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Editor ( News Standards and Best Practices)

Summary

The position is located in the Voice of America (VOA), Programming Directorate. The incumbent reports to the VOA Director of Language Programming , Language Programming. The incumbent provides senior level advice and guidance to VOA senior management and staff involving the standards applied to VOA broadcast and online content. In particular, the incumbent is responsible for

ensuring the highest journalistic standards across the agency for VOA content on all platforms.

This job is open to

  • The public

    U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

  • Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), the public, Veterans; All U.S. Citizens.

Videos

Duties

As a Editor ( News Standards and Best Practices), you will be responsible for duties to include, but are not limited to:

1. Serves as the primary advisor in VOA with regard to interpretation of ethical standards, including journalistic codes of ethical conduct and the VOA Charter, and advises senior leadership throughout the agency on amending, revising, or supplementing the Charter and legislative initiatives to support journalist independence.

  • – Maintains the VOA Best Practices Guide, and for updating journalistic standards and practices under the VOA Charter. S/he advises on journalistic and editorial guidelines, and whether they are practiced consistently throughout VOA. The incumbent is actively involved in editorial and production issues involving potentially sensitive and/or controversial subject matter.
  • – Works closely with the Office of General Counsel on issues that address journalistic and government ethics. S/he, in conjunction with OGC’s Ethics Staff and the VOA Director of Public Relations, evaluates all requests for outside work by full-time VOA employees and VOA contract personnel, and recommends approval or denial.
  • – The incumbent works with the Office of Human Resources/Labor Employee Relations on possible instances of plagiarism and other violations of the highest journalistic standards by VOA employees. S/he reviews the work in question and provides expert opinion and guidance to LER.
  • – Participates with significant influence in any efforts to revise or update the VOA Charter and other legislation related to journalistic independence.

2. Develops and presents rigorous training on standards and best practices to VOA staff, including introductory sessions for new staff, regular refresher training, and specialized sessions to address emergent standards issues. These may include new technologies, novel media platforms, evolving political situations, and more.

  • – The incumbent, in collaboration with the Office of Workplace Support and Development and the USAGM Office of Human Resources, presents regular sessions on journalistic best practices to new VOA employees.
  • – Develops and presents high-level mandatory training related to the highest journalistic standards and their application within VOA.
  • – The incumbent also works with the Media Asset Management Branch to present and discuss journalistic best practices as they relate to VOA’s contracts with external newsfeed providers.
  • – On a yearly basis, the incumbent works with VOA support staff to ensure that all VOA broadcasting personnel complete an online annual review of VOA’s standards and practices, and other journalistic training that may be required by VOA management.

3. As assigned, oversees and supervises subordinate editor(s) and may serve as VOA’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for Agency contracts with external news agencies for video, photos and text. The incumbent ensures that technical, editorial and budget requirements are being met and that evolving needs of VOA are taken into account, both within current agreements and in future agreements. The incumbent monitors the Contractors’ performance to ensure that all the technical requirements under the contract including, but not limited to, review and approval of invoices. The incumbent can provide suggestions to the Contracting Officer for improvements and changes that would facilitate better work performance to the advantage of the Government and/or the contractors. The incumbent is required to report any suspected procurement fraud, waste, abuse, bribery, conflict of interest or other improper conduct to the Contracting Officer, and report such actions to other Agency officials if warranted.

4. Serves as VOA’s primary representative, in concert with the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Strategy and Development, in the process of approval of long-term subscription requests for domestic dissemination of VOA news reports and/or programs. In addition, the incumbent reviews and recommends approval or denial of outside activities, and one-time-only usage of VOA news reports and/or programs.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. citizenship is required.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by closing date of the announcement to be considered.
  • Applicants must complete online questionnaire.
  • This is a public trust position. If selected, this position requires the completion of the SF-86.
  • Suitability Determination: If selected, you will be subject to a background investigation to establish your suitability for federal employment. The background investigation may include, among other aspects, a review of your credit and legal history.
  • This position is not covered by a Union Agreement
  • This position has been designated supervisory requiring that the selectee serve on an initial appointment as a supervisor or manager serve a one-year probationary period.
  • If selected for this vacancy, you may be required to file the OGE Form 450 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Report).
  • The full performance grade level for this position is GS-15.

Qualifications

Qualifications for GS-15

Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 which is directly related to this line of work for Editor (News Standards and Best Practices).

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, the following specialized experience is required:

  • Knowledge of the principles and methods of journalism and effective delivery of news and information programming to an international audience in order to manage news gathering, program preparation and production, and broadcasting operations in a variety of formats.
  • Knowledge of the principles of management; demonstrated analytical ability to grasp the implications of policy and procedural changes and make sound recommendations, and to readily identify problems and develop effective solutions.
  • Knowledge of federal personnel laws, rules, and regulations in order to supervise and lead subordinates, recommend training, assess performance, and take disciplinary or performance-based actions, as necessary.
  • Ability to formulate new policies and programs and to evaluate existing programs and procedures and make changes as necessary to increase the effectiveness or efficiency of programming.
  • Knowledge of U.S. foreign policy, including bilateral and multilateral relations, security, economic programs, environmental protection, and other foreign policy concerns.

Education

Education cannot be used for qualification purposes for this grade level.

