Job Title:
Technical Writer Editor - NINDS - MP

Salary Range:
57,648.00 - 106,820.00 USD /year

Series & Grade:
GS-1083-11/13

Promotion Potential:
13

Open Period:
Monday, July 14, 2008 to Friday, August 01, 2008

Position Information:
Full-Time Permanent

Duty Locations:
1 vacancy - Bethesda, MD 1 vacancy - Bethesda, MD

Who May Be Considered:

This vacancy is open to current permanent Title 5 Federal employees 
of the DHHS.

Job Summary:

At NIH, the employer of choice, the possibilities are endless...

Top 5 Reasons to work for NIH:

NIH Mission
Challenging Work
Career Advancement Opportunities
Sense of Achievement
Exceptional Benefits Packages

To see additional reasons why employees love to work at NIH, please 
href="http://www.jobs.nih.gov/topten.asp">click here.

If you are an exceptionally talented, knowledgeable, and motivated 
individual, and are interested in being a media relations specialist 
supporting proactive media outreach for a major institute of 
the National Institutes of Health, you should consider becoming a 
Technical Writer Editor with the Office of Communications and Public 
Liaison in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and 
Stroke (NINDS)!  

NINDS is one of 27 premier institutes with the National Institutes 
of Health (NIH) under the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS).  The mission of NINDS is to reduce the burden of neurological 
disease - a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of 
society, by people all over the world. NINDS offers challenging work 
assignments, exciting special projects, and exceptional professional 
training.

New to the Government Application Process? We want to be sure 
you have an opportunity to be considered, so please review the 
information on the "Qualifications and Evaluations" tab and follow 
the instructions listed on the "How to Apply" tab.

Key Requirements:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen by the closing date to qualify.
• Please carefully read and follow the instructions for HOW TO APPLY.
• You must meet time in grade requirements within 30 days of closing.

Major Duties:

As a Technical Writer Editor with the NINDS, Office of Communications 
and Public Liaison, your duties will include:

- Supporting proactive media outreach by forming professional media 
contacts and relationships and creating positive media opportunities 
for NINDS.  

- Managing contact between NINDS and broadcast and print news 
outlets. 

- Providing background information on NINDS research and education 

- Assisting in arranging press conferences and briefings, and writing 
press releases, backgrounders, press kit materials, press conference 
remarks, and other related materials that are clear, accurate, 
and appropriate for the audience.  

- Primary responsibility for planning, accomplishing, and evaluating 
the Institute's media liaison efforts, and acting as a principal 
point of contact with diverse mass media representatives, including 
wire services, newspapers, magazines, and radio and TV broadcasters, 
and web sites for issuing news, handling inquiries, and encouraging 
media interest in a broad range of activities carried out by the 
NINDS. 

- Writing, editing, clearing, producing and distributing NINDS press 
releases, and a variety of science news stories reporting on the work 
of the Institute and its grantees. 

- Writing and editing scientific/technical and other material for a 
variety of audiences.

Qualifications:

All candidates must meet the requirements of the position within 30 
days of the closing date of this announcement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, applicants 
must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent 
at least to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized 
experience can include experience writing and editing publications 
(articles, press releases, ad copy, reports, fact sheets, etc) and 
briefing materials on technical topics, including communicating with 
persons inside and outside the organization, experience as a public 
affairs contact in a public affairs office, including tracking and 
analyzing media related activities, conducting new conferences and/or 
media interviews, and experience using Web-based technologies to 
disseminate health related messages.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, applicants 
must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent 
at least to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized 
experience at this level can include: writing or editing documents 
using a specialized vocabulary of scientific, technical, or social 
science fields, or with equipment or technical systems. It may also
include reporting on research findings, presenting and explaining 
technical information, composing or editing technical narrative, 
selecting illustrations, and submitting documents in final form for 
publication

To qualify for the position at the GS-13 level, applicants must 
possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent at 
least to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized 
experience at this level can include experience independently writing 
and editing publications and briefing materials on technical topics 
that are sensitive in nature and where the target audience includes 
the general public, professionals, and policy-makers; experience 
developing and nurturing informational resources both inside and 
outside the organization; experience as a contact for the public in a 
public affairs office; experience tracking and preparing reports 
analyzing the effectiveness of the organization's public affairs 
programs; experience ensuring compliance with policies and 
procedures, experience responding to public inquiries; experience  
ensuring the successful completion of multiple projects 
simultaneously; development of materials designed for distribution 
via electronic distribution lists.

