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Posted: February 13, 2026 (8 days ago)

Added to FreshGovJobs: February 21, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Executive Writer

Office of the Secretary

Department of Veterans Affairs

Recent

Location

Salary

$121,785 - $187,093

per year

Closes

February 26, 2026

GS-14 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $104,604 - $135,987

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-13. Senior expert or supervisor.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves writing high-level documents like responses to Congress for top VA officials, managing projects to ensure timely and accurate correspondence, and handling sensitive communications with senior leaders.

It's ideal for experienced writers with a background in federal government operations who excel at attention to detail, collaboration, and working under pressure.

The role requires strong organizational skills and familiarity with government processes to support the Secretary's office effectively.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-13 level for GS-14 position, including preparing congressional responses for cabinet officials
  • Collaboration with correspondence analysts to meet policy standards and deadlines
  • Proficiency in using VIEWS or similar electronic records management systems for tracking documents
  • Experience delivering briefs and interacting with senior-level officials on confidential matters (for GS-14)
  • Conducting substantive reviews of outgoing correspondence for senior executives (for GS-14)
  • Time-in-Grade requirement: 52 weeks at GS-13 for GS-14 applicants, with SF-50 documentation
  • Strong competencies in administration, analytical thinking, information assurance, oral communication, and organizational awareness

Full Job Description

This position is in the Office of the Secretary, Office of the Executive Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and serves as an Executive Writer.

This role includes several functional areas of responsibility including project management, and quality control. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/26/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS13. For a GS13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS12.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS13 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 1) Prepares congressional responses for cabinet level officials; 2) Collaborates with correspondence analysts to ensure documents are in compliance with policy standards and/or deadlines are met; and 3) Uses VIEWS or a similar electronic records management system to track documents for signature/approval.

GS14 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 1) Prepares congressional responses for cabinet level officials; 2) Collaborates with correspondence analysts to ensure documents are in compliance with policy standards and/or deadlines are met; 3) Uses VIEWS or a similar electronic records management system to track documents for signature/approval.

4) Delivers briefs and/or interacts with senior-level officials on confidential and sensitive matters in nature; and 5) Conducts substantive review of outgoing correspondence for senior executives.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Analytical Thinking Information Assurance Oral Communication Organizational Awareness 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily Sedentary. Some travel may be necessary.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be found well-qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: Serves or served in an Executive Secretariat or similar function with direct experience with: researching, compiling, and writing a high-volume of Congressional responses for a Cabinet level official on complex topics in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines and ever-evolving priorities; reviewing/editing a high-volume of complex documents in electronic formats for compliance with established requirements; working in databases and/or correspondence management systems; and briefing/interacting with senior-level officials daily.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Washington, DC or Los Angeles, CA.

This includes all locations that fall within a 50 mile driving distance from 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420 or 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073. Major Duties:

Analyzes incoming executive correspondence and researches issues to prepare responses to Secretary's correspondence.

Works independently with appropriate personnel of other VA organizations to obtain required data.

Build and maintains working relationships with high-level officials, policy experts, correspondence representatives and subject matter experts in VA Central Office.

Researches critical issues teaming with Subject matter experts to gather information and other resources.

Determines appropriate responses and prepares responses based on understanding of the subject matter.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Fulltime Compressed/Flexible: Available at the Supervisor's discretion Telework: Available according VA policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: 31894A / 33806A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/13/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/21/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CCLQ-12882586-26-ELW