LOCATION:

Suburban Minneapolis

 

SUMMARY:

The role of Manager of Technical Communications is to execute the details of user manuals and to ensure that all information is documented and updated effectively; while also working to create more efficient and innovative processes.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Communications Management

  • Provide direct supervision and leadership of all technical communications personnel.
  • Plan and schedule department work to meet needs of internal and external customers.
  • Develop Technical Communications strategy and continuously explore alternative approaches for technical writing solutions.
  • Define processes and standards for the Technical Communications Department.
  • Knowledge of information development standards, processes, and tools.
  • Keep abreast of information development industry changes, trends, and best practices.

 

Technical Communication Design

  • Create user manuals, maintenance manuals, parts and schematics manuals, troubleshooting guides, field service bulletins, and installation guides.
  • Interview and work closely with engineers and other technical personnel to ensure accuracy and completeness of information.
  • Research products by reading specifications and other documentation.
  • Effectively use appropriate authoring techniques, tools, standards, and processes to create documentation deliverables.
  • Manage multiple projects and internal and external resources
  • Provide project timeline and cost estimates per customer requests.
  • Create graphics in conjunction with design concepts and templates.

 

POSITION IMPACT:

Through effective and accurate communication and documentation processes this position ensures the accurate and effective delivery of user manuals for all internal and external customers.

 

BEHAVIOR COMPETENCIES:

Customer Focus:

Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.

Action Oriented:

Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive. Enjoys working hard; is full of energy for the things he/she sees as challenging; not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning.

Motivating Others:

Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can motivate many kinds of direct reports and team or project members; can assess each person’s hot button and use it to get the best out of him/her; pushes tasks and decisions down; empowers others; invites input from each person and shares ownership and visibility; makes each individual feel his/her work is important; is someone people like working for and with.

Approachability:

Is easy to approach and talk to; spends the extra effort to put others at ease; can be warm, pleasant, and gracious; is sensitive to and patient with the interpersonal anxieties of others; builds rapport well; is a good listener; is an early “knower”, getting informal and incomplete information in time to do something about it.

Passion for Results:

Driving high standards for individual, team, and organizational accomplishment; tenaciously working to meet or exceed challenging goals; deriving satisfaction from goal achievement and continuous improvement.

Work Standards:

Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.

Values Based:

Recognized by others to as living and teaching the values, and appropriately responds when others behave in opposition to the values.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Degree Required Preferred Major /Course of Study
HS Diploma/Equivalent       X
Associate Degree (2 yr)       X
Bachelors Degree (4 yr)       X Technical Communication or related area.
Advanced Degree

 

Experience:

Months/Years Describe
5+ years Engineering and/or manufacturing environment experience.
5+ years Professional writing experience.
3 years Management experience.
3 years Experience working with Adobe software.

*Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

 

Special licenses, other education, certification or professional memberships:

Certification Describe
Railroad (Preferred) Maintain railroad safety training and certifications.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Ability to apply high levels of cognitive, analytical, retention and reasoning.
  • Excellent communication skills used within any social context.
  • Can stand, sit, walk, reach, balance, stoop, kneel, hear, taste and smell.
  • Can see up close, distances, colors and has use of peripheral vision and depth perception.
  • Can tolerate variable and sometimes extreme physical conditions during visits or inspections of company equipment in a railroad environment.