Evaluation of Specialized Experience:  Specialized experience is 
defined as experience that has equipped the applicant with the 
particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform 
successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or 
related to the position to be filled. 

Full qualification requirements can be found on the OPM website at 
http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/index.html.

You must meet citizenship requirements by the closing date of this 
announcement. All other qualification requirements, including time 
in grade, must be met no later than 30 days from the closing date of 
this announcement.

All male citizens of the United States born after December 31, 1959, 
must be registered for the Selective Service to be eligible for 
Federal employment. For more information about registering with the 
Selective Service visit: 
www.sss.gov.

This position is subject to a background investigation.

How You Will Be Evaluated:

Evaluation Method

To preview questions please click here.

Benefits:

Location, location, location. NIH's main campus is located in 
beautiful Bethesda, MD, a stone's throw from downtown Washington DC. 
Surrounded by world class eateries and shopping areas, a career at 
NIH has many great benefits in addition to its location.

Some of the great benefits that an employee MAY be eligible to 
receive are:

Flexible/Compressed work schedule
Free parking
Paid Holidays, Vacation and Sick Time
Teleworking opportunities
Convenience: A Metro stop right on the NIH campus
On site fitness center
Transit Subsidies
On site credit union
Cultural events
Scientific lectures
On site child care centers
A variety of employee clubs such as Toastmasters, karate, and 
sailing


In addition to the benefits listed above, the following links will 
navigate you to the federal government's generous benefit packages 
such as annual, sick, and holiday leave, health insurance, and a 
Thrift Savings Plan with matching contributions. For more 
information, check out Ne
w Employee Benefits and 
OPM's Employee Benefits Information.

Mission: Possible. Our mission is more than just a paragraph; 
it's everywhere you look. NIH is home to the world's premier 
biomedical research hospital. You don't have to be a scientist to 
improve the health of the nation. NIH: Improving Health through 
Discovery.

Other Information:

We will not pay relocation expenses.

A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/ 
placement.

Helping you through the process. At NIH we are striving to 
make the application process as easy and efficient as possible. With 
that in mind, the resume and corresponding responses of successful 
candidates may be shared with other Institutes/Centers of NIH with 
opportunities like the one for which you are applying. We recommend 
you still apply directly to the jobs that interest you, but we want 
you to know we are working for you. If for some reason you don't want 
your application shared with other Institutes/Centers, just notify 
the point of contact for this posting and we'll make sure your 
application stays solely with this posting. Additional selections 
may be made through this vacancy announcement.

Holding ourselves to a higher standard. The National 
Institutes of Health inspires public confidence in science by 
maintaining high ethical principles. In addition to the Federal 
Government's code of ethics, we have our own agency specific 
standards - check them out at the 
NIH Ethics website.

Before entering on duty, you will be required to complete a 
Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to 
provide the information annually. 

Equal Opportunity Employment. Equality is held as one of the 
most important values here at NIH. Selection for this - and any 
other - position will be based solely on merit. NIH does not 
discriminate on the premises of race, color, religion, sex, national 
origin, politics, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or 
mental disability, age or membership or non-membership in an 
employee organization.

Who we are, what we do, and why it matters. The National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), is the premiere biomedical research 
center for the nation and the world. The 27 Institutes and Centers 
at NIH employ approximately 18,000 employees doing a vast array of 
jobs, all supporting efforts for a healthy nation. For more 
information on the NIH mission, goals, and Institutes and Centers, 
please visit 
NIH Overview. To find out more about working at NIH, visit Life at 
NIH.

How To Apply:

Read this entire vacancy announcement. While reading the 
announcement carefully, take note of any qualifications, rating 
factors, job-related questions or specific duties that are 
listed.
Begin the application process online at USAJOBS. Login to MYUSAJOBS and edit your 
existing resume or create a new resume to highlight the skills and 
experiences you have that relate to this specific vacancy. See Tips for 
USAJOBS Resumes.
Once you've created a vacancy-specific resume, return to the 
announcement and select "Apply Online." Select your appropriate 
resume and submit it for consideration by clicking "Apply to this 
position now!" This will then take you to the NIH HHS Careers system 
to answer the vacancy self-assessment questionnaire.
When completing the online questionnaire, please do not inflate 
your qualifications or underestimate your previous experience. You 
will receive a rating based on your responses to the 
questionnaire.
If you have questions or require reasonable accommodation during 
the application process, please contact the HR staff member listed 
below. If you have difficulties with hearing and are seeking 
assistance, please call a relay operator at 1-800-735-2258 or visit 
Maryland Relay or AT&T Relay.
If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact HR 
Systems Support at 301-451-1436 or via email at 
hrsystemssupport@mail.nih.gov.
Once you have completed the online questionnaire, click Finish 
twice to return to USAJOBS. However, your application may not be 
complete. Make sure you submit any supporting documentation (see 
below) before midnight Eastern Time on the closing date.


Additional Information on How to 
Apply

Required Documents:

What to Submit:
To receive consideration, the following information must be received 
in the NIH HHS Careers system before midnight Eastern Time on the 
closing date of the announcement:

Your resume via USAJOBS
Responses to all core questions and job specific questions via 
NIH HHS Careers (to access, simply apply online at USAJOBS)

Applicable supporting documentation (including any veteran's 
preference, CTAP/ICTAP, Schedule A documentation, or other 
information requested in the announcement like transcripts) should 
be sent to the HR Specialist listed in this announcement either by e-
mail or FAX by midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the 
announcement. To ensure that staff can match application materials 
with your resume and question responses, please include your name, 
the vacancy announcement number, and a daytime telephone number on 
all supporting documentation.

PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of 
this position within the Commissioned Corps should also apply online 
to this announcement in order to receive consideration.

Special Consideration:
Certain veterans, displaced federal employees, and the disabled may 
be eligible for special consideration. Please refer to the following 
links for additional information and documentation requirements.

Veterans
CTAP/ICTAP
Schedule A Appointments for the Disabled

Contact Information:

Erin Bandak Phone: 301-435-1642 Fax: 301-480-2503 Email: bandake@mail.nih.gov

Or write: Department of Health and Human Services - NIH 2115 East Jefferson Street Room 1B101 Bethesda, MD 20892-7123 Fax: 301-480-2503

What To Expect Next:

Once your complete application is received we will conduct an 
evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The 
most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring 
manager for further consideration and possible interview. 
During this process, we will update your status for each vacancy on 
the USAJOBS/HHS Careers website. To view your status, login to MYUSAJOBS.

You will be notified of the outcome by e-mail.

EEO Policy Statement:
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement:
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans Information:
Please Note:
Veterans' preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service, and may not apply to other excepted service appointing authorities. If you have questions about the applicability of veterans' preference for a particular vacancy please contact the agency posting the announcement.

Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were separated under honorable conditions may be eligible for veterans' preference. For service after October 15, 1976, the veteran must have received a Campaign Badge, Expeditionary Medal, a service connected disability, or have served during the Gulf War between August 2, 1990 and January 2, 1992 or for more than 180 consecutive days, other than training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) gives veterans access to job vacancies that might otherwise be closed to them. The law allows eligible veterans to compete for vacancies advertised under agency's promotion procedures when the agency is seeking applications from outside of its own workforce.

To claim veterans' preference, veterans should be ready to provide a copy of their DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof. Veterans with service connected disability and others claiming 10 point preference will need to submit Form SF-15, Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference.

For more specifics on all veterans employment issues such as Veterans preference or special appointing authorities see the VetGuide.

Legal and Regulatory Guidance:
Social Security Number - Your Social Security Number is requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from those of other applicants who may have the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your Social Security Number is used to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who may know you. Failure to provide your Social Security Number on your application materials, will result in your application not being processed

Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.

False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.