Job title: Technical Content Author
Reporting to: Business Interface Manager
Location: Oxford (Home-based until January 2018)
Background
ByBox is the leading provider of Field Support Logistics using its box-based distribution network in the UK. ByBox have done this using its world-beating electronic-box technology and in-house developed software platform to provide the most sophisticated field service solution in the UK. The ByBox solution disrupted the market by increasing service while reducing cost for customers, so that it now dominates the UK market.
ByBox is now taking its technology globally by building on its already impressive software development team to build a technology team capable of delivering electronic box-based solutions to a global market. The ByBox suite of mobile, web, and client-based applications cover:
Bluetooth electronic lockers
Multi-tenanted customer web-applications
End-user mobile applications
Logistics support & label/barcode generation
Warehouse management systems
Customer-facing order portals
Customer and 3rd-party EDI
In-field mobile device and scanner solutions
Automated testing facilities
And much, much more
The Position
ByBox requires an experienced, enthusiastic, and highly motivated Software professional to take on the new role of Technical Content Author at ByBox, in the Software Development department. As the first person to fill this role you will be expected to bring your experience to the team and influence how technical documentation fits into the Software Development Lifecycle in ByBox.
Until now technical documentation at ByBox has largely been in the form of written documents, been completed by a range of people, and of a mixed quality, but as our team and Software Portfolio grows the need for high-quality technical content has also increased, and deserves dedicated attention from a professional Technical Content Author. This is especially important now, as much of the documentation will be customer-focused; therefore, content must be designed and delivered with an emphasis on presentation, accuracy, clarity, and usability.
With the support of the development team (in particular the business analysts and system specialists) you will be responsible for owning and maintaining the software team’s product catalogue/portfolio and producing user guides (including technical installation instructions), and content for the ByBox marketing team. Working closely with Product Owners you will produce professional documentation for our key products. You will also drive the adoption of the latest mediums for knowledge transfer, such as through e-learning tools, online video, and other techniques. The Software Development team will look to you for guidance on documentation strategy, techniques, templates, and media content. You will also have overall responsibility for guiding the structure and standards in our internal Knowledge Base Wiki.
Your duties will include:
Own, develop and maintain the content of ByBox Software Product Catalogue/Portfolio, producing content suitable for both internal and external audiences.
Be involved from the early stages of projects to understand the solution, and to understand the documentation/training requirements of the end-users.
Produce appropriate technical content for the end-users of our software, including Users Guides, technical installation instructions, and integration/API guides.
Understand the configuration and use-cases of the ByBox products to be self-reliant in producing appropriate content (e.g. screenshots, screencasts, videos etc.)
Drive the adoption of other techniques such as e-learning and online videos, or other media.
Guide the standardization of documentation and other content and help define our documentation strategy.
Gather feedback on the usability of content from internal and external customers, and regularly review content and processes to ensure best practices.
Work with technical team to make products easier to use and thus need fewer instructions.
Keep up to date with changing technologies, developments and trends in the industry, attending training courses as necessary.
Work closely with the ByBox Marketing team to produce suitable content for their Marketing material.
You will receive full domain training where necessary; and experts in all areas of existing systems will be on hand throughout projects™ lifetimes and beyond.
ByBox is opening a new ‘Tech Hub’ office in Oxford (opening 2018), and this role will be based from this office, which will be a key place for knowledge transfer, testing our products and utilising demo systems. However, we have a flexible working culture, and with mutual agreement you can spend a proportion of your time working from home. There will also be some travel to other sites in the UK, namely our facilities in Coventry and Milton Keynes. All technical team members are connected remotely and communication is fully established, effective and easy. Face to face meetings in any one of our offices can be arranged easily as and when required.
Although rare, some out of hours working may be required as part of understanding the different ByBox domains (particularly operational).
The Person
The successful candidate will be an experienced technical author/writer with the following experience and qualities:
Background of working in Software Development teams creating software user documentation, user manuals, release notes, training courses / materials and other documents.
Outstanding written communication skills, with strong literacy, and a clear and concise writing style.
Creative, with a flair for turning technical subjects and jargon into easily understood content or training material.
Be a clear and confident communicator; able to interact effectively with a distributed team of other technical experts and senior representatives.
Passion and aptitude in technology and technical techniques, particularly content authoring tools.
Be enthusiastic and pro-active in learning the technologies and capabilities of ByBox’ existing software.
An exceptional eye for detail with a passion for accuracy.
Worked with both internal and external stakeholders to define suitable documentation requirements.
Be a clear and confident communicator; able to interact effectively with a distributed team of other technical experts and senior representatives.
Ability to lead and influence a variety of team members with the goal of fulfilling our documentation strategy.
Be self-motivated, positive, self-disciplined, reliable, trustful, honest and collaborative.
Capable of working effectively with minimal supervision.
Desirable qualifications and experience:
Qualifications in English, Communications, Computer Science, or other relevant subjects.
Experience in the logistics industry, or knowledge of the ByBox domain.
Experience working with agile software development methodologies.
Application Process:
Please apply in writing to the Recruitment Department including a covering letter and up to date CV
NOTE:
External candidates will be required to supply details of two business referees in senior positions, who will be contacted by the Company after the first interview. Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK.
