Writer-Editor (Speechwriter)

Drug Enforcement Administration; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeks a seasoned speechwriter to serve the Administrator and Deputy Administrator in its Office of Congressional and Public Affairs. You will craft original speeches, remarks, talking points, testimony support materials, and presentations for high-profile audiences.

Applicants for the GS-14 must show at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13, including executive speechwriting, strategic messaging, stakeholder collaboration, and

Qualifications

• Executive speechwriting for leadership audiences.
• Ability to gather information from multiple sources for messaging.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and policy staff to finalize messages.
• Manage multiple high-priority writing assignments with tight deadlines.
• Write in the executive's authentic voice for oral delivery.

Responsibilities

• Draft speeches, remarks, talking points, and testimony support materials.
• Create presentations and briefing materials for senior DEA leadership.
• Coordinate with offices to obtain clearances and ensure messaging consistency.

Skills

Executive speechwriting

Research and strategic messaging

Stakeholder collaboration

Deadline and workflow management

Executive voice and oral delivery

Job description

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.

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.