jobs: PDX-OR-US, TW and Senior TW levels

["Erik W. Harris" <ewh -at- PLAZA -dot- DS -dot- ADP -dot- COM>]

For Portland-area writers, editors, and writing supervisors:

ADP Dealer Services Group has several open positions for good technical
writers, at both junior and senior levels. The positions are located at our
R&D facility, just south of sunny downtown Portland, Oregon.

Here's an example:

>Technical Writer/Course Developer--Software Tools Development, FULL TIME
>ADP, Systems and Data Communications Software Development Group
>
>SCOPE/DUTIES: The initial assignment will be on a team developing 
>internal tools related to configuration management and defect tracking
software. 
>Responsibilities will include writing end-user documentation and training
>materials for a variety of tools used in software development. The
>users of the tools are ADP internals and ADP technical support personnel.
>
>QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
>* At least 2 years experience in software documentation or training development
>in a software engineering environment.
>* Experience in on-line documentation, WEB site administration and
development, 
>and CBT development desirable.
>* Experience with engineering tools and tools development desirable.
>* FrameMaker 4.0 or 5.0 desirable.
>* At least a user-level knowledge of UNIX required. 
>* Experience with Windows NT and Windows '95 desirable.


And another example:

>The basics for the OLI tech writer position: ['OLI' is our acronym for an
online document library]
>
>Primary responsibilities include maintaining a project documentation set,
>and assisting in the electronic conversion of documentation files for
>release/distribution. 
>
>In addition to strong writing skills, the candidate must be an effective
>verbal communicator. Must be proficient in Information Mapping methodology,
>and have a strong working knowledge of online authoring principles and design.
>
>The candidate must be well-organized, detail-oriented, thorough, and able to
>successfully oversee numerous concurrent tasks and deadlines. Must be able
>to adapt quickly to change, and work effectively as a member of a
>multi-disciplined team. Background in or familiarity with Microsoft® Word,
>UNIX, and/or HTML a plus.

There is also at least one supervisory-level position, managing a group of
writers, open at this time.

I f  y o u  a r e  i n t e r e s t e d  in any of these positions, or know
someone in the Portland area who is looking for full-time work, please
contact me by e-mail ONLY at ewh -at- plaza -dot- ds -dot- adp -dot- com and I will follow up with
a fax number, arrangements to meet, or whatever is suitable.

An introduction to the 'inside story':
Generally speaking, for writers at this R&D facility, it's the best of times
and the worst of times. There are many opportunities to do solid,
cutting-edge work (intranet, online documentation, online help) for readers
who are starved for information in a situation of changing technology, but
the flip side of the coin is that there's a huge backlog of work to do, and
a whole lot of our 'standard practices' are in flux, evolving from
largely-obsolete, paper-intensive processes. To stay on top of it all as a
writer here, you have to be well-organized, able to anticipate requirements,
and willing to fight for good documentation standards on behalf of your
readership. You'll have to have a lot of confidence in your writing skills
*before* you start working.

About me:
I am a Senior Technical Writer at ADP; I've been here over 3 years, after
stints in Montana as a proposal writer and in Massachusetts as a technical
writer/marketing writer. I am not a manager, nor am I making hiring
decisions. Read on....

Why am I doing this? 
Reason 1: We at ADP have a lot of good writers, but our 'writing culture'
within the development organization is not strong enough, in my view. We
need an infusion of energized, skilled, well-presented, articulate writers
to strengthen the group! Wannabes and desktop-publishing types should
probably look elsewhere.
Reason 2 (Truth in advertising): I can win bonuses by recommending
successful candidates. (And so could you if you worked here.) That's why I
really only want to talk to people in Portland, whose portfolios I can see
-- before I can recommend you, I want to know about the work you've done! :^D

Final note to want-ad-sensitive techwr-l-ers: No buzzwords, corporatespeak,
namby-pambyism, or marketing hype is implied or intended in this posting.
Direct flames to alt.fire.retardant.quick-action  `:^|  (that's my attempt
at a cocked eyebrow)

** ewh -at- plaza -dot- ds -dot- adp -dot- com aka 503/402-3295
** erik harris in portland oregon
** a senior technical writer at a large corporation
** "ille albus canne vinco homines"

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