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Technical Writer-Editor, GS-1083

Definitions:

EXPERIENCE: One year of work experience is twelve months working full-time (at least 35-40 hours per week). Part-time experience can be pro-rated (i.e., a year at 20 hours per week is credited as 6 months of experience). If your position consisted of mixed duties, experience credit is given for the percentage of time that you spent on qualifying duties (i.e., if you held a position for 2 years, full-time, consisting of 25% personnel work and 75% budget work, and then applied for a budget position you could calculate your experience as follows: 2 yrs = 24 months. 24 months x 75% [percentage of time spent on budget duties] = 18 months of qualifying experience.)

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: A year of undergraduate education is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent of college study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: In the absence of specific graduate program information, a year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of graduate level college course work, or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full time study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

 

For GS-07:

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-07 level: One full year of graduate level education (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours or the equivalent) in a field related to the position to be filled. Graduate education includes 15 semester hours in scientific, technical, or social science field, and one course above introductory level. For technical manual and specification writers/editors, the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through post high school training.

**OR Superior Academic Achievement based on undergraduate study. (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT).

**OR One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05. Examples include: Acquire technical information through independent reading, interviews with subject-matter specialists, observation of tests and experiments, interpretation of blueprints or diagrams and present this information in a manner easily understood by the intended audience. Compose pamphlets, brochures, training and operating manuals, prepared by subject matter experts; review the material for clarity and for consistency with policy and style requirements.

**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and specialized experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

 

For GS-09:

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-09 level: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. in a field of study which provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. Graduate education includes 15 semester hours in scientific, technical, or social science field, and one course above introductory level. For technical manual and specification writers/editors, the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through post high school training.

**OR One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of such experience include: Interpret and explain a variety of subjects; Write or edit materials tailored to specific media and audiences, using knowledge of materials previously released or in process to avoid repetition or contradictions; Edit articles accepted for publication, often doing substantial rewriting.

**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and specialized experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE).

 

For GS-11:

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level:

3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education (54 semester hours, 81 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree with a total of 15 semester hours in an appropriate scientific, technical, or social science field, and at least one course above the introductory level in fields covered by this position. For technical manual and specification writers or editors, the equivalent of 15 semester hours may have been gained through training above the high school level.

**OR one year of appropriate specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service. Examples of such experience may include: Review scientific/technical documents of a less complex nature; Edit technical documents and/or rewrite scientific and/or technical reports with geologic, hydrologic, mathematical, and chemical terms; Analyze interpret and integrate information in a variety of formats.

**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and specialized experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

 

For GS-12:

One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11 in the Federal service. Examples of such experience may include: Edit moderately complex scientific and technical material; Write printed or spoken media for a general scientific audience or informed laymen; Insure that editing and writing conforms to all applicable requirements; Analyze and interpret written products to develop authoritative information on the programs, policies, functions, and research of the agency; Use knowledge of regulations and policies affecting agency publications, issues and programs.

 

For GS-13:

One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12 in the Federal service. Examples of such experience may include: Edit highly complex scientific and technical material for printed or spoken media for a general scientific audience or informed layman; this may include shifting of sentences within paragraphs, corrections of sentences for faulty syntax or poor choice of words, conformance to GPO, required style, and grammar, punctuation, and spelling; Research technical specifications and requirements using knowledge of standards and programs; analyze information to develop authoritative documents to be used in scientific publications.

 

For GS-14:

One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-13 in the Federal service. Examples of such experience may include: editing complex scientific and technical material for printed/spoken media for a scientific audience or informed layman, this may include shifting of sentences, corrections for faulty syntax or poor choice of words, conformance to GPO, punctuation and spelling. Research technical specifications/requirements using knowledge of standards/programs and analyzing information to develop authoritative documents used in scientific publications.

 

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