Senior Technical Writer

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

SUMMARY

Writes, edits and coordinates production of highly technical medical material. Retrieves data from databases and other internal and external data and information sources for use in reports. Writes academic and research-oriented articles and publications. Coordinates production, graphics and photos. Assists with posting, editing and proofreading. Mentors staff.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Manuscripts/Publications Prepares manuscripts including all figures and diagrams from existing data. Makes charts, tables, and graphs from numeric data. Designs diagrams to conceptualize ideas and assembles panels into figures. Assisting with graphic file conversion or reformatting to meet submission requirements, including accurate and scientifically appropriate adjustments in size and resolution. Ensures posters, figures, and slides are neat, legible, aesthetically pleasing, and correct. Able to work with Excel, PowerPoint and data collections to produce final graph images, diagrams and tables for publication. Contact journal editors to clarify manuscript standards as needed prior to submission.

Grant Proposal Preparation Independently compose and manage multiple projects concurrently and through excellent communication skills deliver high quality technical publications for both internal and external use. Prepare multidisciplinary and multi-collaborator grant and contract proposals for submission to a wide range of funding agencies, organizations, industries and foundations. Generate "letters of Intent" (LOIs), research proposals, and supporting documents for NCI, DoD and other non-profit and profit organization awards. Writes and edits supporting documents for grant submissions, including biosketches, letters of support, and institutional documents. Analyze and draft responses to reviewer critiques received on grant proposals. Performs the necessary research to fill information gaps in these documents. Perform searches and finding information on the internet and in databases such as PubMed (literature searches). Ability to understand and apply the scientific method, and to work within administrative guidelines, is essential. Work both independently and as part of a team, and should be flexible and eager to learn new skills as needed.

Writing, Editing and Proofreading Assist with highly technical writing. Assist PIs to write and edit scientific manuscripts for publication. Edits and proofreads posters, abstracts, presentations, grant proposals, protocols and manuscripts for accurate spelling and grammar. Ensures that language is clear and logical arguments flow smoothly. Maximizes the scientific impact of written work. Work both independently and as part of a team, and should be flexible and eager to learn new skills as needed. This includes drafting scientific reports for the faculty supervisor based on clinical and/or laboratory results. Ability to compose scientific summaries and reviews and proven ability in writing and submission process for scientific grants and journal manuscripts. Participates in the planning and production of grant applications and scientific reports of all types. Coordinates with other research and administrative staff to meet submission deadlines.

Other duties as assigned

COMPETENCIES


Service Orientation
Provide service to our stakeholders, including patients, caregivers, colleagues and each other, in a safe, courteous, accountable, efficient and innovative manner to include:

• Promoting inclusiveness and collegiality that demonstrates respect and professionalism to our stakeholders at all times
• Modeling safe, ethical behavior that mitigates risk to the institution through sound business practices, and adherence to MD Anderson's Standards of Conduct, institutional policies and procedures
• Responding to requests in a timely manner while proactively communicating expectations for procedures, service arrival, or project deliverables to stakeholders
• Using the steps to HEAL (Hear, Empathize, Address and Learn) the relationship when service recovery is needed

Customer Focus
Builds and maintains customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the organization through skills demonstrated in communication, personalization of interaction, regulation of emotions, and proactive problem solving.

Performance Statement Examples

• Presents a cheerful, positive manner with customers either on the phone or in person. Shows interest in, actively listens to and responds in a clear and timely manner to customer's expressed needs.
• Focuses on the customer's results, rather than own. Goes beyond basic service expectations to help customers implement complete solutions through personalized service that anticipates the customer's unspoken needs.
• Delivers services when and where the customer needs them. Explores options when unable to deliver a requested product or service, and pursues solutions until the customer is satisfied by addressing the root cause of the issue. Problem solves with patient, family member, care giver or clinical team to aid in proactively resolving issues and concerns.
• Provides to customers status reports and progress updates. Seeks customer feedback and ensures needs have been fully met.
• Talks to customers (internal and external) with a pleasant tone to find out what they need and how satisfied they are with the service. Remains in control of own reactions and responds in a manner that demonstrates appropriate nonverbal cues and complements the customer's emotions in the situation. Recognizes when its is necessary to escalate situations to leadership to ensure customer satisfaction.

Bachelor's degree in a related field. Four years experience in communications, writing and editing technical/scientific material in a medical, academic or research setting. With preferred degree, two years of required experience. It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information

• Requisition ID: 154919
• Employment Status: Full-Time
• Employee Status: Regular
• Work Week: Days
• Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 62,500
• Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 78,000
• Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 93,500
• FLSA: exempt and not eligible for overtime pay
• Fund Type: Soft
• Work Location: Remote (within Texas only)
• Pivotal Position: Yes
• Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
• Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes
• Science Jobs: Yes

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