Project Manager System

Location:

Forest, VA, 24551

Salary:

60000

Posted:

June 01, 2012

Contact this candidate

Resume:

John Manning

Senior Technical Author

Contact Information

Mailing 5541 Cottontown Road

Address: Forest, VA

24551

Telephone: 010-**-***-*** 3209

E mail: *********@*****.***

Education

University of South Florida

Bachelor of Arts degrees: English Literature and Technical Writing

Graduated: December 1995

Summary of Qualifications

Eighteen years technical authoring experience in America and Europe. Qualifications include the following:

• Advanced professional skills:

o Project Management:

Creating and managing proposals and project plans

Editing authors’ deliverables, while concurrently completing my own assigned writing assignments

Managing teams of business entities, such as technical authors, graphic designers, and subject matter experts (SMEs)

o Researching

o Interviewing

o Editing

o Writing: Am creative and experienced; composing material that is understood easily by various audiences; combining informational and task-based text with graphical examples in tasteful combinations to deliver high-quality content.

o Project Development Methodologies (ISO, CMM, and PRINCE)

o Styles: Firm knowledge of Microsoft technical documentation style standards. Ability to develop standard corporate writing templates (Word, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DTD/CSS for XML systems…). Also adapt well to existing corporate writing styles

o Learn new systems, products, and services quickly

o Function independently to meet deadlines and also collaborate well on teams

• I have a wide-range of business experience in the following sectors:

o Financial services, such as Equifax (Tampa, FL, USA) , Certegy (Leicester, UK), and Clearstream Banking (Luxembourg)

o ATM engineering, such as National Cash Registers (Dundee, Scotland)

o Telecommunications, such as Nortel (Maidenhead Berks, UK)

o Computer hardware, such as Hewett Packard (Paris, France)

o Defense contracting, such as Pearson’s Engineering (Newcastle England, UK)

o Public sectors, such as the UK Department of Trade and Health Protection Agency (London, UK)

o Warehouse Sales and Distribution, such as British Steam, BSS

(Leicester, UK)

o Medical Engineering, such as Waters Micromass (Boston, Massachusetts/Manchester UK) and IMI-Quanta (Alcester England, UK)

o Technical Education, such as PrepLogic (Tampa Florida)

o Vehicle Manufacturing, such as Jaguar Cars (Liverpool, UK) and

Linde Heavy Trucks (South Wales, UK)

• I am proficient with the following technical authoring tools and applications:

o Microsoft Office

o Adobe Frame Maker (structured SGML and unstructured)

o Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

o RoboHelp

o RoboDemo

o MadCap Flare

o Visio

o Microsoft Front Page

o Dream Weaver

o Corel Draw

o Paint Shop Pro

o Abortext Epic XML Editor

o XML Documentum Content Management Systems (CMS)

Experience (From Present to 1994)

Linde Heavy Trucks

Contract Technical Author

Manager: Jim Evans

010-**-***-*** 4200

Merthyr Tydfil, Wales UK

January 2012 to June 2012

Linde is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of material handling equipment and a division of the Kion group, a multi-national German conglomerate.

I served as technical author in charge of developing the service manual for Linde’s latest container handling truck - an eight ton truck with the capacity to lift shipment containers weighing up to 40 tons.

I worked with mechanical engineers, production line assemblers, and third party component providers such as Scania Engines, to produce a 500 page service manual, covering routine maintenance for the truck’s engine, axle, hydraulic steering systems, etc. The manual provides overview information of major truck systems, as well as step-action instructions for servicing.

I developed content in combination with photographs and illustrations, using the Abortext XML editor and a bespoke content management repository as my primary authoring tool. I used Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop to adapt graphics.

I left Linde in June 2012 to return to Virginia and live closer to my aging parents.

Quanta Fluid Solutions

Lead Contract Technical Author

Manager: Clive Buckberry

010-**-***-*** 0043

Alcester, Warwickshire

April 2011 to Present

Quanta is the UK R&D division of IMI, a global engineering provider working with companies in over fifty countries, and listed on the FTSE100.

I am composing a suite of operator and service manuals (and an XML-based Help system), to support SelfCare+, a revolutionary home-based dialysis machine.

