Technical Writer

Primary Responsibilities, and Minimum and Preferred Qualifications:

What skills are needed to be successful in this role?

• Proven technical editing skills
• Strong analytical, planning, organizational, and time management skills
• Experience with a variety of writing styles: technical, creative, and marketing
• Experience editing for both expert and general audiences
• Flexibility to edit with a variety of audiences in mind including consumer, business, academia, and government
• Skill in managing multiple diverse activities simultaneously, delivering on commitments and varying deadlines and operating with speed, accuracy and strong judgment
• Relentless work ethic and ever-present curiosity
• Resolute integrity
• Technical background is a plus
• Flexibility with number of weekly work hours available based on current workload

Education, Certifications, Degree requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in English, technical writing, communications, or a related field and a minimum of 3 years business experience
• An unrelated Bachelor's degree and 5 years of direct, relevant experience as described above

Tasks

• Line edit/proofread technical reports (75-400 pages) in Word to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, syntax, and consistency using identified style manuals.
• Edit copy to improve readability.
• Edit copy to ensure no content raises liability or negative impression of Client.
• Format tables, graphics, captions for consistency.
• Format references including appendices, footnotes, and endnotes for consistency.
• Perform a sample edit prior to performing a heavy edit.
• Query and confer with technical program team members regarding excessive changes in content, style, or organization.
• Create a style sheet for each project.
• Follow processes and style guidelines.
• Understand accessibility requirements and edit copy with it in mind.
• Perform last-look "Quality Checks" for PDF documents prior to publication.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.