Technical Writer

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Technical Writer is a specialist role in the ADEPT Operations Team (AOT) within Immigration New Zealand (INZ). The role is crucial to supporting the Enhanced Immigration Online system – INZ’s visa processing and CRM solution.

The Technical Writer will support the wider team as it migrates new and existing visa types from legacy systems onto the enhanced Immigration Online system. This involves preparing, reviewing, revising, and maintaining documents and content to boost the user experience of the ADEPT system. This role’s key task is managing updates to internal and external user guides through to publication.

As an expert at writing for both technical and non-technical audiences, they have the skills and experience to develop content that ensures users have the right information and guidance at the right time, and the best possible experience. They will need excellent networking and liaison skills to connect with subject matter experts and other business groups on content decisions. The role requires making critical decisions and establishing strategies that ensures information is accurate, gathered effectively and available promptly.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

Strong professional communicator of information using various mediums.
Proven track record of at least 5 years’ experience creating technical content such as system guides, letter templates, and web content of varied complexity and for a wide audience.
Ability to work with subject matter experts, and other business groups to simplify complex and technical information for various audience levels, incorporating plain language principles.
A passion for accurate and elegant presentation of information.
Ideally a knowledge of MBIE or INZ and/or IT platforms and systems.
An understanding of information architecture practices and the application of information governance.
Experience working on large project implementations, with an understanding of the ‘big picture’ while maintaining a focus on the detail.
Experience working in a cross-functional team environment, collaborating with technical and non-technical experts where sharing knowledge and understanding each other’s roles and responsibilities is required.
Experience owning and managing an end-to-end documentation process.
Excellent attention to detail and the ability to prioritise and work on multiple tasks in a fast-paced, changing environment. (An organised and flexible working style).
A positive attitude, willing to jump in and tackle new challenges, and flexible and adaptable as the needs of customers and the business change.
Credit check required - no.
Required to drive - no.
Police vetting – no.
Note: you must be able to obtain and maintain a minimum of a confidential level NZ Government security clearance. You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand and have lived in NZ, or another ‘5-eyes' country for 5 years (Check https://protectivesecurity.govt.nz/personnel-security/clearances/eligibility-tool/(external link)).

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Prepare, review, revise and maintain technical and non-technical content, forms, guides, letters, and documents for the ADEPT system to make sure it meets user and business needs and reflects INZ’s content standards.
Lead and own the updates and publishing of the system user guides, keeping them consistent, current, and relevant for staff/customers using them.
Review existing material to remove duplication, promote consistency, identify potential improvements, and manage content and usability gaps.
Work in collaboration with others to plan, research, and write printed and online documents, including instructions, training and promotional materials and documentation to better meet the users’ needs.
Gather user feedback on documentation and content within the user journey, to improve usability.
Monitor metrics on the use of documentation and materials and use feedback to prioritise improvements.
Proactively identify opportunities for improvement, promoting best practice to ensure information is captured, and outputs are produced as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Maintain an awareness of internal processes and procedures and contribute to fulfilling these.
Assist in the development and implementation of content management standards and governance practices and be a mentor and champion for writing standards across the organisation.

Action oriented

Takes responsibility for own work.
Self-starter.
Seeks input if required, but ensures relevant expert advice is incorporated in review processes.
Well organised, plans systematically, regularly monitors and reports on progress towards achievement of plans and strategies.
Recognises and acts on opportunities, and responds to challenges requiring quick action.

Wellbeing, health & safety

Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
Ensures own and others safety at all times.
Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Technical Writer position reports into the Manager, Business Systems Capability within the Enablement branch. The branch sits within the INZ group.

More information about MBIE’s structure

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Ngā matatau – Our competencies

Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.

Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.

Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.

Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.

Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.

Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission