Summary
Position is located in Voice of America (VOA), Programming Directorate. Incumbent reports to the VOA Programming Director and provides editorial oversite, advice, and guidance to VOA senior management and staff involving standards applied to VOA broadcast and online content, including that related to journalistic ethics, plagiarism, attribution, sourcing, and similar issues. Incumbent is responsible for ensuring the highest journalistic standards across VOA for content on all platforms.
This job is open to
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee.
- Federal employees – Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
- Individuals with disabilities
- Land & base management
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
- Military spouses
- Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
Clarification from the agency
This announcement is open to all current Federal Competitive Service, Career and Career-Conditional employees. Applicants who have non-competitive eligibility, such as, Schedule A disability, Peace Corps or VISTA, reinstatement eligibles, etc. AND those eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) or Interchange Agreements with other Merit Systems may also apply.
Videos
Duties
As News Standards and Best Practices Editor, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ensures that all VOA broadcasting personnel complete online annual review of VOA’s standards and practices, and other journalistic training that may be required by VOA management.
3. ,Oversees and supervises subordinate editor(s) and serves 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.
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
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National
- This is a national security position. If selected, this position requires the completion of the SF-86.
- Suitability Determination: If selected, you may 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 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.
- If you are a male applicant who is born after 12/31/59, you are required to be registered for the Selective Service.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the GS-14 or comparable pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience includes:
- Editorial work applying the VOA Charter, Journalistic Code, and Best Practices Guide, or equivalent guidance, standards, and requirements governing ethical conduct in a news journalism or news broadcasting environment, and reviewing text, video, audio, and equivalent multimedia content, which was prepared by others, to determine adherence to these criteria.
- News journalism and/or broadcasting assignments that provided an in-depth exposure to U.S. Foreign policy, economy, politics, history, and similar U.S. foreign and domestic policy issues and concerns.
- Performs senior level editing functions for a major national, or international newspaper or the news division of a major national media organization.
Education
Education is not required for this grade level. It cannot be used for qualification purposes.
Additional information
Applicants who are interested in applying under Delegated Examining (DE) procedures must apply to vacancy announcement DE-12090733-23-RD
1. Candidates MUST meet all qualification requirements by closing date.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
Review our benefits
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once your resume or application is submitted, 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
- Decision Making
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Journalism
Possession of competencies may be addressed in a cover letter and/or resume. 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.
- Benefits
Review our benefits
- 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 (Schedule A)
- Disability Letter (VA)
- RIF Letter, Separation SF-50, or other document supporting ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Personnel actions or other documents supporting eligibility under interchange agreements with other merit systems.
- Documents supporting Peace Corps, VISTA, or other eligibility for non-competitive appointment.
- PCS Orders
- Proof of Marriage Status
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-15
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
Although the required documents listed in this announcement only indicate that a resume is required, other documents is required in specific circumstances. All required documents must be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
1. Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, subpart F. Your latest SF-50 must be submitted for proof of time-in-grade.
2. 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.
3. Current and reinstatement eligible applicants must submit a Personnel Action (SF-50) indicating grade, competitive service, and career or career-conditional tenure.
4. Current status candidates must submit a copy of their latest Performance Appraisal.
5. 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.
6. Applicants applying under Schedule A Disability must submit an appropriate letter from a physician.
7. Applicants applying under Peace Corps or VISTA eligibility must submit a letter supporting eligibility.
8. Applicants applying under Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 must submit a DD-214 stating discharge type. 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.
9. Applicants applying for consideration under an Interchange Agreement with Other Merit Systems must submit a recent SF-50 or other personnel action (e.g., Post Office, Non-appropriated fund), reflecting status as a current employee under an approved system.
10. Applicants applying under the military spouse authority must submit proof of eligibility including a marriage certificate. This must also include permanent change of station orders, proof of veteran’s 100% disability, DD-1300 Report of Casualty, and/or SF-15, as applicable.
11. Applicants under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act must submit SF-50 forms to demonstrate service in eligible appointments for more than 24 months without a break. Proof of satisfactory performance (i.e. appraisals) during this period is also required.
12. If you are applying under a special hiring authority not listed above, please refer to the requirements for that authority and submit the necessary supporting documentation, such as an SF-50 (or equivalent) or a certificate of eligibility. For more information, visit the USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities page.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
- 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/12090734 .
- 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 09/08/2023 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
Robert Diamond
Phone
202-920-2400
Email
rdiamond@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 status 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 (Schedule A)
- Disability Letter (VA)
- RIF Letter, Separation SF-50, or other document supporting ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Personnel actions or other documents supporting eligibility under interchange agreements with other merit systems.
- Documents supporting Peace Corps, VISTA, or other eligibility for non-competitive appointment.
- PCS Orders
- Proof of Marriage Status
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-15
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
Although the required documents listed in this announcement only indicate that a resume is required, other documents is required in specific circumstances. All required documents must be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
1. Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, subpart F. Your latest SF-50 must be submitted for proof of time-in-grade.
2. 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.
3. Current and reinstatement eligible applicants must submit a Personnel Action (SF-50) indicating grade, competitive service, and career or career-conditional tenure.
4. Current status candidates must submit a copy of their latest Performance Appraisal.
5. 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.
6. Applicants applying under Schedule A Disability must submit an appropriate letter from a physician.
7. Applicants applying under Peace Corps or VISTA eligibility must submit a letter supporting eligibility.
8. Applicants applying under Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 must submit a DD-214 stating discharge type. 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.
9. Applicants applying for consideration under an Interchange Agreement with Other Merit Systems must submit a recent SF-50 or other personnel action (e.g., Post Office, Non-appropriated fund), reflecting status as a current employee under an approved system.
10. Applicants applying under the military spouse authority must submit proof of eligibility including a marriage certificate. This must also include permanent change of station orders, proof of veteran’s 100% disability, DD-1300 Report of Casualty, and/or SF-15, as applicable.
11. Applicants under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act must submit SF-50 forms to demonstrate service in eligible appointments for more than 24 months without a break. Proof of satisfactory performance (i.e. appraisals) during this period is also required.
12. If you are applying under a special hiring authority not listed above, please refer to the requirements for that authority and submit the necessary supporting documentation, such as an SF-50 (or equivalent) or a certificate of eligibility. For more information, visit the USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities page.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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/12090734 .
- 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 09/08/2023 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
Robert Diamond
Phone
202-920-2400
rdiamond@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 status 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