Technical Documentation Manager

VanRath Search & Selection; Lisburn; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leadership responsibility

Global documentation function

Career progression

Job summary

VanRath is seeking a Technical Documentation Manager in Lisburn to lead a growing team and own the global documentation strategy. You will oversee production and maintenance of customer-facing manuals, service instructions and product information, while driving best practices and digital delivery across the organisation.

Working with Engineering, Product Management, Regulatory and IT, you will modernise content creation, translation and document control, delivering high quality information to

Qualifications

• 7+ years in technical documentation or product information management.
• 3+ years in leadership or team management.
• Experience with complex mechanical or electromechanical products.
• Familiar with CMS, structured authoring or XML/DITA.
• Experience with illustration tools or CAD-based graphics.
• Knowledge of spare parts documentation and cataloguing.
• Experience working across international teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop a team of 4 technical documentation professionals.
• Define and implement a global technical documentation strategy aligned with business and brand standards.
• Oversee the creation, maintenance and translation of technical publications and product documentation.
• Drive the transition from traditional printed documentation towards digital, online and interactive platforms.
• Work closely with R&D, Product Management, Regulatory and IT teams to ensure documentation is accurate, accessible and compliant.
• Introduce and develop structured authoring, content management and reusable content processes.
• Ensure the documentation team effectively supports New Product Development and sustaining engineering activities.
• Develop KPIs and continuous improvement plans to improve efficiency, quality and customer experience.
• Manage external suppliers and translation partners where required.
• Establish robust document control processes across product lines and markets.
• Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development within the team.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Project management

Communication

Cross-functional

Regulatory awareness

Education

Degree in Technical Communication, Engineering or related

Tools

CMS

XML/DITA

Job description

Technical Documentation Manager (KYTDM1108) Lisburn, Northern Ireland

Salary: GBP50000 - GBP55000 per annum

Technical Documentation Manager

Location: Lisburn

Salary: £50,000 - £55,000

Job Type: Full-Time | Permanent

Lead a Growing Technical Documentation Function

VANRATH are delighted to be recruiting for a Technical Documentation Manager to join an established engineering and manufacturing business in Lisburn.

This is a newly focused leadership opportunity within a growing technical function, offering the successful candidate the chance to take ownership of the company's global technical documentation strategy and lead a team of 4 technical documentation professionals.

You’ll play a key role in developing and modernising the way technical information is created, managed and delivered to customers, working closely with Engineering, Product Management, Regulatory and IT teams across the wider business.

The Role

As Technical Documentation Manager, you'll lead the team responsible for producing and maintaining customer-facing and service-related technical content, including owner's manuals, spare parts catalogues, service instructions and wider product documentation.

You’ll be responsible for establishing best practice across the function while driving the transition towards modern digital and online documentation platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop a team of 4 technical documentation professionals.
• Define and implement a global technical documentation strategy aligned with business and brand standards.
• Oversee the creation, maintenance and translation of technical publications and product documentation.
• Drive the transition from traditional printed documentation towards digital, online and interactive platforms.
• Work closely with R&D, Product Management, Regulatory and IT teams to ensure documentation is accurate, accessible and compliant.
• Introduce and develop structured authoring, content management and reusable content processes.
• Ensure the documentation team effectively supports New Product Development and sustaining engineering activities.
• Develop KPIs and continuous improvement plans to improve efficiency, quality and customer experience.
• Manage external suppliers and translation partners where required.
• Establish robust document control processes across product lines and markets.
• Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development within the team.

About You

We're looking for an experienced technical documentation professional with the leadership capability to develop a growing function and influence change across a wider engineering organisation.

You’ll ideally have:

• A degree in Technical Communication, Engineering or a related discipline.
• 7+ years' experience within technical documentation, technical communication or product information management.
• At least 3 years' experience in a leadership, management or team lead position.
• Experience producing or managing documentation for complex mechanical or electromechanical products.
• Strong understanding of technical documentation standards and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with Content Management Systems (CMS), structured authoring or XML/DITA-based approaches.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and implementing change.
• Experience with illustration tools or CAD-based graphics.
• Knowledge of spare parts documentation and cataloguing.
• Experience working across international or global engineering teams.
• Additional language skills.

What's on Offer?

• Leadership responsibility for a team of 4
• Opportunity to shape and develop a global technical documentation function
• Exposure to engineering, R&D, product development and regulatory teams
• Opportunity to modernise documentation processes and digital delivery
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Permanent position within an established and growing engineering business