Senior Writer

Altotrain; Montreal; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Altotrain in Montreal seeks a writing and plain-language expert to ensure clarity and effectiveness of the organization’s communications. The role writes, adapts, and reviews content for internal and external audiences across high-speed rail projects.

The candidate translates complex information into clear language, maintains editorial quality, and supports brand standards in a bilingual environment, with strong French and English writing skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, professional writing, public relations or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in professional writing or communications.
• Excellent writing, content adaptation, and synthesis skills.
• Ability to translate complex concepts into clear, accessible language.
• Excellent command of written French and strong English writing skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Write and adapt strategic and operational documents for a variety of audiences.
• Develop clear, consistent content aligned with communications objectives.
• Translate technical, scientific, regulatory, or complex information into clear and accessible language.
• Draft key messages, Q&As, fact sheets, articles, presentations, speeches, news releases, and other materials.
• Adapt content to linguistic, cultural, and communications needs of target audiences.
• Ensure editorial quality of documents and compliance with style guides and brand guidelines.
• Recommend improvements to enhance clarity, consistency, and impact of communications.
• Develop and maintain reference tools such as writing guidelines, message banks, and templates.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Plain language

Bilingual

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications

Tools

MS Office

Collaboration tools

Job description

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The role

The person in this role plays a key role in ensuring the quality, clarity, and effectiveness of the organization’s communications. They are responsible for writing, adapting, and reviewing a wide range of content for both internal and external audiences.

As a writing and plain-language expert, they transform complex information into clear, consistent, and audience-appropriate messages for the various stakeholders involved in the high-speed rail project. They contribute to maintaining a high standard of editorial quality across the organization’s communications, documents, and reports.

They work closely with communications advisors and content specialists, project teams, and the Vice-President, Communications and Brand. They excel at developing clear, compelling content tailored to different audiences while supporting organizational objectives and protecting the organization’s reputation.

Excellent French writing skills are required. The successful candidate must also be comfortable working in a bilingual environment and working with source materials written in English.

The responsibilities

• Write and adapt strategic and operational documents for a variety of audiences.
• Develop clear, consistent content aligned with communications objectives.
• Translate technical, scientific, regulatory, or otherwise complex information into clear and accessible language across the organization’s written communications.
• Draft key messages, Q&As, fact sheets, articles, presentations, speeches, news releases, briefing notes, and other communications materials.
• Adapt content to the linguistic, cultural, and communications needs of target audiences.
• Ensure the editorial quality of documents produced by the organization.
• Ensure compliance with linguistic standards, the organization’s style guide, and brand guidelines.
• Recommend improvements to enhance the clarity, consistency, and impact of communications.
• Contribute to the development of reference materials requiring significant writing and editorial support.
• Develop and maintain reference tools such as writing guidelines, message banks, and templates.

The requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, professional writing, public relations, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of eight years of experience in professional writing or communications.
• Excellent writing, content adaptation, and synthesis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex concepts into clear, accessible language.
• Excellent command of written French and strong English writing skills.
• Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills.
• Initiative and autonomy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced and evolving environments.

Assets

• Experience communicating about complex, high-profile projects.
• Experience in infrastructure, transportation, or major projects.
• Knowledge of writing-assistance and terminology-management tools.