Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Technical Writer
A technical writer writes and edits content that explains complex subjects to non-technical people. The content is usually aimed at non-technical people. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Technical Writers.
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Main Responsibilities of Technical Writer
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Technical Writer:
Analyze
Analyze and implement improvements to the existing content.
Analyze, create, and manage content.
Analyze customer requirements and product specifications to define technical content strategy.
Analyze documentation requirements.
Analyze documents to maintain continuity of style of content.
Analyze existing and potential content.
Analyze existing and potential content, focusing on reuse and single-sourcing opportunities.
Analyze process flow and translate processes into diagrams and charts.
Analyze requests to determine the scope, audience, and priority.
Analyze workflows and tools to drive process efficiency.
Assess
Assess accuracy of information.
Assess questions received from health authorities and author responses.
Assess the review comments with the process owner and proceed as instructed.
Assist
Assist in the development and execution of internal communications and global campaigns.
Assist in the development of new SOPs documentation when necessary.
Assist in writing any other technical communications as requested.
Assist project team with issues surrounding user acceptability / ease of use issues.
Assist software developers on software requirement specification documents and user documentation.
Assist the team as needed to improve the performance of the fleet.
Assist with budgetary planning, man-loading projections, and bid proposal estimates.
Assist with documentation for pre-submission and submission packages, as required.
Assist with documentation team's prioritization of work.
Assist with implementing large-scale cultural change management initiatives.
Attend
Attend and participates in the ongoing CRO / CMO manufacturing sites planning and progress meetings.
Attend cross functional meetings to understand product direction and technical details.
Attend meetings as needed.
Attend in-process reviews and start-of-work conferences.
Collaborate
Collaborate across teams with the ability to prioritize, schedule and meet deadlines.
Collaborate closely with teammates across the project and company.
Collaborates with other members of the company to gather and clarify information.
Collaborate to maintain documentation for the LDCS project.
Collaborate with a team of Designers, Researchers, Developers and Product Managers.
Collaborate with Legal Department to finalize compliance documents.
Collaborate with marketing team to measure and report content effectiveness.
Collaborate with technical staff to consolidate and interpret technical information.
Collaborate with the design team to write and maintain UI text as part of the user experience.
Collaborate with the Sales Team on the projects estimates and provide a solution-oriented approach.
Collaborate with translators as necessary to convert writing into a variety of languages.
Communicate
Communicate status and blockers to the doc manager and assigned scrum teams.
Communicate with all internal and external stakeholders.
Conduct
Conduct and Write investigations based on FDA's OOS guidance.
Conduct an extensive review of external market product samples while applying HSO guiding principles.
Conduct complex problem analysis, works with technical writers to edit technical information.
Conduct data gathering, trending, and data presentation as needed to support investigations.
Conduct demos and webinars of THG Ingenuity on a frequent basis utilizing video conferencing.
Conduct landscape analyses and other research activities to inform portfolio leadership decisions.
Conduct mediations to ensure timely release of product for customers.
Conduct reviews of project deliverables written by others for technical writing quality.
Conduct treatment system assessments within North America.
Conduct usability studies with customers and product owners.
Contribute
Contribute and create enablement material, labs and presentations.
Contribute occasionally to internal documentation projects.
Contribute to, and follow project / release schedules and deadlines.
Contribute to and uses knowledge base.
Contribute to building a positive team spirit.
Contribute to team effort by Working with internal staff to resolve issues.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of the R&D team.
Contribute to the development and implementation of documentation standards.
Contribute to the traceability map.
Coordinate
Coordinate and define publications book plan with internal and external suppliers.
Coordinate publication with outside sources and vendors.
Coordinate technical and quality assurance reviews to ensure the quality of the deliverable.
Coordinate the production and handoff of all final deliverables.
Coordinate training sessions with product managers to demonstrate how to use our tools.
Create
Create and edit technical writings for ASTM / ISO / UL standards.
Create and implements documentation style guides and templates.
