As the organisations software engineering Technical Writer, you will be responsible for helping us define, streamline and implement our approach to technical documentation within the organisation.
These are exciting times at Companies House as we continue our transformation journey, developing new digital services that are used nationally at scale. Our services are built using the latest technology and cloud services, with a focus on microservice development on AWS.
Companies House offers a flexible and welcoming culture that promotes a healthy work life balance as well as a proactive approach to wellbeing that allows us to be our best at work. We recognise that people are the key to our success so offer a fantastic benefits package including flexible working with no core hours, 30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day as well as enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%.
Find out more about what a great place Companies House is to work
We're looking for a Technical Writer whose responsibilities will include:
- Collaborate with Design, Research and Development, Production and other stakeholders to obtain an in-depth understanding of the process and the documentation requirements.
- Create software documentation after a thorough collaboration with subject matter specialists and technical staff and help other writers in creating documentation.
- Communicate complex ideas in a concise manner by creating product manuals with screenshots and tutorials. Circulate technical information in easy-to-understand language for a non-technical audience. Encourage the sharing of information.
- Ability to take existing and potential content and improve it, converting complex documentation to easy language for multiple audiences and defining the structure and organisation of documentation.
- Become familiar with technology architecture, design, and implementation requirements.
- Contribute to defining our documentation Standards, ensuring the quality of documentation is met and targets the correct audience. Ensure documentation is relevant and is kept up-to-date. Ensure we minimise duplication / redundancy.
- Choose the appropriate medium (SharePoint, Confluence GitHub, API specs - Swagger).
- Define access control (secure docs).
Person specification
We are looking for the following, which will be assessed at sift and at interview. Please refer to the bullet points below (and Technical skills) when writing your personal statement.
We are looking for someone with the following:
- Experience defining, implementing and supporting others in the establishment, implementation and best proactive of technical writing in an agile organisation.
- Experience of working closely with relevant stakeholders to understand the impact of and influence future organisational requirements to refine the documentation roadmaps.
- To have an understanding and be familiar with documentation aspects of Software APIs.
- Understanding of how to influence senior management and communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences.
- An eagerness to influence how digital services are documented and delivered.
- Proven ability to build consensus between diverse and often conflicting interests, to achieve agreement on technical plans.
- A systematic collaborative approach to solving problems.
- An eagerness to influence how digital services are designed and delivered
- Input innovative approaches to the delivery teams and support the successful adoption of such ideas, driving improved performance
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Document development lifecycle
- Presenting technical subjects to non-technical people
- Gathering information
In your application form we'd like you to:
- Tell us about your employment history, including key responsibilities and achievements.
- We'd like you to write a personal statement of 750 words where you tell us about why you'd be great for this role. Your personal statement should refer to the bullet points in the person specification and the Technical skills listed in the advert.
What will the process look like?
- We'll carry out a sift of applications and successful candidates at sift will be invited to interview, where we'll explore your skills, experiences, the Behaviours and Technical skills mentioned in the advert and Strengths.
- At sift candidates will be assessed against experience listed in the advert and are asked to supply work history/ personal statement and reference any transferable skills using the job description for reference.
- Your personal statement should refer to the experience bullet points listed in the person specification and the Technical skills listed in the advert.
- At interview candidates will be assessed against the Behaviours and Technical skills listed in the advert and we will use Success Profiles Behaviours, Technical Skills and Strengths.
- Interview questions will be released to candidates progressing to interview stage once they have booked an interview timeslot on the portal.
- As part of the interview stage, candidates will be asked to prepare a 10-minute presentation based on the Technical skills listed in the advert. Details of the presentation topic will be shared in the interview confirmation email.
- Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.
Benefits
We offer an excellent benefits package that includes:
- a generous 30 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day
- enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme with a contribution rate of averaging 28%
- a range of recognition schemes including instant awards to thank and recognise each other's efforts and contributions
- strong ethos of equality, diversity and inclusion
- great work life balance with flexible and mobile working available for many roles
- a pro-active approach to employee wellbeing that allows our employees to flourish and be their best at work and has enabled us to become an Investors In People platinum accredited employer
- online financial support and advice
- seasonal flu jabs
- generous maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave allowances
- a focus on career development and progression
- a number of inclusive network groups to support our colleagues and a great sports and social society
- cycle to work scheme
- staff discount scheme
- holiday play scheme for children
- 3 days paid volunteering leave
Next Steps
Click 'Apply Now' to be taken to our main advert Civil Service Jobs where you can see more details regarding the role, the incredible benefits we have to offer and what it's like to work in Companies House.
If you have any questions about the role or process, please reach out to [email protected].
This role closes on 5 November 2024.