Technical Writer III

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.  

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure

Functional Title: Technical Writer III 
Job Title: Technical Writer III 
Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc 
Department: OFFICE OF STRATEGIC OPERATIONS 
Posting Number: 11871 
Closing Date: 02/03/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Protective Services 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $8,304.83 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework:  
Travel:  
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 4900 N LAMAR BLVD 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 4502,4503,4505,4511,4591,165X,35PX,3N0X6,46A,46S,46Z,INF,MC,PA 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

Performs advanced (senior-level) technical writing work involving composing, organizing, and editing compiled information. Works under limited supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):     

Prepare and refine technical material for speeches and public presentations.

• Assists in writing briefing notes and speech content for the Commissioner and senior leaders using input from program staff, policy experts, and the government relations team.
• Turns complex reports into easy-to-understand visuals and summaries, tailored to the audience and communication format.

Review and evaluate materials for consistency with quality standards and documentation policies and procedures.

• Reviews drafts before publication to confirm they follow the agency’s style guide, accessibility rules, and plain language standards. Flags issues and coordinates fixes to avoid publishing unclear or inaccessible content.
• Tracks common issues with branding, style, or accessibility. Summarizes findings in quarterly reports and suggests training or template updates to reduce errors and improve first drafts.

Provide training and guidance to agency staff on best practices for technical writing, including translating complex concepts into easily understandable content.

• Leads short workshops and micro-learning sessions on plain language, data visuals, and document versioning. Creates and shares job aids, templates, and annotated samples with quick tips and example language.
• Guides authors through drafts, suggests clear revisions and model wording, and makes sure final documents follow policy and accessibility standards. Provides one-on-one coaching to help staff get faster approvals and reduce revisions.

Manage the documentation lifecycle, including the creation, version control, and delivery of documentation.

• Sets and enforces rules for naming, version control, retention, and access in a document system. Trains staff and checks compliance to avoid lost drafts or unauthorized changes.
• Assists the DFPS Communications Office with the development and documentation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring consistency and continuity across SOPs.

Develop, prepare, and disseminate policies and procedures for written documents.

• Keeps the agency’s writing style guide up to date as the single source for consistent, compliant documents.
• Works with subject matter experts and content creators to deliver training on the style guide, plain language, and person-first language.
• Assists the DFPS Communications Office with the drafting and sending of policy-related broadcast emails to internal and external audiences using a modern email design client.

Consult with staff in the development of formats, graphics, and publication layouts.

• Works with the DFPS Communications digital media team to build templates and style guides for reports and presentations. Includes notes on colors, fonts, and chart styles to ensure consistency and accessibility.
• Works with DFPS Communications staff to design the agency’s monthly newsletter. Uses publishing software to combine written content, images, and graphics into cohesive stories. Ensures the layout and visual style are clear, consistent, and visually appealing.

Research and evaluate new documentation tools and methods.

• Runs pilot projects with subject matter experts to test new writing and publishing tools. Coordinates with information technology and information security teams, and measures how much faster content gets published to recommend tools that improve speed and reduce mistakes. 

Review edited materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, and content.

• Conducts final editorial reviews and produces annotated drafts that recommend scope or format changes to improve clarity.

Plan and schedule documentation delivery.

• Builds production timelines and checklists for major deliverables. Coordinates reviews, legal approvals, executive approvals, and publishing dates to meet deadlines.
• Keeps a central project calendar and shares updates when timelines change. Includes backup plans for delays so teams can adjust priorities.

Composes, reviews, and edits technical documents, materials, and reports, including training or user manuals, how-to guides, policy and procedure documentation, and other technical documentation. Add job duties  

• Drafts and finalizes high-visibility DFPS reports that meet deadlines and support statutory compliance and consistent DFPS messaging.
• Works with subject matter experts to improve the readability of website content, following web design and plain language best practices. Reviews, copy edits, and rewrites complex content for the public-facing website, ensuring content is written at an appropriate level, is concise, meets style standards, and modern website best practices.
• Reviews, copy edits, and rewrites internal newsletter articles to ensure content follows the DFPS Writing Style Guide, is error-free, and is concise.

Researches, develops, and disseminates information on techniques for organizing and presenting information for clarity and accessibility.

• Studies best practices for plain language and accessibility. Tests readability and layout using tools and subject matter expert feedback, and shares tips and guidelines across the agency to improve understanding and reduce confusion. 

Arranges for the duplication and distribution of documents, publications, and reports.

• Uploads approved documents and metadata to DFPS websites. Works with the DFPS Communications web team to confirm alternative text and tagging so public documents meet accessibility and records standards.

Consults with staff on the development of materials by gathering accurate information and translating technical content, including descriptions of concepts, process, and systems, into clear, user-friendly language.

• Works with subject matter experts to rewrites technical content using plain language so complex processes are easy to understand for frontline staff and external partners. 

Prepares responses to correspondence, reports, surveys, questionnaires, and other requests for information.

• Drafts responses to legislative, oversight, and public information requests that apply to the DFPS Communications Office.
• Serves as the legislative liaison for the DFPS Communications Office. Analyzes proposed legislation and assesses its communication impacts, risks, and recommended actions.

Reviews, analyzes, and summarizes documents.

• Compares source documents to spot missing items or conflicting details. Creates redline summaries and gap matrices to help subject matter experts fix issues quickly and ensure complete submissions.

Maintains records and files of work and revisions.

• Uses version-control standards to save drafts with clear filenames, logs reviewer comments, and stores final approvals with metadata to create an audit trail.
• Archives past reports with tags and retention dates to make them easy to find later, reduce repeated work, and preserve institutional knowledge.

Performs related work as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities (KSAs):             

Ability to maintain the security and integrity of the infrastructure per Governor Abbott Executive Order GA-48.

Knowledge of the techniques and methods of planning, organizing, and writing various types of materials; research methodology; and departmental policies, procedures, and regulations.

Skill in writing technical and business documents, and in the use of a computer and applicable software.

Ability to conduct research; to compose, review, illustrate, and edit technical documents, materials, and reports; and to communicate effectively.

Ability to edit in an html-based content management system such as Drupal, WordPress, or Dreamweaver

Ability to work in a modern email design client such as GovDelivery, MailChimp, Constant Contant, Emma, or similar system.

Skill in copy editing, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the use of writing style guides such as the Associated Press Style Guide.

Ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Ability to diplomatically edit the work of others, negotiating changes while maintaining strong, collaborative relationships. Ability to oversee and/or supervise the work of others.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:      

None 

Initial Screening Criteria:   

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in English, communications, journalism, technical writing, business administration, education, or a related field from an accredited institution.

Minimum of three years of full-time experience in technical writing, documentation, journalism, communications, or content development, with 5–7 years of experience preferred.

Experience may be substituted for education on a one-to-one basis.

Experience writing content for specialized and general audiences.

Experience using a writing style guide.

Experience editing the work of others.

Experience working in an html-based content management system and in a modern email design client.

Experience using Microsoft Office Suite products.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working in a government agency or health and human services environment.

Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., Section 508 compliance).

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files. 

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.