Create and maintain code samples and sample applications.
Create and maintains external and internal.
Create and maintains the clients product line software and hardware documentation.
Create and maintain the documentation used by the administrators of the Barracuda products.
Create and manage Change Control documentation and batch related deviations.
Create and manage content within the documentation approval process.
Create and manage MDD and MDR Service Requirements.
Create and manage updates in tracking application (Sharepoint) for new excursions.
Create and publishes technical documentations and manuals.
Create and update technical illustrations, graphics, and job aids as needed.
Create clear, accurate and complete technical documentation for hardware and software products.
Create content using a unified voice across multiple product lines.
Create demo and marketing videos.
Create, Design, and develop customized technical documents.
Create documentation that is concise, easy to read and grammatically correct.
Create instructor guides, maintenance technical manuals and user handbooks in Microsoft word.
Create, maintain and update user guides and technical data as directed.
Create marketing and sales literature.
Create online tours and in-app user assistance using a digital adoption platform.
Create, organize, maintain, and improve on new and existing documentation.
Create tutorials to help end-users use a variety of applications.
Create user guides, FAQs, technical overviews, and in product help documentation.
Create videos and multimedia tutorials that simplify technical concepts and tasks.
Define
Define and implement document style guides and standards for all documentation deliverables.
Define engineering documentation and knowledge base style guides.
Define the Knowledge Management strategy for the Organization.
Develop
Develop and maintains training manuals, FAQ library, templates, forms or other documentation.
Develop and maintain templates for written documentation.
Develop and maintain the technical documentation build environment.
Develop and / or maintain data-driven logs to support ongoing tracking of metrics.
Develop and prepare compelling proposals.
Develop and tests complex user scenarios that show how to use the product being documented.
Develop and write landing page copy for specific marketing campaigns.
Develop code samples and interactive tutorials to help developers get up to speed quickly.
Develop concise and accurate Process Comments.
Develop consistent processes related to manual preparation, formats, and content.
Develop documents that are organized, succinct, compliant, and meet internal and external deadlines.
Develop, gather, and disseminate technical information and develop concise documentation.
Develop mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of KM within TELUS Health.
Develop negotiation and problem solving skills to reach project decisions in a timely manner.
Develop network of business contacts.
Develop procedures, work instructions, and training materials.
Develop publication concepts for the best communication of subject matter.
Develop technical content for VMware products.
Develop training material to educate TU associates on how to use our internal tools.
Document
Document processes, procedures, policies, and meeting minutes, newsletters, intra / internet content.
Document product platforms as they are being developed.
Draft
Draft clear, actionable technical documentation including troubleshooting and setup guides.
Draft member educational materials to explain the implementation of Benefits Mentor.
Draft external RCAs after service restoration.
Edit
Edit and format technical documentation and illustrations.
Edit content produced by other members of the team.
Edit material prepared by other writers or staff.
Edit learning and training materials.
Edit material prepared by others.
Edit, standardize, or make changes to materials prepared by other writers or personnel.
Edit written documentation from other IT staff to create unified and consistent documentation.
Ensure
Ensure a consistent and authentic brand voice and standardization across the breadth of materials.
Ensure all documentation is formatted according to McKesson Canada standards.
Ensure consistency of language and tone across the complete governance document set.
Ensure documentation development is completed per project schedules.
Ensure documents are reviewed and approved through electronic document system.
Ensure important information is passed to those who need to know.
Ensure performance support content is up to date and consistent across the channels.
Ensure personal training requirements are met and that training records are current.
Ensure project deliverables are executed on time with high quality and within budget.
Ensure reports with cited scientific publications are summarized clearly and concisely.
Ensure that draft and final content accurately reflect rules, policies, and requirements of OIG.
Ensure that the team documents are updated in a timely manner.
Ensure the timely completion of corrective and preventive actions, as assigned.
Facilitate
Facilitate and coordinate standards work item documentation and submissions.
Facilitate inter-functional communication to maximise involvement and results.
Facilitate the definition of a project scope with clients.
Gather
Gather information by working closely with engineers and writers.
Gather information from multiple sources and edit and review content for other team-members.
Gather technical information.
Generate
Generate innovative ideas and strategies for improving our content and processes.
Generate, or source appropriately, any illustrations, line art, or graphics required.
Generate qualified sales leads from new outbound efforts, potential partners, or personal contacts.
Generate documents such as batch records, Standard Operating Procedures and Bills of Materials.
Help
Help brainstorm new creative content marketing strategies.
Help compiling and writing SRED reports.
Help design, create, and maintain an effective information architecture.
Help facilitate the CC bridge line as needed.
Help in all and any items inside the team.
Help plan, create, and maintain Looker documentation as an integral part of our user experience.
Help prepare draft documents for major policy launches.
Identify
Identify any content that should be updated to maintain consistency.
Identify gaps from template for Subject Matter Experts.
Identify need for new procedure to prevent duplication.
Identify problems and mediate to resolve contentious issues.
Incorporate
Incorporate comments from reviews.
Incorporate comments from team members and provide status to manager on review and approval workflow.
Lead
Lead investigation and provide comprehensive investigation write up and / or presentations.
Lead improvement activities that reduce development cost, complexity and improve content quality.
Lead projects to implement new technology for use by Technical Publications.
Lead and Support improvement activities.
Lead proposal development efforts, working closely with a capture manager.
Lead the development of content within the business service catalog.
Lead the investigation closure of manufacturing compliance related documents.
Lead the Opics documentation team, heading the content strategy and documentation roadmap for Opics.
Maintain
Maintain a current internal documentation library.
Maintain and expand the developer portal.
Maintain and meet deliverable schedules.
Maintain Current Documentation.
Maintain internal documentation sources with technical information and frequently asked questions.
Maintain Internal Document Repositories.
Maintain records of all requests and approvals for tracking purposes.
Maintain team compliance with company trainings and internal processes and standards.
Maintain the Style Guide for educational materials.
Maintain the technical and non-technical documentation change system.
Manage
Manage complex documentation projects.
Manage complex documentation projects and balance multiple tasks in a dynamic environment.
Manage contract deliverables against deadlines among the team.
Manage Customer facing Flat Rate Sheets.
Manage documentation drafts and the flow of information during development and testing.
Manage multiple projects and work as an integral part of the product team.
Manage multiple projects concurrently and meet all documentation deliverable deadlines.
Manage review and approval process according to ISO procedures.
Manage Service related requirement and deliverables within Product / device labeling plan.
Manage small projects for broad procedure updates.
Manage multiple projects concurrently.
Manage technical publications as a component of Accuray product.
Manage the change control process from initiating the change to getting final approvals.
Manage the documentation publishing process and portals.
Manage the production and publishing of documentation.
Manage updates and revisions of technical literature.
Manage updates and revisions to technical literature.
Manage vendors for CMS user guide software and translation projects with third-party translators.
Manage your business and pipeline effectively to accommodate a monthly revenue sales quota.
Oversee
Oversee preparation of illustrative materials, selecting drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts.
Oversee the quality process of the proposal documents.
Participate
Participate actively to the documentation release process.
Participate as required in training on regulatory issues affecting own area of work.
Participate in multiple scrum teams.
Participate in peer reviews or edits.
Participate in planning, developing, writing, editing, publishing and maintain documentation.
Participate in regulatory and non-regulatory audits.
Participate in required training.
Participate in team meetings, ad-hoc projects and other doc related initiatives.
Participate in User Interface development by providing in-product user assistance.
Perform
Perform a post-award bid analysis and record lessons learned.
Perform duties with accuracy and with strong degree of urgency.
Perform event and minor investigations, assists on Major and Critical.
Perform finished products and Stability data trending.
Perform review of test data with application of GDP.
Perform training to other staff members on CM functions, as assigned.
