Technical Writer-Editor
Job Location:
Lakewood, CO - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
You will serve as a TECHNICAL WRITER-EDITOR with the Bureau of Reclamation Technical Service Center Economics Planning and Technical Communications Group in Lakewood Colorado.
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:
- Partners with authors from the outset to plan and develop documents; advises on writing guidelines and supplemental material.
- Independently interviews subject matter specialists and conducts literature searches to collect analyze and rewrite material; researches missing or ambiguous data to improve clarity.
- Develops balanced treatments of controversial or sensitive matters.
- Writes rewrites and edits documents for clarity consistency and compliance with Reclamation policy NEPA PR&Gs and other Federal laws and regulations-ensuring each meets its purpose and audience.
- Proposes alternative ways to present technical material (tables illustrations appendices).
- Serves as a technical writing/editing expert; develops or modifies writing guidelines and advises team members on their use.
- Leads and/or serves on interdisciplinary teams contributing to scheduling plan development approach and evaluation of alternatives.
- Coordinates technical writing/editing and maintains working relationships with team leaders study managers and project coordinators to ensure all document components are complete correctly assembled and within time and funding constraints.
- Advises the team leader on progress unresolved issues and scheduling conflicts; as team leader resolves unusual situations.
- Participates in project management problem solving decision making and conflict resolution which may involve negotiation and sensitive (FOUO EIS/EA) interactions requiring tact.
- Coordinates and evaluates review comments from Reclamation other agencies and the public ensuring they are considered by subject matter specialists.
- Prepares environmental compliance and resource management documents for Congress agencies the public water user organizations and resource managers; provides consulting writing/editing and review services for Reclamation and external agencies.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
- Direct Deposit participation required.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period -OR- 2-year trial period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
This probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest meet the organization goals and mission of the agency and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the determining if your employment advances the public interest the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Under applicable law the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies in writing that the individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
*Additional Requirements located under qualifications*QualificationsAll qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 10/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300 Subpart F.
For current Federal employees if hours worked per week are not included on your resume you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees your resume must state either full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
Individual Occupational Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Must have included a total of 15 semester hours in an appropriate scientific technical or social science field(s) and at least one course above the introductory level in the field(s) covered by the position. For technical manuals and specifications writers or editors the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through vocational or educational training above the high school level at a public private or Armed Forces school.
OR
Experience:
Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that required substantial subject-matter or technical knowledge of the field. This experience must have demonstrated the ability to acquire and present technical information through independent reading interviews with subject-matter specialists observation of tests and experiments interpretation of blueprints or diagrams or other appropriate methods. Such experience may have been acquired as a writer or editor of technical reports articles manuals or specifications.
Minimum Qualification Requirements: In order to be rated as qualified for this position the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.
Specialized Experience:
To qualify at the GS-11: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in of developing editing and publishing documents that may include but are not limited to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents such as environmental impact statements (EISs) and environmental assessments (EAs) Safety of Dams reports inspection reports operation and maintenance reports standard operating procedures feasibility reports Design Standards emergency action plans business/strategic plans scientific and engineering reports manuals guidelines technical memorandums policies directives and standards newsletters brochures speeches/ presentations and/or Web sites/pages.
OR
Education:
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
or
3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
or
LL.M. if related
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 directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.EducationYou may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications requirement.
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name school name grades credit hours earned major(s) grade point average or class ranking and date the degree was conferred if applicable. A typed list of courses grades semester/quarter hours GPA etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated visit: informationAdditional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
If otherwise eligible and qualified you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS) recruitment or relocation incentive.
All DOI employees their spouses and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim permit lease small tract entry or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here DOI Ethics Prohibitions U.S. Department of the Interior.
Physical Demands/Work Environment: Mainly sedentary work using a PC and monitor with some walking bending and light lifting. Travel may be required to attend meetings near project sites. Occasionally a site orientation visit can be physically demanding.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