Additional information

1. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. For Military Selective Service Act requirement information, please visit https://www.sss.gov. Selective Service

2. Your application to this vacancy announcement will only allow consideration for this announcement. We cannot electronically or manually move your application to corresponding announcements if applicable.

3. Additional vacancies not reflected in the announcement that occur after the opening date of the vacancy announcement for position(s) identical (same grade, series and title) to the original vacancy may be filled from the selection certificate during the validity of the certificate.

  • Benefits

    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.

    Review our 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once your application package has been received, a review of your qualifications will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements and competencies required for this position.

Competencies:

  • Communications and Media
  • Journalism
  • Personnel and Human Resources

Possession of competencies must be addressed in a resume and/or cover letter. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. You will be placed in one of three rating categories:

  • Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating below 79.
  • Well Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating of 80-89.
  • Best Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating of 90 and above.

Application of Veterans’ Preference: Category Rating does not add veterans’ preference points, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more will be placed at the top of the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). Preference eligibles who do not have a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more will be assigned to the appropriate quality category based upon the job-related assessment and will be listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within the appropriate quality category.

  • Benefits

    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.

    Review our 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.

  • Required Documents

    As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have – whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.

    All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):

    • Resume

    Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s), which may not be required for all applicants:

    • Cover Letter
    • DD-214/ Statement of Service
    • Disability Letter (VA)
    • Resume
    • Separation Notice (RIF)
    • SF-15
    • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

    Although the required documents listed in this announcement only indicates that a resume is required, other documents may be required in specific circumstances.

    ICTAP: If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 80 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a “Notice of Personnel Action” (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.

    Veteran’s Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans’ preference, you must attach the member copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility stating discharge type. If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference, you must submit a VA letter and an Application of 10-Point Veterans’ Preference (SF-15). Applicants seeking widow or other special veterans preference must submit a SF-15 form and all documents indicated for their specific form of preference. If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received.

    Education: If education is a requirement or there is an option to use education for qualification purposes, you must submit your unofficial transcripts with your application package at the time of applying or before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If selected for the position, you will be required to submit official transcripts before your Enter on Duty date.

  • How to Apply

    You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

    • To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents and any appropriate Accepted Documents.
    • To begin, click Apply in the announcement; then, choose to create a new USAJOBS account or Sign-in into your existing account.
    • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
    • You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before submitting it. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
    • Click the following link to pre-view and print the occupational questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11873869.
    • After completing the questionnaire and uploading appropriate documents, click the Submit Application to submit your application package.
    • It is applicant’s responsibility to verify that information entered in the profile is accurate and all required documents are uploaded and submitted before 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/02/2023 of the announcement to receive consideration.
    • Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. If a document is not in legible format, applicant will not be able to view it in Application Manager which means applicant must again upload the documentation to the system by the closing date of this announcement.
    • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account. The page will display the positions for which you’ve applied as well as the status of each application.
    • To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Next click on Update Application to complete the application process.
    • Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement, including the Required Documents, Other Information, and How to Apply sections of the announcement.
    • Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail or e-mail. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.

    Agency contact information

    Stephanie Creek-Bevins

    Phone

    202-920-2400

    Email

    SCreek-Bevins@usagm.gov

    Next steps

    Once the online questionnaire and application package is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.

  • Fair and Transparent

    The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

    • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
    • Reasonable accommodation policy
    • Financial suitability
    • Selective Service
    • New employee probationary period
    • Signature and false statements
    • Privacy Act
    • Social security number request

Required Documents

All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):

  • Resume

Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s), which may not be required for all applicants:

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Although the required documents listed in this announcement only indicates that a resume is required, other documents may be required in specific circumstances.

ICTAP: If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 80 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a “Notice of Personnel Action” (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.

Veteran’s Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans’ preference, you must attach the member copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility stating discharge type. If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference, you must submit a VA letter and an Application of 10-Point Veterans’ Preference (SF-15). Applicants seeking widow or other special veterans preference must submit a SF-15 form and all documents indicated for their specific form of preference. If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received.

Education: If education is a requirement or there is an option to use education for qualification purposes, you must submit your unofficial transcripts with your application package at the time of applying or before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If selected for the position, you will be required to submit official transcripts before your Enter on Duty date.

How to Apply

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

  • To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents and any appropriate Accepted Documents.
  • To begin, click Apply in the announcement; then, choose to create a new USAJOBS account or Sign-in into your existing account.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
  • You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before submitting it. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • Click the following link to pre-view and print the occupational questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11873869.
  • After completing the questionnaire and uploading appropriate documents, click the Submit Application to submit your application package.
  • It is applicant’s responsibility to verify that information entered in the profile is accurate and all required documents are uploaded and submitted before 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/02/2023 of the announcement to receive consideration.
  • Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. If a document is not in legible format, applicant will not be able to view it in Application Manager which means applicant must again upload the documentation to the system by the closing date of this announcement.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account. The page will display the positions for which you’ve applied as well as the status of each application.
  • To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Next click on Update Application to complete the application process.
  • Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement, including the Required Documents, Other Information, and How to Apply sections of the announcement.
  • Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail or e-mail. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.

Agency contact information

Stephanie Creek-Bevins

Phone

202-920-2400

Email

SCreek-Bevins@usagm.gov

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire and application package is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request
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