Over the course of this project, I have focused on designing documentation that will be easily comprehended by the kidney failure patients using the machine; since there is obviously a high risk-factor associated with cleansing one’s blood from home.

Also, this project requires covering a multitude of topics to meet various regulatory body requirements, such as the Medical Devices Directives (MDD), European Union Certification (EU), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

My team on this project includes: mechanical engineers, software engineers, quality/risk control experts, and computer-aided designers. I am in charge of all external facing client documentation, as well as the service manual that Quanta technicians will use to maintain the machine after the product goes to market.

PrepLogic

Freelance Technical Writer

Managing Editor: Christopher Parker

001 813-***-****

Tampa, Florida USA

March 2010 to April 2011

I designed quick reference guides for administrators to prepare for exams to maintain their Microsoft Windows Vista and 7 Certified Technicians certificates. I primarily composed guides for MCITP Enterprise Administrators, who are required to pass tests when Microsoft releases new operating systems, to maintain their administration certification.

I compiled informative content and test questions on MCITP exam preparatory topics such as: Windows system architecture, security, network administration, resolving installation issues, licensing restrictions, re-imaging systems, resolving mobile user issues, etc.

Waters Corporation

Contract Senior Technical Writer

Manager: Keith McGrath

*****@********.***

001 617-***-****

Technical Communications

Manchester, UK

September 2009 to December 2009

Senior technical writer in charge of developing a Help system with RoboHelp. I managed a team of assigned software engineers for research, and to ensure technical accuracy. We designed this Help system to support software navigation of Waters’ latest mass spectrometer. The Help was designed to be task-based so users could navigate and control its various applications. I met my deadline and completed this three month contract on time.

Eurosoft Technologies/BSS Group Plc.

Lead Contract Technical Author

Project Manager: Vishal Narula

078*-***-****

Lee Circle

Leicester, UK

April 2007 to September 2009

Managed a team of authors and subject matter experts to produce internal training manuals and ISO process documentation to support British Steam’s (BSS’) conversion to a customized Kerrige/Oracle based management system.

Primarily responsible for creating project plans, liaising with the business, conducting research, managing author productivity, editing all materials, implementing a standard writing style, organizing localization, and internal system/change management training.

Conducted interviews and training sessions throughout all businesses areas to document changing business practices and system navigation impacts. Developed content for hard-copy, PDF for their intranet, and Help system design.

This was a long term project that required end-to-end documentation to support a multi-million pound core system replacement from mainframe to Oracle. The new system was designed, tested, and implemented throughout all BSS divisions (central functions, warehousing, and over 300 branch locations throughout Britain).

Kudos Information Ltd.

Technical Documentation Project Manager

UK Director: Hilary Stephenson

016*-***-****

Manchester, UK

March 2006 to April 2007

Managed several projects for clients such as: Pearson Defense, Nortel, and, National Cash Registers (NCR). I was responsible for scoping out client requirements, writing proposals, and managing teams of authors (in the UK, Hungary, and Malaysia) to update client corporate documentation. My primary assignments included the following:

• Developed outputs in FrameMaker for NCR, and also helped them convert their manuals to XML for various content management system (CMS) outputs.

• Managed a project for Nortel using an XML based single-source system with Epic Editor and Documentum authoring tools.

• Conducted content task analysis for Clearstream Banking, to convert their system user content from .pdf to XML format for internet publishing.

• Authored a Fatwire CMS user manual for the British Health Protection Agency.

• Lead a project to develop an agency-wide Help system for the British Department of Trade, to support their new CMS documentation database implementation.

Waters Corporation

Senior Technical Writer

Technical Communications

Tech. Com. Manager: David Jones

075*-***-****

Manchester, UK

July 2004 to March 2006

Developed client operator guides with FrameMaker and Help systems with RoboHelp. Clients and engineers use the documentation I produced to repair highly sophisticated medical instruments and to navigate various software applications to control and process experimental data.

I conducted usability studies to improve documentation and software and helped develop ISO standard processes for the Technical Communications Department, which we updated regularly on their corporate intranet.