Plan
Plan and steer meetings related to documentation management.
Plan and track own work assignments and deliver them on schedule with high quality.
Plan, create, and maintain technical documentation for internal or external engineering audiences.
Plan, develop, design, organize, write, and edit hardware procedures and manuals for end user.
Plan, develop, organize, write and edit operational user guides and procedures.
Plan, organize, and author specifications, API references and developer documentation.
Plan, organize, write and edit operational procedures and manuals.
Prepare
Prepare customer documentation shipments, including printed and electronic copies.
Prepare or commission graphics and illustrations to elaborate or complement technical writing.
Prepare release notes and training documentation.
Prepare reports, responses, and briefings targeted to a wide range of audiences.
Prepare, review, and maintain technical documents for existing and new products.
Prepare, review, revise, and maintain instructional technical documents.
Prepare written material for marketing purposes, including promoting successes and upcoming events.
Produce
Produce articles for a wide range of products, targeted toward both new and experienced end-users.
Produce clear, comprehensive and concise technical documentation.
Produce content workflows that demonstrate how customers are interacting with our help content.
Produce electronic documentation.
Produce high-quality documentation that.
Produce high quality end-user documentation for Intellum products and technical processes.
Produce print and digital support documentation for new product launches.
Produce, re-organize and review technical training material and scoping documents.
Produce the written contents of documentation as assigned.
Produce, update, test, and maintain technical training documentation.
Provide
Provide and assist in the implementation of quality-related continuous improvement opportunities.
Provide consistent communication language, style, and methodology for the whole organization.
Provide editorial review of other Technical Writers' work.
Provide information for the development of action plans to implement policiesand procedures.
Provide inputs and / or prepares project deliverables.
Provide proposal documentation for standard / work item submissions.
Provide recommendations for document layout and content.
Provide regular updates to manager on project status.
Provide status reports to leadership.
Provide strong leadership to drive the proposal process, managing many aspects of the proposal.
Provide support and technical expertise of the company's NOC / MSP delivery systems.
Provide technical or project-based communication guidelines for the whole company.
Provide writing, editing and design support to other team members.
Research
Research and build knowledge about products, services, technology, or concepts to be documented.
Research and gather information required to document the application.
Research and learn new technical concepts.
Research applicable specifications.
Research, draft, edit and / or review reports, Federal regulations or other working documents.
Research and verify content.
Researching, developing and documenting technical specifications.
Research is required to develop new documentation according to industry requirements and standards.
Research, outline, write, and edit new and existing content.
Research, outline, write new content and update existing content.
Research, write, edit, and produce technical documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
Research, write, edit complex technical data and processes.
Review and revise
Review and revalidate existing SOP's.
Review content analytics to understand customer impact and inform future content creation decisions.
Review documentation for organization, content, technical accuracy, and style.
Review documentation produced by other team members.
Review, edit, and update existing documents.
Review learning material created by the team to make sure it's technically correct.
Review UI text for consistent tone and style.
Revise documents as needed.
Revise existing product documentation as required.
Revise existing content per engineering specifications and / or reviewers' comments.
Revise existing content per engineering specifications or reviewers' comments.
Solicit
Solicit and compile feedback from stakeholders, including feedback from Technical Editors.
Solicit and compile feedback from various stakeholders.
Standardize
Standardize content across platforms and media.
Standardize new and existing content for consistency of style across Verifone platforms.
Support
Support and contribute to departmental goals.
Support and helps draft publications arising from clinical studies.
Support for obtaining certifications.
Support instrument / equipment implementation / validation projects as backup / needed.
Support multiple teams and product releases.
Support Regulatory audits and inspections in a direct or indirect capacity.
Support technical writing of Software documents, including client-facing technical guides.
Support the creation of change management materials including learning materials.
Support the documentation needs of an agile development and maintenance project.
Test
Test pre-release software to ensure technical accuracy of the content.
Test product functionality while writing documentation to provide comprehensive content.
