WRITER EDITOR (PRINTED MEDIA)
Fort McNair, DCFull-time$102–133K/yrPosted 6 days ago
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At a glance
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Job overview
National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies and NDU Press publish research and analysis supporting the university’s mission and the Joint Force. The Writer Editor edits scholarly articles, reports, and books on defense strategy and policy, and coordinates manuscripts through production. The role also prepares work for contract editing, proofreading, or indexing and monitors contractor performance.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
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
HR will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the basic requirements will be further evaluated by information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies: 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/13100184 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. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the full performance level only. Accepting this position, you may be required to serve a I-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): 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. Special Hiring Authorities: You may be considered for the vacancy if you are eligible for a special appointment authority such as those authorized for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam Era and disabled veterans; volunteers returned from the Peace Corps or Vista, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Resource Center: http://help.usajobs.gov/how-to; VetsInfo Guide: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): Veterans who are preference eligibles or who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions after substantially completing an initial 3-year term (not less than 2 years and 11 months) may apply regardless of their current geographical location. Veterans must submit their DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to be considered under this authority. Reemployed Annuitants: Department of Defense has the authority to hire annuitants without reduction in pay. For more information, go to: https://www.dcpas.osd.mil/policy/retirement/reemployedannuitant All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-4434 for assistance. .
How this job compares
Set against the 316 open Editor jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 5, 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
- Deloitte31 open
- New York Times16 open
- New York Post11 open
- 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 5, 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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