Writer - Editor
VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
Center for Information Dissemination and Education Resources (CIDER)
The position is based at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, with a national resource center for research – the Center for Information Dissemination and Education Resources (CIDER).
Relocation expenses are not authorized, however approval for a fully remote position will be considered, based on the candidate selected.
This position serves as a writer-editor within the national Center for Information Dissemination and Education Resources (CIDER), within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Research and Development, Health Systems Research (HSR). CIDER's mission is to improve the health and care of Veterans by disseminating important findings and information from health systems and other medical and healthcare research to policymakers, managers, clinicians, and researchers throughout VA and the larger healthcare community.
The purpose of this position is to provide medical/health writing, editing, communications planning, social media, and web page content for HSR’s national research program https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/. The position requires writing and editing for diverse communications vehicles designed to disseminate information about research findings, accomplishments, and impacts that improve VA healthcare quality, organization/delivery, and efficiency. The writer-editor summarizes research findings and activities, assembles background content, interviews researchers, and prepares substantive content for policymakers, managers, clinicians, and researchers throughout VA and beyond. Work products include newsletters, background briefs, web pages, fact sheets, special reports, interviews, social media, podcasts, and other documents/media.
Applicants must be US citizens and must clear a US government background check. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, biomedical science, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required, master’s level preferred. A minimum 5 years of experience as a science, health, or medical writer also is required. The experience should indicate the ability to identify newsworthy advances and gather appropriate background information, and an aptitude for presenting complex material in an understandable fashion for a general audience, in text that is clear, well-organized, highly readable, and appropriate for the knowledge level of the intended audience. Applicants will provide a resume and relevant writing samples. Candidates selected for second interviews will be required to complete a virtual writing and editing test.
VA is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
For more information or questions regarding this position, or to apply, please contact Jerry O’Keefe at gerald.okeefe@va.gov or (617) 691-7415.