Technical Writer

Technical Writer

Savan is seeking a Technical Writer with graphic and web design experience to support the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), within the IT Governance and Program Management task area. The Technical Writer will research, write, edit, design, and publish IT governance, portfolio management, financial management, and policy documentation for DOT OCIO. Working closely with the Communications Lead, the Office of Portfolio and Financial Management, OCIO subject matter experts, and the Savan project team, this individual will produce clear, accurate, plain-language documents and visually polished communications products and will design and maintain program web content and document repositories for internal DOT audiences and external stakeholders, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The successful candidate will combine strong technical writing and editing skills with hands-on graphic and web design experience and the ability to translate complex IT, governance, financial, and business process information into well-organized documents, graphics, presentations, and web content. The Technical Writer will be detail-oriented, quality-focused, and capable of managing multiple documents, review cycles, and deadlines with limited direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Research, write, edit, and format DOT IT policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), implementation memoranda, guidance, business process documentation, governance documentation, and related materials.
• Conduct executive writing, copy editing, proofreading, and plain-language reviews of IT policy, change communications, portfolio documentation, and other leadership-facing materials.
• Gather and validate technical and business information through interviews with subject matter experts, observation, review of existing documentation, and research of authoritative published sources.
• Draft, revise, and finalize governance process documentation, training materials, and related implementation products; support documentation reviews and maintain the governance documentation repository.
• Develop and maintain documentation supporting IT financial management, total cost of ownership, vendor management, and related business processes, including supporting briefings and presentations.
• Maintain and publish the IT Business Glossary, a centralized catalog of terms and acronyms supporting a common IT portfolio management vocabulary.
• Design graphics, infographics, diagrams, process flows, icons, and visual branding elements for OCIO documents, briefings, websites, and initiatives.
• Design and format executive presentations, OMB IT portfolio briefings, reports, fact sheets, and other leadership-facing products using Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Design, build, update, and maintain program websites, intranet pages, and Google Sites and/or SharePoint sites, ensuring content is current, accurate, organized, accessible, and easy to navigate.
• Apply user-centered design, information architecture, and consistent visual standards to web content, document repositories, and digital products.
• Ensure documents, graphics, presentations, and web content comply with applicable Section 508 accessibility requirements and DOT branding and style standards.
• Develop and maintain document templates, style guides, formatting standards, and implementation instructions to promote consistency across OCIO products.
• Review and revise content prepared by others and recommend changes to scope, structure, format, and content to ensure materials meet established standards and effectively communicate intended messages.
• Perform final quality assurance reviews of documents, graphics, presentations, and web content prior to publication or release.
• Manage document version control, review cycles, stakeholder comments, approvals, and publication tracking.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the task order.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in English, technical communication, journalism, communications, graphic design, information systems, or a related field.
• At least five (5) years of professional experience writing, reviewing, editing, and developing technical or business documentation.
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing technical, policy, or process documentation, including SOPs, policies, guidance, user guides, business process documentation, or similar materials.
• Demonstrated graphic design experience developing infographics, diagrams, process flows, visual branding elements, presentations, or similar communications products.
• Demonstrated web design and content management experience, including building, maintaining, and publishing content to websites, intranet pages, or collaboration sites.
• Strong knowledge of plain-language principles and the Plain Writing Act of 2010, with familiarity with established style guides such as the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) Style Manual or Chicago Manual of Style.
• Working knowledge of Section 508 accessibility requirements applicable to documents, presentations, graphics, and web content.
• Proficiency with graphic design and layout tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), Canva, or similar platforms.
• Proficiency with web and content management platforms, such as Google Sites, SharePoint, WordPress, or Drupal, with working knowledge of HTML and CSS.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio, and Google Workspace, including Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Sites.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to manage multiple documents, review cycles, stakeholder comments, and deadlines.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust suitability determination.
• Ability to work on-site at DOT Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting DOT or another federal civilian agency CIO organization.
• Familiarity with federal IT management concepts, including IT governance, Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC), Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), and OMB reporting.
• Experience with the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) or other federal website and digital content standards.
• Experience with data visualization tools, such as Tableau, Power BI, or Looker Studio.
• Portfolio demonstrating professional graphic design, technical writing, web design, or related work.
• Professional certification such as Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) or Section 508 Trusted Tester certification.