POSTED April 3

Technical Writer-Editor at Chemonics

  • Content Copy Writing
  • Fulltime
  • Anywhere (100% Remote) Only
Job Description

Technical Writer-Editor

Location:Remote- USA

Job Level:Mid-Level

Time Type:Full time

Chemonics International seeks a Technical Writer-Editor to work with the US-Based Billable Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) project in the Early Warning Team (EWT). The technical writer-editor will work under the direction and supervision of the Communications Specialist. This position is full-time and based primarily in Washington, D.C. but may be based in the U.S. remotely. The technical writer-editor will collaborate and coordinate closely with theregional, national, andhomeoffice (Washington, D.C.) technical staff, advisors, and analysts. Some domestic and internationaltravelmay also be required, security and public health conditions permitting.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Created in 1985 in response to famines in East and West Africa, FEWS NET provides global coverage through a mix of presence andremotemonitoring. FEWS NETs work is implemented across several pillars by a team of partners that includes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Geological Survey, the University of California-Santa Barbaras Climate Hazards Center, American Institutes for Research, and Chemonics International (Chemonics). Chemonics houses FEWS NETs Early Warning Team (EWT), a team charged with integrated emergency food insecurity analysis through a Washington-based technical office and more than 20 FEWS NET offices.

Based on an in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, the EWT monitors information and data on factors that affect food security, such as weather conditions and climate, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. The FEWS NET EWT produces regular reports, including Food Security Outlooks and Outlook Updates, emergency alerts, market and price updates, and global weather hazards analyses. FEWS NET makes reports available at www.fews.net and distributes them globally to governments, relief agencies, and other organizations engaged in humanitarian response and development programs.

The seventh phase of FEWS NET began in 2019. The work of FEWS NET EWT relies on close collaboration with international,regional, and national partners on food security data and information gathering and analysis. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data exchanges, collaborative analysis and reporting, and technical capacity strengthening. FEWS NET supports local andregionalfood security networks to contribute to achieving the global objective of food security for all.

Position Description

The FEWS NET Early Warning team is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual to serve as a technical writer-editor. The ideal candidate should possess exceptional writing, editing, and research skills.

The writer-editor will work closely with the Washington DC-based technical team to produce, review, complete, and publish a range of projects, including integrated acute food insecurity and markets and trade reports, white papers, PowerPoint presentations, and resource documents, among other deliverables related to FEWS NETs core technical work. The writer-editor will be expected to provide substantive editing and rewriting to draft reports and products, including making suggestions for or reformatting tables and graphics to improve cohesiveness and clarity of technical deliverables related to acute food insecurity, markets and trade, agroclimatology, and other relevant sectors.

The writer-editor will be expected to support the EWTs efforts to enhance the writing capabilities of FEWS NETs technical staff, with a focus on empowering those with limited technical writing experience by providing 1-on-1 support and maintaining writing skills training materials and resources, with support from the EWTs Communications Specialist and editorial support consultants.

Responsibilities:The main responsibilities of the technical writer-editor include, but are not limited to:

Content Development and Editing

  • Collaborate closely with the Washington DC-based technical team to produce, review, and publish a range of materials, including FEWS NETs core integrated food security analyses, markets and trade, and agroclimatology reports and products; briefing materials including PowerPoint presentations; resource documents including training materials, white papers; deliverables related to desk research, as needed, among others
  • Provide substantive high-quality editing and rewriting services of FEWS NETs technical deliverables to improve cohesiveness and clarity of technical content, ensuring spelling and grammar are accurate and in accordance with the FEWS NET Style Guide, and verifying the logical flow of information
  • Reformat and or/ provide recommendations for reformatting tables and graphics to enhance comprehension and visual representation, in accordance with the FEWS NET Style Guide and branding requirements
  • Publish final reports to the FEWS NET website and edit published content within the websites management system to support efforts to maintain consistency in report formatting, as assigned
  • Provide ad-hoc writing, editing, and research support to the EWTs technical advisors, as assigned
  • Assist the Communications Specialist and Decision Support Advisor to revise current EWT products that would help the EWT to clearly explain and present to diverse audiences the results of the EWTs integrated analysis and the methods and analytical processes that underpin it

Mentorship and Guidance

  • Contribute to the development of training materials for editorial support consultants and provide mentorship and guidance to consultants, supporting their ability to provide consistent and high-quality editorial support
  • As needed, provide 1-on-1 support to technical staff helping them to develop their writing skills, address specific challenges, and build confidence expressing complex ideas, including teaching staff practical editing techniques to review their own work critically and enhance the overall quality of their writing
  • Provide guidance on appropriate writing style and tone, ensuring clarity and consistency in line with FEWS NETs style guidelines and requirements
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of a library of training materials and resource documents tailored specifically for enhancing technical writing and editing skills

Process Management

  • Assist the Communications Specialist and Decision Support Advisor in rolling out and managing a review and editing process to ensure the quality of FEWS NET reports and other deliverables, as assigned before finalization and publication to the FEWS NET website

Qualifications:

  • Advanced professional proficiency in English is required. Advanced professional proficiency in Spanish or French is desirable
  • Excellent writing and editing skills in English. Ability to write and edit in English and Spanish; English and French; or English, Spanish, and French is desirable
  • Strong editorial judgment; ability to rapidly absorb complex ideas and distill them into accessible language for global audiences, including proven experience in substantive editing and rewriting, preferably with technical deliverables
  • At least two years of relevant experience (withPhD), four years of relevant experience (withMastersdegree), or six years of relevant experience (withBachelorsdegree) is required. Relevant experience includes working in a professional capacity to produce external and/or internal written communications, including writing and editing experience, or in other related fields
  • Basic familiarity with food security concepts and related terminology used in the humanitarian sector is desired
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to improve the clarity and coherence of ideas, is desired
  • Prior experience using Microsoft Word to copyedit and format reports to a high-quality standard is required; experience formatting tables and graphics is desired
  • Excellent computer skills including strong knowledge of Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat is required; familiarity working in SharePoint and Excel is desired
  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high-quality standards is required
  • Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects concurrently to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of prioritized tasks is required
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to collaborate with diverse teams and withremote-based staff via telecommunications applications, e-mail, and othervirtualmeans
  • Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity
  • Capable of operating in unstructured settings, adept at navigating uncertainty and demonstrating a proactive approach in seeking guidance when necessary

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

The Salary Range for this position is expected to be: $64,100 – $80,100.

An employees pay position will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevanteducation, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, performance, shift,travelrequirements, and business or organizational needs.

Overtime exemption status may change due to state regulatory requirements.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, ESOP, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible to US based employees. Please visit https://chemonics.com/life-at-chemonics/our-benefits/ to find out more about the benefits this position is eligible for. 

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