hero

Hiring partners are below, but we're here to help!

First, submit your resume to us directly so we can help make personal intros. We'll be able to vouch for your candidacy and can encourage partners to review your profile! From there, share this with any mission-driven job-seekers in your network; we'd be glad to support them, too.
companies
Jobs

Technical Writer - 1099/Contract

Friends from the City

Friends from the City

Marketing & Communications, IT
Chicago, IL, USA
USD 75-75 / hour
Posted on Jul 2, 2025

Job Title: Technical Writer
Contract Type: 1099
Rate: $75/hour
Estimated Hours: 75–80 hours total
Start Date: July 15, 2025 - August 25, 2025
Remote: Yes

About Us

We are Friends From The City, a design and technology company focused on public impact and equity. We believe that inclusive design and accessible technology are essential to a just society. Every person we hire brings a distinct perspective, and we celebrate that.

Our mission is to make digital interactions with the government simple, intuitive, and accessible. That means removing barriers like confusing user flows, inaccessible content, or language limitations that prevent people from getting what they need.

We use human-centered design, thoughtful research, and well-crafted, reliable code to build digital products that work for everyone.


About the Role

Government websites are often the front door to essential services. Whether you're booking a campsite, renewing a license, or learning about historic landmarks, the experience should be clear and easy to navigate. But too often, those systems are confusing or outdated.

We’re partnering with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on a website redesign and content migration project. As a Technical Writer (1099 Contractor), you'll help make that transition successful by turning research, tools, and internal knowledge into clear, accessible documentation and training materials.

You'll work closely with designers, developers, and project leads to create handoff guides, staff training resources, and support documentation that will help agency teams maintain and evolve the new Drupal-based site. If you're skilled at turning complexity into clarity, and you care about public service, we’d love to work with you.

What you'll achieve:
You’ll help ensure the NYS Parks website redesign and content migration ends with a strong, well-supported handoff. Your work will equip public servants with the tools, training, and documentation they need to manage and maintain their new Drupal-based site confidently.

In this role, your responsibilities may include:

  • Translate technical processes and project knowledge into clear, accessible documentation
  • Develop training materials to support state staff in managing and updating Drupal content
  • Create handoff guides that help operational teams maintain continuity post-launch
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teammates to identify documentation gaps
  • Support live or asynchronous training sessions and gather feedback for improvements

Skills You’ll Need to Bring:
This role is equal parts writing, organizing, and problem-solving. You’ll need to be comfortable turning messy information into structured, helpful content, and working with others to get it right. You don’t need to be a developer, but you should feel confident navigating technical details and asking smart questions.

We’re looking for someone with:

  • Experience writing technical or operational documentation for digital tools or websites
  • Ability to structure and present information clearly for non-technical users
  • Strong collaboration and communication skills, especially with cross-functional teams
  • Attention to detail and an eye for organizing content that supports long-term usability
  • Comfortable working independently, with accountability to milestones and deadlines


Nice To Haves:
While not required, these experiences could make you an even stronger fit for the work ahead:

  • Familiarity with Drupal or other content management systems
  • Experience preparing and delivering training materials
  • Knowledge of content strategy, UX writing, or civic tech practices
  • Background working with government or public sector clients
  • Ability to create simple visuals, diagrams, or process maps to support understanding

Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in any discipline or equivalent experience. 5-7 years of relevant experience preferred.

Our Hiring Process

  1. Phone Interview
  2. Technical Interview
  3. Final Interview
  4. Offer