Writer-Editor - Arlington, VA

MSCCN; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of the Chief External Affairs Officer at the Department of Homeland Security's CISA in Arlington, VA seeks a Writer-Editor to develop, edit, and coordinate high-level internal and external communications supporting the agency's mission, workforce, leadership, and stakeholders.

The incumbent will prepare speeches, leadership messages, talking points, web content, newsletters, and other communications addressing complex or sensitive agency policies, programs, and events, and will

Qualifications

• Specialized experience writing and substantively editing executive-level communications.
• Translating complex policy information into clear content for diverse audiences.
• Coordinating high-visibility products across multiple offices or stakeholder groups.
• Applying editorial standards, style requirements, grammar rules, and plain-language principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop speeches, leadership messages, talking points, web content, newsletters, and other internal/external communications.
• Write materials supporting agency events, mission activities, leadership priorities, and workforce communications.
• Edit for clarity, accuracy, consistency, and audience-appropriate tone.
• Coordinate communication products with senior leaders, program offices, and experts across CISA.
• Organize product rollouts and track status from concept through publication or launch.
• Meet with senior leaders to clarify subject matter, audience, tone, and messaging.

Skills

Executive writing

Substantive editing

Speechwriting

Policy translation

Audience analysis

Research & analysis

Stakeholder coordination

Editorial standards

Job description

Position Title: Writer-Editor

Series and Grade: GS-1082-13

Position Description: OCE001 / Job Code 103191

Full Performance Level: GS-13

Agency: Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Office Office of the Chief External Affairs Officer

Duty Location: Arlington, Virginia

Appointment Type: Competitive service

Who May Apply:

• Veterans with a 30% or more service-connected disability rating
• Individuals eligible under Schedule A (5 CFR 213.3102(u))

Summary:

The Office of the Chief External Affairs Officer is seeking an experienced Writer-Editor to develop, edit, and coordinate high-level internal and external communications supporting CISA's mission, workforce, leadership, and stakeholders.

The incumbent prepares speeches, leadership messages, talking points, web content, newsletters, and other communications addressing complex or potentially sensitive agency policies, programs, priorities, accomplishments, and events. The position requires substantial experience writing for senior government officials, translating technical or policy information for different audiences, and coordinating communication products across a large organization.

Major Duties: Writing and Editing:

• Develop speeches, leadership messages, talking points, web content, newsletters, articles, and other internal and external communication products.
• Write materials supporting agency events, mission activities, leadership priorities, and workforce communications.
• Perform substantive and technical editing to ensure written products are clear, accurate, consistent, and appropriate for the intended audience.
• Ensure communication products comply with agency policy, editorial standards, style requirements, grammar rules, and plain-language principles.
• Adapt content and writing style for formats that may include websites, intranet content, newsletters, social media, speeches, talking points, articles, reports, and scripts.
• Review materials for consistency with previously released or pending agency communications.

Research and Analysis:

• Research and analyze complex information concerning DHS and CISA missions, goals, programs, policies, priorities, activities, and accomplishments.
• Translate technical, policy, and program information into clear and compelling content for internal and external audiences.
• Gather information by reviewing source material and interviewing subject-matter experts, program managers, and agency leaders.
• Analyze the subject matter and intended audience to determine the most effective organization, tone, style, and level of detail.
• Help develop and implement communication content policies, procedures, and standards.
• Interpret differing or conflicting viewpoints and present information accurately and appropriately.
• Draft materials that explain policies, research findings, organizational activities, regulations, and program developments.

Coordination and Collaboration:

• Coordinate communication products with senior leaders, program offices, subject-matter experts, and communication professionals across CISA.
• Serve as an office representative on CISA's Internal Communication Council.
• Develop talking points and other materials supporting external communication requirements.
• Organize product rollouts and track communication products from initial concept through publication or launch.
• Coordinate agency-wide input and adjudicate edits for shared communication products.
• Meet with senior leaders and their staffs to clarify subject matter, audience, tone, and intended message.
• Incorporate leadership preferences and organizational style into written products.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency leaders, staff members, contractors, private-sector representatives, and other government officials.

Metrics and Product Management:

• Track communication products, deadlines, distribution methods, and publication status.
• Collect and analyze communication metrics.
• Evaluate product reach and effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain analytical products and trackers covering the communication lifecycle, from concept through publication.
• Use findings to support decisions concerning product development, distribution, and future communication strategies.

Required Experience

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet the applicable federal qualification requirements for the GS-1082 series and grade.

Specialized Experience:

• Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 level in the federal service.
• Specialized experience should demonstrate experience performing duties such as:
• Writing and substantively editing executive-level or senior-leader communications.
• Developing speeches, leadership messages, talking points, articles, newsletters, reports, web content, or similar communication products.
• Translating complex technical, policy, or program information into clear content tailored to different audiences.
• Researching complex or potentially controversial subjects and presenting findings accurately and persuasively.
• Interviewing senior leaders, program managers, or subject‑matter experts to gather information for communication products.
• Applying editorial standards, style requirements, grammar rules, and plain‑language principles.
• Coordinating high‑visibility communication products across multiple offices or stakeholder groups.
• Managing communication products from initial concept through review, approval, publication, or distribution.
• Developing or applying communication content policies, procedures, or standards.
• Collecting and analyzing communication metrics to evaluate product reach, distribution, or effectiveness.

Applicants' resumes should clearly identify when and where this experience was performed. Federal HR can only credit experience that is explicitly documented and tied to specific positions and dates. Official qualification determinations rest with HR.

Key Competencies:

• Executive and leadership writing
• Substantive and technical editing
• Written communication
• Research and analysis
• Plain-language communication
• Audience analysis
• Policy and technical content translation
• Speechwriting and talking‑point development
• Web and workforce communications
• Editorial quality control
• Communication planning
• Product and deadline management
• Metrics and performance analysis
• Stakeholder coordination
• Interpersonal communication
• Problem solving and independent judgment

Preferred Experience

Desired Background:

• Strong candidates will generally demonstrate:
• Significant experience writing for senior government or organizational officials.
• Experience developing messages distributed across a department, agency, or similarly large organization.
• Experience addressing complex, sensitive, controversial, or rapidly developing subjects.
• Ability to write for both internal workforce and external public audiences.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and incorporating their voice, tone, and preferences.
• Familiarity with publishing concepts, editorial workflows, communication platforms, and accessibility considerations.
• Experience coordinating products requiring input or approval from multiple organizational components.
• Experience using communication metrics and product trackers to evaluate effectiveness and manage workflow.
• Knowledge of government, national security, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, emergency management, or another complex mission environment.

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities

Resume Guidance:

• Applicants should ensure their resumes:
• Show at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience.
• Tie experience to specific jobs and dates.
• Identify the audiences, organizational level, and purpose of major communication products.
• Describe direct experience writing for senior leaders.
• Identify the types of products written or edited.
• Explain the complexity, sensitivity, or visibility of the subject matter.
• Describe responsibility for research, fact‑checking, coordination, editing, and final product delivery.
• Include measurable scope or results where available, such as audience size, number of products, publication frequency, turnaround time, engagement metrics, or process improvements.
• Clearly distinguish original writing, substantive editing, copyediting, coordination, and product‑management responsibilities.

Tailoring can clarify experience that was actually performed, but it cannot substitute for experience the applicant does not possess.