Department: User Information
Reports to: Documentation Manager
Location: Newbury, UK
Career Development at Micro Focus
What sort of job interests you? Do you want to be part of an exciting and rewarding workplace? Have you considered a role in an international software company? If not, and you have the character and skills to succeed in an innovative technology company, then you should look at Micro Focus.
Micro Focus International plc (www.microfocus.com) sells software products in 29 countries, serving more than 70 businesses in the Fortune Global 100. The company is the world leader in modernising and testing organisations’ core IT systems. 15,000 companies and government organisations rely on Micro Focus to ensure that the technology applications at the heart of their day to day operations run effectively and efficiently.
Micro Focus benefits from 35 years of experience and serves one million licensed users. The company is a listed public UK company and part of the FTSE 250 index, generating revenues of US$436.1 million in the year to 30 April 2011, and generating profits (adjusted EBITDA) of US$158.7 million. It employs over 1,200 people worldwide, with principal offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, France, Australia and Japan.
Micro Focus has grown significantly over the past five years. Since 2006 the company has trebled its revenues, through a strategy of delivering organic revenue growth, supplemented by shrewd acquisitions in complementary technologies. Seven acquisitions have enabled Micro Focus to consolidate its leadership position in COBOL Development and Application Modernisation, and to enter the expanding Application Testing market. The company is fully focused on its vision to be at the heart of the world’s business applications. Micro Focus is a Top 10 European software company with a global presence.
Role Description
The User Information team creates documentation for software tools used by business computer programmers and analysts. These software tools enable our customers to develop and maintain complex business applications for Windows, UNIX and mainframe environments, and to migrate and modernize existing applications to modern Windows and UNIX platforms. Authors also create documentation for other key Micro Focus software solutions.
Authors create documentation in DITA XML, which we author using XMetaL, and manage and publish using a Content Management System (CMS). Authors deliver documentation in various formats including Eclipse Help, CHM, MSHC, HTML, and PDF.
We have a vacancy for a Senior Technical Author in the head office team in Newbury. To be considered for this vacancy, you must have a strong technical writing background and understand complex concepts in business software development, maintenance, data management, and deployment. You must be able to present complex concepts clearly and concisely.
Key Responsibilities
Using DITA XML and XMetaL, you will be writing new documentation and maintaining existing documentation, context-sensitive help, and web-based documentation.
Ideally, you will have experience with a programming language. You will be able to contribute to the design of our software with particular emphasis on usability, and to discuss technical detail with developers based both locally and abroad.
Skills / Requirements
- Proven experience in writing end-user documentation for programmers/analysts or similar technical audiences
- Technically minded with strong programming experience/knowledge
- Experience of Agile (Scrum) methodology
- Considerable authoring experience in DITA XML using XMetaL
- Publishing experience using CMS tools
- Authoring of other technical content such as knowledgebase articles, and Web community articles
Personal Skills
- Enthusiastic, motivated self-starter
- Quick learner and self-managing
- Excellent communicator, in writing, on the phone and face to face
- Willing to take responsibility
- Innovative and flexible
- Organised, methodical, and industrious
- Passionate about quality documentation
- Professional and diplomatic
- Able to work individually and as part of a team
To Apply
Micro Focus is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination because of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.
We offer a competitive compensation package and an extensive arrange of benefits that become effective immediately upon hire. To apply, please email your CV to irene.tichy@microfocus.com