Sample Job Description: Content Strategist
To successfully design and implement an information architecture and its supporting technology, your team needs resources to perform some key roles. Role is not a synonym of person - it is a function assumed by a person in a particular situation. One person may perform more than one role and any given role may be performed by one or more people - it really depends upon the skills of the individual(s), scope of the project, and availability of the resources.
These are the key roles you need to have for a successful DITA implementation:
The following role descriptions are general descriptions. Your team may have more specific descriptions that can be used or adapted for your project.
Content Strategist
The Content Strategist plays a crucial role in connecting business goals with various teams, including content creators, support, engineering, and marketing. The primary responsibility of the Content Strategist is to develop and execute initiatives for effectively communicating with both internal and external stakeholders. This role requires a strong understanding of technical concepts, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
The Content Strategist advocates for content, championing it as a valuable business asset throughout the organization, including with leadership teams and senior executives. Their strategies provide guidance and insights to team members such as information architects, user experience designers, product designers, content creators, accessibility experts, content operations, and others.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Developing and implementing content strategies that align with business goals and effectively convey technical information to diverse audiences
Collaborating with content development, support, engineering, and marketing teams to identify content needs and ensure consistency in messaging across different platforms
Conducting research and analysis to identify content gaps, opportunities, and emerging trends in the industry
Translating complex information into clear and actionable content for different channels, target audiences, and multiple stages of the customer journey
Establishing and maintaining content standards, guidelines, and best practices to ensure high-quality and consistent content creation
Overseeing the creation, editing, and publishing processes for content to ensure accuracy, clarity, and relevance
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and optimize content management and delivery IAs, ensuring intuitive navigation, effective search capabilities, and seamless user experiences
Monitoring and analyzing content performance metrics
Providing recommendations for optimization based on data-driven insights
Collaborating with marketing teams to integrate technical content into marketing campaigns and initiatives
Staying updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in content creation
Providing guidance and support to cross-functional teams to ensure the content meets technical and business requirements
Establishing and maintaining content governance practices, including content standards, guidelines, and processes, to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across all technical content
Qualifications and Skills
The skills necessary to successfully perform this role include, but are not limited to the following:
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., technical writing, communications, computer science) or equivalent work experience
Proven experience as a Content Strategist, Technical Writer, or similar role with a focus on technical content
Strong understanding of technical concepts
Ability to translate complex information into clear and concise content
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to adapt content for different audiences
Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including technical writing, support, engineering, and marketing
Familiarity with content management systems
Familiarity with tools for content creation and publishing
Knowledge of SEO principles
Knowledge of best practices for optimizing technical content
Strong analytical skills to track content performance and make data-driven recommendations
Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational and project management skills
Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Passion for staying up to date on emerging technologies and industry trends
Strong business acumen
Ability to align content strategies with overall business goals
Familiarize yourself with other roles in our DITA Implementation Team series.
If you want to learn more about hiring or training for your DITA implementation, consider booking a coaching package with Amber Swope.
