WRITER EDITOR (PRINTED MEDIA)

National Defense University

Fort McNair, DCFull-time$102–133K/yrPosted 6 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$102–133K/yr
Location
Fort McNair, DC
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

National Defense University seeks a Writer Editor to edit defense strategy and policy publications and coordinate manuscripts through production. The role works with academic, military, and civilian authors, prepares materials for contract editing and related services, and monitors contractor performance. Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower federal grade, including publishing practices and resources.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

English LanguageWriting TechniquesEditing ProceduresManuscript EditingStrategic AffairsDefense AffairsMilitary AffairsPrinted MediaManuscript PreparationDesign and TypographyPrinting Process

Qualifications

1 Year Specialized Experience

Benefits

401(k) Match
Medical Insurance
Paid Time Off

Full job description

Summary

National Defense University (NDU) supports the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. This job announcement uses the USA Hire Assessment to evaluate applicants. For more information, visit USA Hire Assessment

Duties

  • Edits articles, reports and books on defense strategy and policy for the fundamentals of scholarly writing, including copy edits for syntax, grammar, spelling and style, as well as clear purpose, coherent organization and persuasive argument.
  • Employs editorial judgment to remedy deficiencies in style such as needless repetition, inconsistency and incongruity. Works with academics, military officers and civilian officials, exercising tact when discussing editorial changes with authors.
  • Prepares manuscripts and coordinates projects throughout the production process, which includes design, layout, printing, post-production tasks, and preparation of electronic edition.
  • Prepares manuscripts for contract editing, proofreading, or indexing. Writes specifications and statement of work to be performed. Monitors and reviews contractor performance and adherence to schedules. Acts as technical representative.

Qualifications

One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade GS-11 within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required. Specialized experience is defined as experience with practices and resources associated with publishing such as printed media, manuscript preparation, design and typography, and the printing process. Volunteer Experience: 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education is not substitutable for specialized experience for this grade level. Official Transcripts: If the position you are applying for has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications (i.e. you would not qualify without the education obtained), you MUST submit transcripts with your application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application outside of what is outlined above; however, official transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying or prior to appointment as outlined above. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation upon request. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education How You Will Be Evaluated

IMPORTANT NOTE - YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. ERRORS OR OMISSIONS MAY AFFECT YOUR RATING. Your application will be evaluated and rated under the Category Rating and Selection Procedures. We will review your resume and supporting documentation and compare this information to your responses on the occupational questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this job. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Eligible candidates will then be placed for selection consideration into 3 categories as described below: Best Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates a high level of proficiency in the job-related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire. Highly Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates proficiency in some of the job-related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire. Qualified Category - Meets the minimum qualifications as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement. Comprehensive knowledge of the English language, writing techniques, and editing procedures; Practical knowledge of editing and revising manuscripts on the computer; General knowledge of strategic, defense, and military affairs You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13100183 The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ [email protected]. Other Information

This position resides within NDU's Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) and NDU Press. NDU Press publishes Joint Force Quarterly, INSS Strategic Perspectives monographs, INSS Strategic Insights blog, and books. Through its research, analyses, and publications, INSS advances the NDU mission and provides the Joint Force with decision advantage. NDU has a comprehensive benefits package that includes retirement, social security, and thrift savings plan (TSP); health, life, and long-term care insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. NDU employees enjoy flexible work schedules, transit subsidy and enhanced telework opportunities. Our complete benefits package is one of the most comprehensive found in either government or private sector. These extraordinary benefits encompass health, pay, work/life balance, growth & learning. Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from DoW Program for Stability of Civilian Employment. We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date. Accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Priority Consideration: You must be well qualified for the position to receive special selection priority under the ICTAP. A qualified ICTAP eligible achieving a score of 90 or above will be considered well qualified. You must submit a Separation-Reduction in Force (RIF) SF-50; a RIF Notice showing separation within the past year (or declining a management directed reassignment outside the commuting area, or a Termination of Disability Notice from OPM) and most recent performance appraisal. For more information, go to: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. NOTE: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are NOT ICTAP eligible. Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

How this job compares

Set against the 316 open Editor jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$102–133K/yr
  • US median$93–145K/yr172 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $118K, is 5% below the US median midpoint ($124K) — in the middle half of Editor salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 18 open Editor jobs in Washington, D.C. and 316 across the US. 11% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most across the US
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Editor postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 225 postings).
Education
99 of the 316 open Editor jobs (31%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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