentation related to medical or consumer health.
• Ability to conduct research to draft accurate and appropriate written content.
• Ability to edit materials as directed to meet client needs and compliance with style guides.
• Ability to prioritize among multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to execute instructions.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office productivity software and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Must reside in a U.S. location where Ripple Effect is authorized to employ staff.
  • Ripple Effect is currently unable to employ individuals whose primary residence is in California, New York, or Puerto Rico.

Skills That Set You Apart

• Degree in a science or health field; especially experience working on projects focused on HIV/AIDS.
• Proficiency in 508 compliance.
• Certification(s) in writing or editing.
• Experience with federal government contracting, especially NIH.
• Intermediate experience with AI tools, including their limitations and risks, and how they can be applied to support project management tasks.

About Ripple Effect

Ripple Effect is a woman-owned, 200-person company of communicators, scientists, researchers, and analysts. Established in 2003 and named as one of the "Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" in 2024 and 2025 by the NABR, Ripple Effect has earned acclaim for delivering unparalleled consulting services and top-tier talent across federal, private, and non-profit sectors.

At Ripple Effect, we reward our employees for their contributions to our mission. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes competitive pay, exceptional benefits , and a range of programs that support your work/life balance and personalized preferences.

Is this role truly fully remote or is there an in-office requirement? The position is listed as full-time telework, meaning you work entirely remotely. However, you must reside in a US state where Ripple Effect is authorized to employ staff — California, New York, and Puerto Rico are currently excluded. What is the salary range for this Consumer Health Writer/Editor position? The posted salary range is $88,626.66 to $101,920.65 per year, depending on experience and qualifications. What security clearance is required for this job? The role requires a NACI (National Agency Check with Inquiries) clearance, which is a standard federal background investigation. Applicants must be eligible for this US government clearance. Do I need a background specifically in HIV/AIDS research to apply? HIV/AIDS experience is listed as a preferred "skill that sets you apart," not a minimum requirement. The core requirement is 2+ years of medical or consumer health writing and copy-editing experience, along with 6+ years of total relevant experience. What makes a candidate stand out beyond the minimum qualifications? Preferred differentiators include a science or health degree, 508 compliance proficiency, writing/editing certifications, NIH or federal government contracting experience, and familiarity with AI tools applied to project management tasks.