Technical Documentation Manager

Our client are a global manufacturing business with multiple locations in the UK due to a need to expand their documentation team they would like to take on a Global Documentation Manager 

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Global Manager, Technical Documentation will lead a growing global team responsible for developing, maintaining, and continuously improving all customer-facing and service-related technical content — including owner’s manuals, spare parts catalogs, service documentation, and other product literature.

This role will be accountable for defining and executing a multi-channel documentation strategy that enhances user experience, supports regulatory compliance, and enables scalability across print, digital, and online delivery platforms.

The ideal candidate combines strong leadership and organizational skills with a deep understanding of technical communication, content management, and digital publishing within a global engineering and manufacturing environment.

PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead and develop a team of 3–4 (and growing) technical documentation professionals across global locations (2 currently located in Brierley Hill, UK).

Define and implement the global technical documentation strategy, aligning with corporate standards and brand guidelines.

Oversee creation, translation, and maintenance of owner’s manuals, spare parts catalogs, service instructions, and other technical publications.

Champion the evolution from traditional print documentation to modern, multi-channel delivery models (e.g., online, digital PDF, interactive web-based tools).

Partner with R&D, Product Management, Regulatory, and IT to ensure documentation accuracy, compliance, and accessibility.

Drive adoption of structured authoring tools, content management systems (CMS), and reusable content approaches.

Ensure that the team is effectively engaged in supporting NPD and sustaining engineering efforts across ALL segments 

Develop and monitor documentation KPIs and continuous improvement plans to enhance efficiency, quality, and customer experience.

Manage external vendors and translation partners as needed.

Establish and maintain document control processes to ensure consistency and compliance across all product lines and geographies.

Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth within the global documentation team

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE:  

Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication, Engineering, or a related field 

Experience in technical documentation, technical communication, or product information management roles.

3+ years in leadership, management, or team lead capacity.

Experience managing or authoring content for complex mechanical or electromechanical products.

Strong understanding of documentation standards, regulatory requirements, and best practices for global markets.

Proven experience with content management systems (CMS), structured authoring (e.g., DITA or XML-based approaches), and digital publishing platforms.

Familiarity with illustration tools, CAD-based graphics, and spare parts documentation processes preferred.

Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and driving change across global teams.

Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.

Fluent in English (written and verbal); proficiency in additional languages is a plus.

COMPETENCIES: 

Technical Expertise – Depth of knowledge and skill in a technical area.

Fostering Innovation – Demonstrating support for innovation and for organizational changes needed to improve the organizations effectiveness. 

Results Orientation – Focusing on the desired end result of one’s own or one’s unit’s work; setting challenging goals, focusing effort on the goals, and meeting or exceeding them.

Establishing Focus – Developing and communicating goals in support of the business’s mission. 

Managing Performance – Taking responsibility for one’s own or one’s employees’ performance, by setting clear goals and expectations. 

Customer Orientation – Demonstrated concern for satisfying one’s external and/or internal customers.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Category Flexibility – The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. 

Deductive Reasoning – The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. 

Inductive Reasoning – The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions. 

Mathematical Reasoning – The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem. 

Oral Comprehension – The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. 

Oral Expression – The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. 

Speech Clarity – The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. 

Information Ordering – The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules. 

Selective Attention – The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. 

Visualization – The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. 

Written Comprehension – The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. 

Written Expression – The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. 

Attendance - Regular attendance is required. 

Overtime - Must be able to work overtime, as required.