Certegy Financial Services

Documentation Project Manager

Solihull/Leicester, UK

IT Director: Sally Kelly

012*-***-****

February 2002 to July 2004

I was in charge of client and internal system documentation for the British region of Certegy Financial Services. Developed and maintained various internal and third-party system user and technical manuals on the intranet electronic library.

Developed a Documentation area for Certegy’s UK intranet with MS Front Page.

Using PRINCE methodology, helped implement a process for I.T., Programmers, Business Analysts, and System Analysts to communicate system changes regularly to the business: used this information to update their client system documentation on a quarterly basis.

Examples of manuals and Help systems I was responsible for updating and developing include: core system user manuals, reports manuals, screen reference guides, data dictionaries, hardware schematics, system administration procedures, and various GUI sub-system interface technical and system navigation guides.

Also was trained to manage Certegy’s UK system documentation content migration to the Hummingbird XML-based content management system.

Jaguar Cars Ltd.

Contract Technical Author

Liverpool, Merseyside, U.K.

August 2001 to February 2002

During this six month contract I organized and produced technical documentation for a certain range of Jaguar vehicles. Specialized in electronic equipment diagrams, air conditioning, fuel systems and exhaust systems.

I helped set up an online publishing system for their UNIX operating system and worked with internal/external personnel including: contract authors, printers, typesetters, translators, illustrators, design engineers, dealers, customers and litigation specialists.

Equifax Financial Services

Technical Writer

Documentation Department

Documentation Manager: Suzanne Nolan

001 941-***-****

Tampa, Florida

September 1999 to August 2001

Developed client system navigation manuals and Help files for a global financial services corporation. Assigned to projects within credit bureau and card processing divisions.

As technical writer, I managed writing projects from start to end. Projects included research, interviewing subject matter experts/programmers, project estimating, project planning, writing, subject matter expert content review, graphic design of system schematics, documentation copy/content/final edits, production of printed copy with Frame Maker, and Help file production with RoboHelp WinHelp.

A typical writing cycle included 2-4 simultaneous writing projects with the same quarterly end date. Developed excellent process methodology skills and multi-tasking skills. Completed each task on time while focusing on critical client focused deliverables.

While operating in this role, I also helped update the corporate intranet with current system and procedural documentation on a quarterly basis.

Equifax Client Relations Department Client Representative

February 1997 to September 1999

St. Petersburg, Florida USA

Supervisor: Greg Moser, Vice President, Client Relations

727-***-****

St. Petersburg, Florida USA

I have vast Equifax/Certegy/FIS business knowledge. I serviced a portfolio of credit unions with their Visa/MasterCard credit programs at Certegy (then Equifax) for over two years. Responsibilities included: software navigational support, system parameter changing, TBS system troubleshooting, ledger accounting, fraud prevention counseling, marketing and portfolio development. Worked with card managers and CEOs, helping them understand specialised mainframe and subsystem software navigation, report monitoring, fraud prevention strategies, embossing issues, etc. I was awarded in 1999 for the over all top ranking client satisfaction surveys in the Client Relations Department.

Also, functioned as project manager developing internal departmental procedure manuals for Client Relation’s Department training classes. As project manager, I worked with teams of subject matter experts such as programmers, corporate directors, trainers, and clients to compose software navigational and standard procedural documentation during TBS/Alamo Y2K conversion. Very diversified experience networking with all Certegy products.

Contract/Intern Technical Writer

1994 to 1996

Active member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) since 1994.

Independent writing intern and contractor for companies based around Tampa, Florida. For example: U.S Postal Service, Capitol One, Raymond James, Franklin Templeton, Pinellas Technical Institute, Measurement Incorporated, and Towers Perrin.

Produced outputs such as system navigational documentation, Help files, courseware, marketing materials, and manually-coded Web pages.

References

Note: Many writing samples and additional references available on request.

Vishal Narula

Project Manager

Eurosoft Technologies

Pentax House, South Hill Avenue,

South Harrow, HA2 0DU, UK

078*-***-****

Hilary Stephenson, Former UK Manager

Kudos Information Ltd.

Now, Managing Director, Sigma UK