Technical Writer

Position Summary

The Department of Revenue seeks a Technical Writer with a records management background to catalog write edit organize and maintain the Departments correspondence and written records. The Technical Writer is central to Revenues plain language writing initiative converting all Department letters and developing them into the Citys tax system. However duties extend beyond that project. This position supports the Departments efforts to more clearly and effectively correspond with the public identifying opportunities to update and enhance communication including:

• Language layout and graphics
• In print and digital formats.

The Technical Writer will produce content that accurately and clearly informs the pubic promoting trust in the Department and compliance. The Writer will develop a system to catalog correspondence and catalog some of the knowledge base that informs the Departments correspondence.

Essential Functions

Content creation

• Plan and edit accurate accessible and engaging content for the Department of Revenue. This includes bills letters emails notices alerts requests and other digital and print communication as needed.
• Ensure correspondence is 100 accurate as well as easily understood by the public.
• Rewrite existing official letters and other communications into plain language ensuring clarity accuracy and accessibility for all audiences.
• Collaborate with technical staff to ensure letters are correctly formatted built and uploaded into the tax system and verify that the system is generating and sending correspondence correctly.
• Quickly update correspondence to reflect policy changes including new legislation ordinances and procedures within the Department.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve communications to meet the needs of both internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as an editor to ensure correspondence meets Citys content style guide (standards.phila) and is consistent across different units within the Department.

Project manager and user experience advocate

• Work closely with Subject Matter Experts within the Department as well as taxpayers and water customers when possible to develop clear and actionable correspondence.
• Work closely with leadership business operation managers and other relevant stakeholders to understand the purpose audience impact and workflow of each communication.
• Strategize and effectively coordinate content creation when a project involves two or more units within the Department or between the Department and other City agencies.
• Collaborate with department staff to store and modernize the knowledge base that informs correspondence with the public.
• Ensure language and design meets or exceeds standards of accessibility and inclusion. Update content based on user feedback and best practices. 
• Support Language Access efforts to improve communication with residents with limited English proficiency.
• As needed contribute to the development of other communication materials for the Department applying plain language principles and ensuring consistency in messaging.

Content manager and archivist

• Develop a system to archive current and past correspondence and other materials so that it is easy to find and reference.
• Conduct a onceayear audit to account for all Revenue correspondence making sure it continues to be relevant accurate and clear.
• Provide recommendations on terminating correspondence when it is determined to be erroneous redundant or obsolete.
• Classify correspondence as well as other documents and materials and promote these as resources to Department colleagues.

Competencies Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communicator: Able to clearly address a complex subject and break it down into crisp simple language. Multilingual highly preferred.
• Detailoriented: Sees and manages the smallest most complex details so that content is clear accurate and consistent with standards.
• Organized: Manages projects estimates timelines prioritizes and reworks a project approach based on unforeseen challenges. Works well under pressure and sets reasonable deadlines for self and others.
• Relationshipbuilder: Works comfortably with a variety of people and personalities and cultivates strong relationships to ensure collaboration and continued project support.
• Independent: Can be counted on to autonomously identify needs gather resources make recommendations and produce results.
• Curious: Asks questions to better understand a problem takes interest in colleagues specializations and challenges receives and gives constructive feedback learns new skills.
• Compassionate: Uses empathy for others experiences to create actionable solutions that address peoples real needs with integrity.
• Spy: Has the ingenuity to solve problems and deliver quality results even when working within constraints.

Qualifications :

At least two years of fulltime professional experience that includes extensive writing and teamwork such as:

• Letter or grant writer
• Copy editor or proofreader
• Records/archives manager
• Digital archivist

A Bachelors degree is preferred. However we may consider candidates who demonstrate the necessary experience and skills to fulfill the job.

Additional Information :

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a resume.

Salary Range: $60000 $70000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTAs Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses subways trolleys and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation sick leave and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster As a qualifying employer City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10 to 40 on your educational expenses extending not only to City employees but in some cases spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial wellbeing and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22 2023 vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in nonmedical nonemergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result only employees in positions providing services that  are patientfacing medical care (ex: Nurses doctors emergency medical personnel) must be fully vaccinated.

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For more information go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx