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Scientific Writer

National Institutes of Health / National Library of Medicine (NLM)

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Place of Performance:  NLM, 8600 Rockville Pike, Building 38A, Bethesda, MD 20894

Position Summary and Objectives:  The National Library of Medicine (NLM) requires a Scientific Writer to support executive communications planning, reporting, presentations, engagement activities, and related communications outputs. The primary focus of this position is strategic executive communications support for NLM leadership, including the development of presentations, scripts, communications plans, briefings, NLM news items, executive-level emails, and other internal and external communications materials. The position also carries responsibility for knowledge management and the maintenance of shared communications resources that improve consistency, timeliness, and quality across NLM. The role calls for polished scientific and technical writing, strong visual and presentation skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the initiative to translate leadership priorities into effective, accessible communications products.

Technical Requirements: Scientific Technical Writer

Preparation of scientific and technical materials for publication

• Research, write, and edit scientific and technical information in a variety of formats, including articles, blog posts, factsheets, one-pagers, brochures, presentations, speeches, workshop summaries, reports, briefing materials, press releases, and content for digital media in both online and print form.
• Research, write, and edit technical reports of original research specifications, findings, and conclusions for submission to administrative, legislative, and regulatory review.
• Research, write, and edit policy papers featuring recommendations based on original research findings and conclusions.
• Prepare technical summaries of proposed, ongoing, or concluded research projects and studies for circulation among scientific elements within the government.

Literature reviews and synthesis

• Perform reviews of scientific and technical literature to identify methodologies, findings, and conclusions of significance, and prepare summaries and reports for distribution among research and medical staff.
• Assess proposed and ongoing programs, projects, and studies, and conduct literature reviews that inform, guide, validate, or refute findings and conclusions in support of researchers and study staff.

Knowledge management and maintenance of communications resources

• Assist in managing content on the NLM OD wiki, including content updates, organization, maintenance, and usability improvements.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, toolkits, templates, style aids, checklists, and other reusable resources for strategic communications across NLM.
• Assist data managers in collecting, collating, organizing, and uploading information to advanced data repositories, and help integrate local databases with enterprise applications such as REPORTER and IMPAC II.

Executive communications, correspondence, and reports

• Draft communications and engagement plans and supplemental materials, including executive-level emails, talking points, briefing materials, reports, directives, and NLM news items, ensuring visual outputs are effective as appropriate.
• Draft and revise leadership correspondence for internal and external audiences, and prepare executive messaging in support of organizational priorities, initiatives, decisions, events, and stakeholder engagement.
• Support leadership communications for NLM working groups and cross-NLM initiatives, and draft other external communications as requested by the Government.
• Develop presentations, scripts, speaker notes, remarks, talking points, Q&A documents, briefing books, and presentation support materials for NLM leadership.
• Prepare letters, memoranda, reports, agendas, abstracts, protocols, and announcements for internal distribution.
• Coordinate with senior executives to outline, collect, and assemble annual reports, and assemble source materials into succinct responses to research and operational audit requests.
• Assist program and project managers in drafting and editing scientific documentation related to research and operational projects.
• Review and comment on the scientific and technical accuracy of reports, presentations, correspondence, and external informational materials to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Scientific and technical writing support to researchers and staff

• Coordinate with internal NLM points of contact for externally facing communications.
• Assist in gathering leadership priorities and translating them into actionable communications requirements.

Finalization and publication of materials

• Provide copywriting, editing, proofreading, and graphic design for executive communications products.
• Develop concise, visually effective presentation materials for leadership meetings, speaking engagements, town halls, lectures, and external events.
• Assist with the development of reports and summaries that explain technical and programmatic topics for non-technical audiences.
• Ensure presentations and digital deliverables meet Section 508 accessibility requirements, as applicable.
• Proofread all draft and final documents for scientific and technical accuracy and completeness prior to submission for review and approval.
• Cross-check original and referenced data, verify cited content against source documents, and perform originality reviews of all scientific and technical writing.
• Critically review draft documents, synthesize comments, and incorporate appropriate feedback from other reviewers into successive drafts to prepare final documents.

Expert guidance and support to executives

• Coordinate content strategy and development in consultation with NLM leadership and subject matter experts.
• Assist the NLM liaison to NIH OCPL by preparing background materials, coordinating reviews, and facilitating internal communication flows.
• Provide expert advice for general health and science communications activities, including content creation for health communication and outreach projects, scientific and technical publications, promotional materials, and online events.
• Serve as senior subject matter expert for editorial operations of written content produced by researchers, medical, program, and operational staff within the Office of the Director.
• Design and implement a publications program that enhances the development and dissemination of information about the Institute's research programs, activities, and outcomes.
• Evaluate research and publication activities, including the collection, organization, analysis, processing, and reporting of scientific and technical information, and recommend improvements to performance and outcomes.
• Advise executives and program managers on written materials to be developed, and present strategies for maximizing impact toward organizational and programmatic goals.

Mentoring and training of writers and staff

• Prepare training materials and job aids for research and operational staff to support their day-to-day writing and editing and improve quality and consistency.
• Research, repackage, and share best practices, tips, and techniques for improving the quality and consistency of scientific and technical writing.

Specific Qualifications:

• Master's degree required in a related discipline such as Communications, Communication Technologies, a life-science or biomedical field, health and medical services, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in executive communications, including the development of presentations, briefings, communications plans, and executive-level correspondence.
• Strong scientific and technical writing and editing ability, with a portfolio of published or disseminated work appropriate to the level of the position.
• Ability to work independently as a self-starter with minimal direction.

Required Software and Tools:

• Microsoft Office Suite.
• Presentation and graphic design tools for developing executive-level visual materials.
• Web content management and wiki platforms, with familiarity with enterprise research information systems such as NIH REPORTER and IMPAC II.

Required Skills and Expertise:

• Executive communications.
• Attention to detail.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently.
• Scientific and technical writing and editing.
• Section 508 accessibility compliance for digital deliverables.

Other Requirements:

• Telework may be authorized if approved by the Task Leader, COR, and the Contracting Officer.