Sr. Technical writer

Title: Sr. Technical writer
Location: Columbia, SC
Position type: W2 contract.

Primary Skills: Technical Writing, IT Documentation, Business and Technical Project Artifacts, MS SharePoint, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio), Template and Style Guideline Management, Document Repository Management, Visual Aid Development (Photographs, Drawings, Diagrams, Charts), Structured Written Materials, Graphic Presentations, Business Process Documentation, Content Organization, Version Control, Agile Development, LEAN Methodology, BizAgile, Advanced Planning Documents, Request for Proposals (RFP)

Position Overview:
This is a large, complex transition project. A majority of the team is made up of experienced consultants, and we are seeking individuals who are highly productive, very flexible, and can work in an environment where ambiguity is common. Each team member is expected to contribute with minimal supervision. Candidates who enjoy working on complex, change-oriented projects with motivated team members will find this position attractive.

The MMIS transition project is a large IT project to replace current MMIS systems to a different technology per CMS guidelines, and related applications with a modern, service-oriented architecture-based system. This project is complex and will demand exceptionally high quality team members with good language skills and a focus on delivery of high quality work products.

Role Summary/Purpose:
The Technical Writer will work with various internal teams including the Project Director/Project Managers, Technical Director/Developers, and Business Analysts/SMEs in a development environment to create business and technical project artifacts that will be utilized internally by the project team, executive management, agency staff, and/or externally by vendors, CMS, or other stakeholders. We are looking for candidates who are highly organized, can work independently in a fast-paced environment, and produce multiple quality deliverables with varying deadlines. Candidates should be self-starters and creative problem solvers and have the flexibility to learn new products and technologies quickly.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Work alongside the Business Analyst/SMEs and technical staff to understand the goals/objectives of the project in order to assist in creating deliverables and supporting project documentation

• Provide recommendations on deliverables to be produced as a result of analysis/design discussions

• Work with technical staff to make deliverables easy to understand

• Organize and write supporting documents when needed

• Select photographs, drawings, diagrams, and charts that increase users' understanding

• Revise documents as new issues arise

• Aid in organizing and maintaining the project's SharePoint and other document repository

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 5+ years of related experience in IT including experience in a position requiring development of structured written materials and visual aids

• 3+ years of technical writing experience

• Ability to write, edit, and prepare graphic presentations of technical information for both technical and business personnel

• 3+ years of experience with MS SharePoint application

• Advanced in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) and working with templates and style guidelines for branding consistency

Additional Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, to interact effectively with internal and external vendors, project team members, management, and agency departments, to build relationships and use facilitation skills with both technical and non-technical personnel

• Experience in organizing information in a way that is appropriate for technical explanations without losing sight of the needs and aptitude of the audience

• Ability to collaborate and coordinate with multiple teams and vendors

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team

• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively in order to meet deadlines

• Keen attention to detail while maintaining the ability to see the big picture

• Ability to absorb and retain complex processes

• Strong language skills

• Demonstrable understanding of the rules of English grammar and usage

• Ability to accept changes and constructive criticism in a fast turn-around environment

Preferred Skills:

• Completed Bachelor's degree

• Experience in writing Advanced Planning Documents and/or Request for Proposals

• Understanding of LEAN / Agile development style

• Experience with BizAgile

• Experience in a government environment

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree (preferred); equivalent experience considered