Job Summary:

  Synergy seeks a Senior Writer to support a federal government client with a focus on literacy skills, including preliteracy skills, reading, and writing, for children from birth through grade 12. The role includes development of white papers, ad hoc reports, fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, and technical assistance products and tools. These materials will support education agencies and their partners in promoting literacy with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities.

The Senior Writer will be responsible for conducting research and writing documents to concisely present information on topics related to comprehensive literacy programming, as well as ad hoc reports and other technical assistance products to support the development, implementation, and revision of literacy plans and improve infrastructure at both state and local levels. This writing done by the person in this position will be grounded in activities, strategies, and interventions that demonstrate statistically significant effects on improving student literacy outcomes. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Review, analyze, and translate needs assessment data and information on research and best practices in comprehensive literacy programming into plain language for project deliverables.
•  Collaborate with subject matter experts and others on the project team to develop and refine plans for providing technical support to state and local education agencies.
• Research, write, and/or revise white papers, ad hoc reports, fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, planning documents, implementation guides, training modules, and other technical assistance and training resources to support the design, development, and delivery of literacy plans.
• Participate in ongoing planning meetings with the project team and consultants/subject matter experts during the development period, and modify materials as needed to produce demonstration versions for use in the field at the end of the year.
•  Verify facts as needed, and review content for clarity, readability, grammar, and alignment with editorial style guides and quality standards.
• Work on multiple deliverables in various stages of completion while meeting all required deadlines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience in education and/or education writing
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
•  Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality informational and/or training materials for education leaders, policymakers, teachers, and/or technical assistance providers — and (preferably) to provide detailed training and implementation materials that take into consideration audiences’ varying knowledge/skill levels and implementation readiness (applicants are encouraged to submit a writing portfolio with 3-5 writing samples relevant to the Senior Writer position)   
• Knowledge of and familiarity with literacy education, standards, and assessment for children from birth through grade 12 and with implementation of literacy policy and laws at the state level; experience working in or with a state education agency or is preferred but not required
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to collaborate with other team members
•  Efficient time and task management skills, including the ability to meet deadlines while producing high-quality work
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint applications

Physical demands and work environment:

• Physical demands:  While performing the job duties, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; stoop; bend; push; turn; crawl; sit; use hands to handle objects and documents; manipulate objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.  Employees may occasionally land/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, recognizing, registering, and responding, color recognition; depth perception. Employees may use office equipment such as telephone, computer, computer software, calculator, printer, copier, and facsimile. 
• Work environment: Employees are not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of employees so classified.