State of Maryland

SKILLED SERVICE         BARGAINING UNIT:  G

The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) Technical Writer I is the intermediate level of work supporting the State’s procurement process through the review and analysis of IT solicitations for compliance against state IT policy and standards. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees in this class receive moderatel supervision from a higher-level manager or an executive.

Position placement in this classification is determined by the Classification Job Evaluation Methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a classification specification.

The DoIT Technical Writer I is differentiated from The DoIT Technical Writer II on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The DoIT Technical Writer I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed, and the DoIT Technical Writer II performs the full range of duties under general supervision.

Researches, develops, writes, and edits IT specifications, IT user documents and, IT technical manuals;

Recommends the clearest and most logical way to present technical information for greatest reader comprehension;

Collaborates with DoIT subject-matter experts to document technical specifications needed for the development or update of IT policies and procedures;

Recommends the type of IT publication that will best serve the project requirements;

Assesses the needs of the audience for whom the technical and procedural documentation is intended;

Organizes and creates technical documents from notes, meeting minutes, and whiteboarding sessions;

Coordinates with other agencies on planning documents and proposals;

Reviews procurement solicitations as per the DoIT/State of Maryland Guidelines;

Develops DoIT assigned solicitations, from ideation to completion;

Drafts responses to questions and amendments to solicitations;

Facilitates working sessions with other agencies to identify, document, refine, and enhance technical specifications and scope as part of an IT solicitation;

Provides guidance and recommendations to agencies on how to best present a technical scope intended for an IT solicitation;

Provides guidance and recommendations to agencies on how to utilize state procurement templates and processes in collaboration with the state’s procurement authority;

Leads collaboration efforts with departmental program representatives in development, writing, and editing of solicitation documents, IT specifications, scope of work activities, etc.;

Independently plans, develops, and conducts complex activities consistent with policy and procedures of the department, regulations and procurement law, and tracks the development of technical material from the initial draft to final approval and publication;

Documents IT requirements on behalf of an agency as required and directed by a manager;

Reviews and assesses IT project artifacts for quality of work, adequacy, and compliance with System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) standards;

Represents the department in a liaison capacity with managers and officials of other agencies concerning IT related solicitations, documents and manuals;

Performs other related duties. 

Knowledge of IT technical terminology;

Knowledge of various templates for documentation purposes;

Skill in effectively communicating technical details to non-technical staff;

Ability to understand the laws and policies that govern MD State procurements and solicitations, the Information Technology Master Plan, and the State of MD Security Policies as governed by DoIT;

Ability to understand agency IT solicitation technical requirements and document them in a clear, concise manner;

Ability to review documentation for compliance against state IT standards and policy;

Ability to effectively analyze agency technical objectives and determine the best approach for presentation as part of an IT solicitation with the objective of facilitating a successful, competitive procurement.

Experience: Six years of experience in writing, reviewing, and editing IT related documents in support of a procurement or solicitation process.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for up to four years of the required experience.

1. Experience in writing, reviewing, and editing IT related documents and manuals, which include effectively communicating technical details to non-technical staff, may be substituted on a year for year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in logistics specialist classifications or administrative support specialty codes in the financial management field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. 

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by
various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

July 1, 2021

Director, Division of Classification and Salary