Defence Technical Publication Specialist

Morson Talent; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace staffing agency is seeking a Chinook Technical Publications Specialist to oversee a publications team ensuring quality outputs for military documentation. The role requires leadership in developing support requirements, managing stakeholder engagement, and implementing innovative solutions. Ideal candidates have experience in the aerospace sector, particularly with military aircraft, and are recognized as experts in technical publications. This position offers a hybrid working model, with three days in-office and two days working from home.

Qualifications

• Several years leading technical publications or documentation teams.
• Experience with military aircraft documentation is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with aerospace documentation standards like MIL-SPEC.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Publications team to ensure quality updates.
• Establish support requirements and monitor technical execution.
• Develop innovative solutions to complex problems.

Skills

Leadership & Team Management

Customer Engagement & Communication

Project & Program Management

Technical Publications Expertise

Attention to Detail & Quality Assurance

Standards Development & Process Improvement

Problem Solving & Innovation

Subject Matter Expertise

Change & Configuration Management

Digital Tools & Data Management

Job description

Morson Talent is currently seeking a Chinook Technical Publications Specialist to work on behalf of our aerospace client. This position will be based in Gosport, on a hybrid working pattern.

Our client is responsible for delivering several exciting contracts to our UK defence customers, including new capabilities such as the E-7 AEW&C and the P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Autonomous Systems, C4ISR Services, Support for the Chinook & Apache Fleets, Logistic Information Services, and Training Services, and is very much in a growth phase.

Our client’s engineering function operates a matrix organisation consisting of engineering departments that deliver technical skills, expertise, and products into our programmes.

Technical Areas

• Reliability Centred Maintenance Analysis
• Reliability and Maintainability
• Logistic Support Analysis
• Engineering Data Exploitation
• Obsolescence Management
• Technical Publications
• Product Support Engineering

The successful candidate will be required to lead in establishing support requirements, costs, technical objectives, definitions, statement of work break‑down, reports, master schedule, program implementation, and integration plans. They will lead in creating estimates for proposal activities and research and development efforts, monitor process development and coordination of activities, ensure technical data and procedures are documented and current, create and lead presentations, status reviews, and monitor execution of support programs, and review program and engineering change proposals to assess product support impact.

The candidate will regularly contribute to the development of new job practices, techniques, and standards, be recognised as a subject matter expert within the department/organisation, develop solutions to complex problems requiring ingenuity and innovation, ensure solutions are consistent with organisational objectives, and serve as a subject‑matter expert to management and external spokesperson for major matters pertaining to policies, plans, and objectives.

The job role will encompass leading the Publications team and supporting them on the day‑to‑day execution of the CH‑47 Chinook publication deliverables to meet the contract requirements. The successful candidate will lead the CH‑47 Chinook publications team to ensure First Time Quality is applied to all publication updates and that they comply with quality management system requirements. This post will require interface between the customer and key stakeholders; therefore, good communication skills are essential.

Key Skills

• Leadership & Team Management: Proven ability to lead and mentor a technical publications team, driving high performance and ensuring delivery of quality outputs.
• Customer Engagement & Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate with the MoD and other stakeholders, managing expectations and pushing back when necessary.
• Project & Program Management: Expertise in developing support requirements, cost estimates, master schedules, and program implementation plans; skilled in monitoring progress, managing risks, and ensuring contract compliance.
• Technical Publications Expertise: Deep knowledge of technical documentation processes, standards, and quality management systems, including document configuration, version control, and archival.
• Attention to Detail & Quality Assurance: Ability to review and edit technical publications for grammar, format, style, clarity, and technical accuracy, ensuring First Time Quality.
• Standards Development & Process Improvement: Experience contributing to the development of new job practices, documentation standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Problem Solving & Innovation: Capacity to develop innovative solutions to complex problems, balancing technical accuracy with organisational objectives.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Recognised authority in technical publications, able to serve as a spokesperson and advisor on policies, plans, and objectives.
• Change & Configuration Management: Skilled in managing engineering change proposals and assessing their impact on product support and documentation.
• Digital Tools & Data Management: Familiarity with digital publishing tools, data management systems, and cloud‑based delivery platforms is advantageous.

Ideal Experience

• Technical Publications Leadership: Several years leading technical publications or documentation teams, preferably within aerospace or defence sectors.
• Aerospace/Defence Industry Knowledge: Experience with military aircraft documentation.
• Standards & Compliance: Hands‑on experience with aerospace documentation standards (e.g., MIL‑SPEC, S1000D) and quality management systems.
• Customer‑Facing Roles: Proven track record working directly with government or defence customers, managing contractual deliverables and customer relationships.
• Project & Program Management: Experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, schedules, and budgets with both the provision of Aircraft Maintenance Manuals and Component Maintenance Manuals.

Minimum 6 month contract. Hybrid of 3 days office, 2 days home working.

If you have the required experience for this position, please apply today or contact Lisa Nardiello on 01935 713323 for further information.