Pathfinder is driven by the conviction that all people, regardless of where they live, have the right to decide whether and when to have children, to exist free from fear and stigma, and to lead the lives they choose. Since 1957, we have partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems to remove barriers to critical sexual and reproductive health services. Together, we expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and stop the spread of new HIV infections, wherever the need is most urgent. Our work ensures millions of women, men, and young people are able to choose their own paths forward. Change lives with us.

Summary of Role:  

The Senior Technical Writer leads the process of writing technical materials that analyze, articulate, and support business development, as well as organizational learning and dissemination of Pathfinder’s implementation experience, technical strategies, and impact. They will contribute as a leader in the organization by identifying and responding to strategic opportunities to enhance technical visibility and provide writing support to proposals to a wide variety of donors. This position will primarily focus on support to Francophone countries, including conducting meetings in French and translating key documents, as needed.  However, given the global nature of the role, this role will support across Pathfinder’s portfolio of countries, as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical publication development: 

• In partnership with relevant content owners, develops, writes, edits, coordinates, and disseminates technical publications, including technical briefs, learning briefs, case studies, and peer-reviewed journal articles. These documents aim to share programmatic experiences and evidence, formulate implementation lessons and recommendations, support business development, and position Pathfinder as a thought leader in SRHR.
• Works closely with the team to support the dissemination of technical publications.

Proposal writing:

• Collaborates with the Business Development and Country teams to develop and write sound technical responses to donor requests for proposals/applications.
• Develops, writes, and edits Pathfinder proposals, demonstrating Pathfinder voice and style and technical familiarity with Pathfinder strategies and approaches.

• Contributes to other proposal-related needs, including editing and writing capability statements and biographical statements for personnel.

Technical Visibility:

• Work with project teams and country leadership to review project achievements and learnings and identify opportunities for technical visibility.
• Develop positioning strategies, plans, and materials for Pathfinder engagement in major conferences.
• Collaborate with the business development team and country team to identify priority countries for technical briefs that support Pathfinder’s business pursuit initiatives.
• Provide support to country teams in identifying opportunities to disseminate project learning materials, including legacy documents, high-priority final reports, technical briefs, abstracts, posters, and presentations that comprehensively describe Pathfinder’s work, achievements, and lessons learned.

Project management:

• Strategically manages technical writing requests and assignments from across the organization, working with project team members, subject matter experts, designers, translators, the communications team, and others, to conceptualize, develop, publish, and disseminate technical publications efficiently and effectively.

Capacity strengthening:

• Strengthens internal writing capacity through both formal training and informal mentorship in technical writing.
• Develops and leads an in-house training program for staff on technical writing.
• Reviews, updates, and develops new internal technical writing guidance, tools, and templates, including the Pathfinder Style Guide.

Requirements

Required Education and Work Experience:

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, social sciences or a related field, or a combination of education and experience that yields the required competencies.
• 10 years’ experience as a writer/editor, with record of writing successful USAID, private foundation, and other donor-funded proposals/applications.
• Technical Writing: Advanced knowledge and application of technical writing principles and practices
• Dissemination and Visibility: Advanced knowledge and skills in developing project dissemination strategies, including leveraging project dissemination opportunities for donor positioning.
• Languages: Proven writing and speaking using English and French languages

Preferred Competence and Work Experience:

• Experience in graphic design and desktop publishing
• Experience in managing staff.
• Experience in mentoring staff and capacity strengthening.
• PC Applications: Mastery of skills using publication software.

Other Information: 

Technology to be Used:

• Uses cellular and office phone, laptop, or desktop computer.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel required (10% or less)