Technical Writer jobs in Georgia

Job Description

Technical Writer Sought

This job posting is going to have some fairly standard bullet points about a Technical Writing position down below. But I want to start from a different place. If you look at this one way, you may be disgusted by what reads like "a company trying to make somebody do two jobs while paying them for only one." I hope it doesn't come across that way, and I certainly don't intend for this job to become exploitive. But I believe Electro-Mech's last two Tech Writers left us largely because they were underutilized and unengaged. I don't want to make the same mistake a third time.

So my idea is this: I want to seek someone who can be a Tech Writer AND something else. The "something else" part could be a Tech Support Rep, or an assistant to our I.T. Manager, or a Sales Rep, or someone assisting with Repairs or Shipping, or someone who makes on-site service calls, or someone who handles Marketing. This company has a lot of needs for a lot of skills. Are you a writer who is also an artist? Are you a writer who is also a UI designer? Are you a writer who wants to dabble in accounting? We're interested in hearing about compatible skills you bring to the table. Our previous Tech Writer was a talented musician with strong interests in theology. For him, we were not a good match. Scoreboards are agnostic and don't benefit from a funky bass line. But you are built different, right?

Because our need for technical documentation is not a constant or well-defined pipeline, it's easy for a Tech Writer to feel left out, bored, and unappreciated in the Electro-Mech environment. You may be seeing all kinds of red flags telling you to never work for a company that would treat an employee this way. But the point is: I don't want to set our next Tech Writer up for disappointment by repeating the past.

There is a secondary point here too. I try to be honest, which can involve pointing out mistakes. I am also the person who will serve as Editor for the Tech Writer. So if I'm coming across as overbearing and obnoxious in this posting, just think how annoying I will be tagging your work with comments which highlight some kind of problem I've found in a document you've written! It really used to irritate my children when I did that to their English papers.

Enough about my personal issues. Let me reiterate: We hope to hire someone who not only enjoys pushing words into a computer and generating lovely documents, but also brings other interests and skills to the table. We're a company focused on manufacturing scoreboards, so we won't have a special need for someone with a strong medical background or a keen interest in zoology. But we are open to many possibilities. Now let's get to the normal part of this job posting.

This position includes responsibility for...

• Creating, editing, and maintaining owner's manual documents for electronic scoreboards and accessories.
• These documents are currently printed in house on an as-needed basis and published as PDF files available via our web site.
• These documents include illustrations, photographs, tables, and text elements.
• Creating, editing, and maintaining additional documentation, including...
• Informal product specifications for marketing.
• Formal product specifications in CSI, ARCAT, and other standard formats.
• Additional technical literature for marketing, such as FAQs, trouble-shooting guides, and competitor comparisons.
• Internal documentation such as quick reference guides for Sales and Customer Service, work instructions for Production, templates for business letters, and policy manuals.
• Technical and marketing information appearing on our web sites, social media, etc.
• Developing structured methods for organizing documentation, including...
• Redesigning owner's manuals into "modules" that minimize rewrites and developing efficient methods to combine these modules into booklets to be published in printed form and electronically.
• Developing a database or other system for centrally storing product information so that it can be inserted into a variety of documents and easily updated.
• Developing standards for document control.
• Writing customized documentation for specific projects.
• Evaluating and recommending software, printers, outside services, and other tools related to technical writing, document production, and documentation control.
• Working with Marketing to develop documents, systems for maintaining them, and standards for the "look and feel" of our documentation. This includes work on our web sites to contribute to the organization and "look and feel" of the sites as well as to provide content. This may also include developing "scripts" for short videos or other presentations describing our products and services.
• Working with Engineering to organize and maintain documents and product information.
• Working with Sales and Service to ensure their documentation is up to date, easy to use, and not easily confused (for example, it should be easy to locate documentation for outdated products, but difficult to confuse this older content with current documentation).
• Working with I.T. to organize documentation electronically and to modify electronic forms such as software-generated pack lists or invoices.
• Training anyone affected by new documentation or processes.
  
  

This position reports to the Senior Engineer. Candidates will need to provide samples of their writing and may be asked to demonstrate their skills by providing feedback after reviewing some existing company documentation and by producing a "test" document.

Qualifications

• Technical Writing degree or equivalent
• Extraordinary written communications skills
• Familiarity with CSI specification format
• Experience with Microsoft Word and other Microsoft Office Products
• Ability to work in an unstructured environment
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite
• Ability to create organization out of chaos
• Experience using AutoCAD
• Knowledge of common sports rules and practices -- especially baseball, softball, football, basketball, track & field events, soccer, hockey, and lacrosse
• Experience working with databases and XML structures
  
  

Compensation And Benefits

• This is a full-time, permanent position
• Target pay rate ranging from $18 to $26 hourly, depending on experience
• Group health insurance plan
• 401K plan
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Some telecommuting will be possible, although the majority of the work will need to happen on site
• Relaxed work environment
  
  

About The Company

Electro-Mech Scoreboard Company has been in business in Wrightsville, Georgia since 1963 manufacturing electronic scoreboards for baseball, basketball, football, and other sports. The company is privately owned and employs approximately 70 people at the Wrightsville location.

About The Location

Wrightsville is a tiny town in central Georgia with a population of approximately 2500. Nearby Dublin is the home to some of our current management (including the president) and provides access to such pop culture amenities as Kroger, Wal-Mart, and various chain restaurants. Wrightsville itself is the sort of quiet country town that experiences traffic snarls only during Friday night high school football games. If you are tired of your current commute, please consider this pleasant alternative.

Contact Information

You may e-mail a resume to jobs@electro-mech.com, or mail a paper copy to:

Electro-Mech Scoreboard Co., PO Box 102, Wrightsville, GA 31096, Atten: Engineering