Resume of Technical Writer

Title
Technical Writer

Primary Skills
Online Help, Manuals, Training, SDLC Documentation, Proposals, Communications Writing, Policies and Procedures

Location
US-DC-Washington (will consider relocating)

Posted
Feb-20-07

•Skilled professional with over 8 years of technical writing, systems analysis, and communications experience.

•Proficient in developing comprehensive documentation and instructional tools, including: Online Help, User Guides, Quick Reference Guides, Frequently Asked Questions, and Release Notes.

•Diverse organizational communications and business writing experience: Proposals, Business Plans, Statements of Work, Marketing Material, Newsletters, Presentations, Policies and Procedures, etc.

•Applied knowledge of Rational Unified Process (RUP) and Microsoft Framework Development methodologies.

•Motivated leader and team player dedicated to identifying achievable, long-term strategies and solutions.

OPTIMUS CORPORATION (Present)
Technical Writer/Project Task Leader

•Collaborate with management and project leads to review and ensure the quality of deliverables submitted by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Electronic Research Administration Documentation Team.

•Provide guidance to Technical Writers regarding documentation content, format, and overall presentation.

•Interface with NIH customers and Optimus program managers to monitor, provide input, and communicate progress surrounding services defined in the project's Statement of Work.

•Research best practices surrounding technical communication. Develop solutions, based on findings, to improve internal business processes and standard operating procedures.

•Develop and enhance user documentation (i.e., Online Help, User Guides, Release Notes, Quick Tips, etc.) for J2EE systems in support of the NIH Extramural Grant application process.

•Interview developers, testers, and program managers to consolidate and produce documentation in line with system enhancements and patch releases.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (2004 -- 2006)
Technical Writer/Team Leader

•Provided guidance and leadership to the US Postal Inspection Service's Investigative Systems Technical Writing Team.

•Authored and facilitated the deployment of context-sensitive Online Help (using RoboHelp) to support the job requirements and instructional needs of over 3600 US Postal Inspectors and employees, nationwide.

•Developed User Guides to introduce and ensure the seamless adaptation of automated business processes.

•Reengineered and implemented revised format and content standards for Online Help, Requirements, Use Cases, Functional Specifications, Release Notes, FAQs, etc. Revised standards resulted in a 50% decrease in calls to the Helpdesk.

•Developed Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) documentation, based on meetings between USPIS managers, inspectors, and developers.

•Collaborated with management on Proposals, Annual Reports, and Policy/Procedure Manuals.

CGH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (2001 -- 2004)
Technical Writer/Management Specialist

•Developed User and Quick Start Guides for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), incorporating specified instructional requirements and ensuring overall content accuracy.

•Acted as a liaison between clients and developers to both gather and manage System Requirements.

•Developed presentation material and instructional guides to reinforce training and to assist in testing prior to the release of GUI software applications.

•Directly impacted business development by contributing to and providing content feedback for Technical Proposals, Whitepapers, Training Plans and Public Relations Material, including: Brochures, Product Summaries, and Department Overviews.


FREELANCE WRITER/CONSULTANT (1998 -- 2000)

•Provided writing and editing services for various clients on independent projects, including: Business Plans, Grant Proposals, Marketing Material, Bios, and Web Publications.

•Served as a communications volunteer for the 2000 Gore-Lieberman presidential campaign, writing opinion pieces to reinforce public policy and platform issues along the national campaign trail.

•Contributed to a published study produced by Columbia University's National Arts Journalism Program. Research used to measure the prevalence of print journalism featuring programs dedicated to Arts and Culture.

THE GROUP FOR CULTURAL DOCUMENTATION, INC. (1997 -- 1998)
Independent Consultant

•Worked closely on a book and national touring exhibit with The Group for Cultural Documentation Inc. and curator Roland L. Freeman, chronicling the 1968 Mule Train journey from Marks Mississippi to Washington, DC -- part of the national Poor People's Campaign.

•Helped to promote the exhibit's showing at the Smithsonian Institution's Arts and Industries building. Also assisted in the installation (including the review and editing of exhibit information panels).

•Collaborated in the development of marketing material for various TGCD exhibits and national seminars.

•Assisted with writing grant proposals and accompanied Freeman on various meetings to build relationships with individual patrons, civic organizations and foundations. Awarded grants and contributions provided funding for various TGCD projects, including national exhibits and cultural enrichment programs.

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (Summer 1997)
Communications Intern

•Conducted interviews and contributed a series of online articles covering the 1997 NEA National Heritage Awards.

•Served on the Department of Communication's website committee.

•Collaborated with the Human Resource Department to diversify the pool of candidates applying for NEA's National Fellowship Program. Identified target schools and developed marketing packages.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

INSCOPE SOLUTIONS, INC. - Short-Term Sarbanes-Oxley Initiative - (Summer 2006)
Technical Writer -- Contractor, Fannie Mae, Inc.

•Collaborated with a team of business and technical experts, lending technical writing and communications support to a critical Sarbanes-Oxley/compliance initiative.

•Consulted with policy stakeholders and the Office of the CIO to develop policies, standards, and procedures consistent with the organization's IT policy framework and consistent with the internal policy approval process.

•Provided input and feedback on the IT policy framework, templates, and the overall policy schedule.

•Collaborated with communications team to draft and publish policy and standard communications.


EDUCATION

BA, English and Communications (Dual Degree)
Marymount University, 1997


MEMBERSHIPS

Society for Technical Communication (STC)

Certifications
Additional Skills:

MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Visio)
MS SharePoint, Outlook, FrontPage
RoboHelp
Basic HTML
Doc-to-Help
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Photoshop
ClearQuest/ClearCase
Visual SourceSafe



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