Technical Writer

Azooa is preparing a response for LH-06945 – 2 Technical Writer Content Designers and is seeking suitably qualified contractors for this opportunity with the Department of Defence / Australian Signals Directorate.

This is an APS6-equivalent ICT Labour Hire role suited to experienced technical writers, content designers and communications specialists with strong research, technical writing, content authoring, stakeholder engagement and publishing experience in secure or complex environments.

Overview

The Department of Defence is seeking 2 Technical Writer Content Designers to support content development and technical publication activities within an ASD environment.

Content Designers ensure that quality content is developed across teams and aligns with the strategic objectives of the organisation while meeting user needs.

The successful contractors will support technical publications across all phases of development, including:

• Research
• Scoping
• Consultation
• Review
• Publishing
• Stakeholder engagement
• Content promotion

Core Purpose

The core purpose of this role is to develop high-quality, technically accurate and user-focused content that supports ASD’s strategic messaging and stakeholder communication needs.

The role will involve producing content that is suitable for the intended audience and consistent with agency messaging across publications, web content, social media, eLearning materials and interactive tools.

Scope / Responsibilities

The Technical Writer Content Designer will be expected to:

• Liaise with stakeholders to support technical publications through all phases of development
• Conduct research to develop technically accurate mitigation advice
• Translate technical subject matter into clear, usable and audience-appropriate content
• Create and publish content consistent with agency messaging
• Develop and edit publications, web content, social media posts, eLearning materials and interactive tools
• Support technical consultation with internal and external stakeholders
• Promote content through campaigns and other communication initiatives
• Ensure content quality, consistency and accessibility
• Support content review, moderation and repurposing
• Apply organisational publishing standards and guidelines
• Contribute to reporting, measurement and content improvement activities
• Support user experience design considerations, including accessibility, usability and branding

Key Deliverables

Expected deliverables may include:

• Technical publications
• Mitigation advice content
• Web content
• Social media content
• eLearning content
• Interactive tools or supporting content
• Technical consultation outputs
• Stakeholder engagement records
• Content review and editing outputs
• Publishing-ready content artefacts
• Content measurement and reporting inputs
• User-focused content design outputs
• Accessibility and usability-aligned content
• Campaign or content promotion support materials

Mandatory / Essential Criteria

Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience aligned to the following SFIA criteria.

Content Authoring – SFIA Level 4

Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Design content and appearance of complex information deliverables
• Control, monitor and evaluate content for quality and consistency
• Ensure accessibility of messages and optimal use of chosen media
• Understand and manage risks associated with publishing content
• Moderate content and ensure it can be repurposed appropriately
• