Writer-Editor

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Office of Audits. The OIG conducts and supervises independent audits investigations and inspections of the programs and operations of DHS and recommends ways for DHS to carry out its responsibilities in the most effective efficient and economical manner possible. The OIG also seeks to deter identify and address fraud abuse mismanagement and waste of taxpayer funds invested in Homeland Security.

The Office of Audits oversees financial and performance audits as well as attestation engagements. These audits cover multiple functional and program areas such as financial statements cyber security acquisitions grants critical infrastructure disasters law enforcement and terrorism immigration and transportation security. Auditors examine DHS programs or activities in a formalized detailed and in-depth way. As a Writer-Editor the incumbent helps project teams produce reports and other written products that present the results of OIG audits and reviews persuasively comprehensively and understandably to stakeholders Congress the media and the public. The incumbent uses communications strategies analytical methods critical thinking knowledge of language and writing principles and a general knowledge of audit methods to understand and improve the delivery of complex information to diverse audiences. Duties include:

• Using knowledge of language and writing principles and analytical methods to help project teams create revise and finalize reports and related documents that clearly explain and present the results of audits and reviews of Department of Homeland Security programs and operations which generally include substantive issues with policy implications. Assisting as needed with other written products such as testimony memorandums correspondence communications suitable for digital media briefing material for oral presentations and mandated semiannual and annual reports.

• Working cooperatively and tactfully with a wide range of project teams as well as managers giving advice and guidance and ensuring teams analytical techniques project findings and conclusions are described in well-organized clear concise and easily understood reports and other relevant documents. Helping teams use plain language to convey technical and sensitive information clearly and concisely thus ensuring reports are understandable to a wide audience without sacrificing thoroughness accuracy and nuance. Helping teams select pertinent information to include in written products; determine the most logical and effective organization; ensure narrative is fair and balanced; identify and resolve deficiencies in writing; create visual aids to better convey analysis; and increase interest in and attention to reports.

• Consistently applying OIGs writing guidelines and other style practices plain language principles and grammar and punctuation rules to reports and other documents. Editing reports to ensure proper grammar punctuation and sentence and paragraph structure.
• Using expert oral communication skills to explain advocate or negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally to resolve complex problems and arrive at a common understanding of issues.
• Advising and helping develop and/or conducting informal and formal training to improve staff writing skills. This may include developing and presenting virtually or in person training materials and guidance to promote professionally written products.

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must be able to obtain Top/secret SCI security clearance.
• You will be required to undergo periodic drug testing.
• Selective Service registration required.
• Completion of one-year probationary period may be required.
• Submission of Performance Appraisal is mandatory.
• Financial disclosure is required.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

If you are a current federal employee you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To make an accurate determination you will need to include on your resume your federal position title pay plan occupational series grade level agency dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT) and total hours worked per week. 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).

You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Writer-Editor position as described below:

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform the duties of the position successfully and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable specialized experience must have equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Specialized experience for this position include:

1) Using communications strategies analytical methods critical thinking knowledge of language and writing principles and a general knowledge of audit methods to help organizations and project teams draft revise and produce written products such as report outlines draft and final reports congressional testimony correspondence briefing materials and products suitable for digital media;

2) Consistently applying relevant writing guidelines and other style practices plain language principles and grammar and punctuation rules to reports and other documents; identifying and resolving deficiencies in writing; and editing written products to ensure proper grammar punctuation and sentence and paragraph structure; and

3) Ensuring an organizations and project teams written products are clear accurate understandable and accessible to a wide audience and compliant with appropriate writing guidelines and principles.

If you are selected for an interview a writing exercise may be administered as part of the interview process.

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.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date 07/17/2026of this announcement.

Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade level or equivalent grade band in the federal service. The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date 07/17/2026of this announcement.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years a political Schedule A Schedule C Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.