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We are dedicated to growing a culture of belonging through our values:
Respect | Trust | Diversity | Inclusion | Equity
At the Department of Licensing, we recognize the importance of work/life harmony and strive to create a culture where employees feel valued and respected. Our employees are trusted and encouraged to be a part of process improvements that impact their work, create value for our customers and help build trust in our government.
Our Communications and Outreach Division is currently recruiting for a *Technical Writer* who is well versed in plain talk, has a solid understanding of Washington's laws and issues and has the ability to properly author or edit documents to meet the highest standards of precision and readability and, when needed, persuasiveness.
We are one of the most public facing state agencies and the second largest revenue generating agency in Washington State. We regularly interact with mare than 6 million Washington residents. We advance public safety and consumer protection through licensing, regulation, and education, and collect approximately $3.4 billion in revenue. The services we provide are essential to our customers’ ability to live, work, drive, and thrive and we are committed to ensuring every resident has equitable and meaningful access to our services.
If you have a passion for advancing accessibility in conjunction with DEI initiatives through plain language, please read on!
Duties
As the *Technical Writer* you will be responsible for ensuring that our written materials embody the principles of Human Centered Design; plain language; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Much of your writing will be used to educate the public on the complex areas of law surrounding driving requirements, tax policy, and licensure processes. Your ability to explain Revised Code of Washington (RCW’s) in way that is easily understood will be key too as you will submit a sizable number of decision packages to convince the Governor’s Office and Legislature to fund new agency initiatives.
Some of what you will do:
- Author, revise and, apply plain talk principles of public-facing documents.
- Create a plan to inventory existing public information and documents, with a priority on forms or public information that directly affect a person’s ability to access services.
- Produce significant original written content that is often highly technical in nature.
- Author and apply for Grants.
- Create and maintain a process for reviewing or auditing content of written and electronic materials on a biannual basis.
The work that you do ensuring our communications are readable and accessible will guarantee we are able to fulfill our purpose of helping every Washington resident live, work, drive and thrive.
Qualifications
What you will bring to the position:
- Five (5) years of experience writing and editing in a professional setting.
- Demonstrated history of advancing and employing the principles of plain language and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Demonstrated expertise in English, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style editing including knowledge of AP style.
- Demonstrated ability to write persuasively.
- Demonstrated ability to emulate and drive cultural competency.
- Demonstrated strong collaboration skills to ensure buy-in to the written content being produced or edits to existing content.
- Experience writing grants, decision packages and/or agency request legislation.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a clear ability to translate highly technical information for a general audience.
- Excellent project management and scheduling skills.
- Proven competence in time management.
- Proven track record of working collaboratively with a variety of experts and leaders across a large enterprise.
- The ability to:
- Incorporate DOL’s values (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Respect, and Trust) in all work activities.
- Develop and practice appropriate, relevant, and sensitive strategies and skills to understand and help others.
- Lead open-mindedly to ensure a culture of shared information and learning is established and valued.
- Empower others to develop an anticipatory mindset in which current and future communications are designed with humans at the center, and use a diverse, equitable, and inclusive lens to support the unique needs of DOL’s customers.
- Encourage continuous improvement.
Experience can be gained concurrently.
What may help set you apart:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in writing or composition, English, law, or related field
- Experience with advancing principles of Human Centered Design.
- Demonstrated history of delivering training on professional writing and plain language.
- Strong understanding of state government, including the Revised Code of Washington, the Washington Administrative Code, decision packages, agency request legislation, and grants.
- The ability to travel with occasional overnight travel to attend conferences or to facilitate training.
- Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
DOL is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, we will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.
For information about this position, available accommodations, or the interview process, contactDawn Loduha.
Supplemental Information
Come join us in changing the way government delivers services and help build a legacy of commitment to and excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion!
How to Apply:
- Select the Apply button at the top of this job announcement.
- Using the "add attachments' option please attach the following:
- Cover letter.
- Resume.
- A writing sample of no more than five (5) pages.
Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.
You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.
A paycheck is just part of a total compensation package. We offer some of the nation’s best benefits.
We value diverse perspectives and life experiences.
We employ and serve people of all backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans. We value the unique traits and attributes that each employee brings to the job. Through the diverse perspectives of an inclusive workforce, we will create a more respectful, productive, and unified team to better serve the public of Washington.
Veteran/Military Spouse Preference Notice
To take advantage of veteran/military spouse preference, email the Recruitment Team. Please include the title of this position in the subject line.
The Washington State Department of Licensing is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, religion, sex (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
Persons requiring accommodation in the application process, during the recruitment process, or who need this job announcement in an alternative format, may contact the Human Resources Office at 360-902-4000 or may email HRRecruit@dol.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our ASL interpreter via Video Phone at 360.339.7344.
