Job: Technical Writer

Location: Watertown, MA, United States 
Description

Job Ref

14-24-TSU

Job Title

Technical Writer

Job Type

Full-time

Location

Watertown, MA

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Description

Pathfinder International Overview

Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual and reproductive health. We place reproductive health care at the center of all that we do—believing that it is not only a fundamental human right, but is critical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship, decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction. Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, ensure availability of safe abortion services and post-abortion care, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Program Overview

Pathfinder’s Technical Services Unit provides guidance and expertise in a variety of technical areas to strengthen Pathfinder field offices and government and NGO partners, who develop and implement Pathfinder projects. These areas of technical expertise include contraception, abortion and postabortion care, maternal and newborn health, HIV and AIDS, adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health, behavior change, community mobilization, technical documentation and communications, and knowledge management. TSU staff provide overall programmatic direction in their key areas, provide technical support to field offices, document programmatic activities, and produce curricula and technical tools.

Position Purpose

The Technical Writer works closely with Technical Documentation Advisors in TSU to research and develop content that showcases Pathfinder’s implementation experience. Targeting a global technical audience, the Technical Writer uses qualitative and quantitative skills to analyze and present project results and experiences. S/he must be able to convey complex information simply and succinctly. Working with the Technical Documentation Advisors and Communications staff, the Technical Writer is responsible for coordinating dissemination of Pathfinder technical publications and resources in online and print forms. In addition, s/he assists in editing technical documents, reviewing documents with an eye for consistency, clarity, and grammatical correctness.

Key Responsibilities

• Write original content for publications highlighting implementation experience, challenges, and accomplishments.
• Work with project leads and country teams to capture critical concepts for articulation to external audiences.
• Under guidance of other technical advisors within TSU, develop skills of Pathfinder field staff in production of technical publications.
• Advise on targeted dissemination strategies to ensure technical publications reach priority audiences.
• Edit Pathfinder technical documents (e.g., conference abstracts, presentations).
• Work with Technical Advisors, Program Directors, and Communications staff to prioritize products to be developed and their corresponding timelines.
• Participate in development and monitoring of publications timelines to ensure deadlines are met.
• Work closely with editor and graphic designer to produce and finalize products.
• Prepare summaries to announce products on project website and via social media channels.

Basic Requirements

• Required Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Public Administration or related field.
• Minimum of four years progressively responsible work related to Public Health, Health Education, International Relations, Development Studies, Women’s Studies, Communications, or related field (two years’ experience will be acceptable if candidate has a Master’s degree in Public Health related field).
• Excellent writing skills, with an ability to write technical content clearly, concisely, and in an engaging manner, drawing from a variety of data sources under tight timelines;
• Familiarity with sexual and reproductive health topics, terminology, and programming;
• Professional experience in dissemination of written products in a variety of forums, ideally in development or relevant field;
• Familiarity with design of visual representations of data, including diagrams, charts, and graphs;
• Qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills;
• Excellent organizational skills with an emphasis on being thorough and very detail-oriented, with ability to multi-task;
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative team;
• Excellent computer skills to include proficiency with Microsoft Office products;
• Fluent in written and spoken English;
• Ability to travel internationally up to 30%;
• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Pathfinder International.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field strongly preferred;
• Previous experience studying or working in a developing country or countries;
• Editing experience a plus;
• Fluency in French, Portuguese, or other language;
• Familiarity with Adobe InDesign a plus.

Pathfinder International is proud to be an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.

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