Test the output of the documentation on every distribution channel.
Track
Track and report QA findings as per governance requirements.
Track and report Quality Assurance findings.
Track feedback from multiple stakeholders.
Track status and update stakeholders.
Train
Train functional writers to develop procedures following established corporate guidelines.
Translate
Translate complex technical content into clear and concise articles.
Translate complex technical information into simple, accurate, and polished content.
Translate complex terminology.
Translate scientific results into clinically- relevant information for those in practice.
Translate technical product documentation into client facing promotion, training and guides.
Update
Update and improve existing documentation.
Update and maintain in-app copy such as tooltips and messages.
Update documentation as it changes.
Update existing article content into new format and function.
Update existing content to reflect product changes.
Update and maintain existing technical publications as needed.
Work with
Work with an illustrator to convert them to technical drawings.
Work with Business / Product Owners and authoring teams to edit technical content.
Work with customer data, gather feedback and drive your insights into content and product planning.
Work with extended Ciena team, product management, and sales operations to support customers.
Work with product managers to create and maintain product documentation.
Work with project staff to plan code enhancements and develop functionality.
Work with standard templates to ensure documentation is Poly-branded, approved, and released.
Work with subject matter experts in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the product.
Work with the team to monitor critical process parameters.
Write
Write and maintain technical documentation to support existing and new programs.
Write and manipulate code samples and snippets to support documentation.
Write and validate control panel and UI strings for 3D print solution.
Write and validate control panel and UI strings for 3D print solutions.
Write API documentation for API users, such as API reference docs and developer guides.
Write easy to understand developer guides.
Write for a range of customers, including marketers, engineers, and system administrators.
Write for reuse, use controlled language.
Write for re-use using XML authoring system.
Write from badly drawn diagram and manual script.
Write in explanatory and procedural styles for multiple audiences.
Write online Help file topics according to template standards and writing guidelines.
Write, publish and maintain high-quality help content and messaging.
Write, revise and coordinate the regulatory content for CPA's regional meetings.
Write and revise supporting content for products.
Write technical content (documentation, blog articles, guidelines, getting started guides, etc).
Write technical documents in compliance to the company's established standards and guidelines.
Write technical texts in English in a way that is clear and concise.
Write User documentation / Trainings / Tutorials.
Write user-friendly content that meets the need of the target audience.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Technical Writer:
Technical Writing
MS Excel
HTML
MS Powerpoint
MS Word
Writing
Editing
Microsoft Office
Journalism
Dita
Confluence
CSS
Sharepoint
Project Management
Javascript
Software Development
MS Office
Markdown
GIT
Technical Documentation
Adobe Framemaker
Documentation
Java
Python
Github
SDLC
Technical Communication
Customer Service
Instructional Design
Microsoft Office Suite
Outlook
SAP
Software Documentation
Agile
Marketing
Photoshop
Illustrator
Chemistry
Adobe Acrobat
Content Management Systems
External Vendor
Product Development
Publishing
Framemaker
Programming Languages
APIS
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Technical Writer:
Written and oral communication skills
Attention to detail
Interpersonal skills
Organizational capacity
Analytical ability
Problem-solving attitude
Work independently with little direction
Time-management
Team player
Multi-task
Flexible
Self-motivated
Collaborative
Organized
Detail-oriented
Priority management
Self-starter
Accurate
Adaptable to changes
Creative
Quickly grasp complex technical concepts
Proactive
Presentation
Planning
Initiative
Positive attitude
Teamwork
Listening
Meet deadlines
Ability to manage multiple tasks
Bilingualism
Keen eye for detail
Proofreading
Independent
Grammar
Interviewing
Work in a team environment
Curious
Professionalism
Quickly learn and understand complex topics
Autonomous
Clarity
Leadership
Clearly communicate complex technical
Commitment to information accuracy
Pro-actively identify audience and adapt writing style
Work ethic
Confident
Active listener
Communicate clearly
