Editorial and Content Specialist

UpSlope Advisors is looking for a rockstar Editorial and Content Specialist to join our team!  This person will support the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).  The FNS administers 15 Federal nutrition assistance programs of the USDA. The mission of FNS is to reduce hunger and food insecurity in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and needy people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.

The Editorial and Content Specialist provides technical editing and content review/revisions to FNS directives, technical papers, correspondence, and other documents before release to ensure conformance with FNS and Federal editorial policies; prepares documents reliant on recent advances in publishing technology ensuring all documents are 508 compliant; develops or edits publications that serve as sources of USDA FNS  policies, procedures, and technical information, including national bulletins, handbooks, manuals, technical notes, technical releases, national instructions, intra-office instructions, user guides, the General Manual, and controlled correspondence.  Duties include but are not limited to: 

Publication Review and Editing

Conceptualize, write, and edit complex information for a variety of internal and external audiences, for use in newsletters, policy instructions, speeches, talking points, presentations, publications, and other documents which explain or promote the agency’s mission, priorities, and initiatives to agency employees, senior executives, leaders and managers, and potential employees; or to the general public, State agencies, professional trade organizations, other Federal agencies and offices.

Publication Writing

Use editorial and publishing expertise to analyze, interpret, and integrate information in a variety of formats and layouts, including graphs and tables, network diagrams, databases, and spreadsheets. Make recommendations and formats material to best present information. Propose and implement new formats for FNS directives and other publications to meet the needs of specialized audiences and to comply with Section 508 accessibility standards.

Location:

• This position is currently remote. In the future, depending on government COIVD-19 posture, this position may convert to hybrid or on-site work at 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in professional writing, journalism, communications, English, creative writing, or related field.  
• At least two years of related experience, ideally with at least one year working for Federal clients. 

Knowledge of:

• GPO style and the principles of plain language;
• Regulations and policies affecting Federal Government publication, recent advances in publishing technology and of publishing concepts, practices, and standards;
• Writing, researching, publishing and editing in order to analyze, interpret, and integrate information in a variety of formats;
• FNS and USDA operations, policies and regulatory areas of responsibility, program requirements, and objectives;
• Analytical techniques and methods in order to research, interpret, and apply written guidelines, research data, evaluate facts;
• Basic graphic design and layout;
• Digital and social media content production, including section 508 compliance standards; and
• Common office productivity software, including Adobe and Microsoft Office.
  
  

Demonstrated Skills in:

• Producing content for special projects, major deliverables, and senior executive preparation;
• Editing complex communications products including, but not limited to, newsletters, brochures, invitations, educational toolkits, scripts, speeches, talking points, outlines, presentations, reports;
• Editing texts developed by staff within an agency, and correcting errors in grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and spelling;
• Revising and/or developing products which communicate clearly to target audiences, flow smoothly, follow required style guidelines, express the intended tone, and consistent in tone and message throughout;
• Developing messages and materials to communicate administration priorities and program information accurately, timely, and in a manner that can be understood by a wide variety of audiences;
• Working collaboratively with other support staff and external individuals and groups;
• Analyzing and interpreting feedback, customer comments data, metrics and information and making appropriate recommendations based on findings;
• Using computer technology for communication, data gathering and reporting activities; and
• Communicating effectively through oral, written and social mediums.

Clearance:

• Must be able to pass up to a Moderate Risk Background Investigation (MBI)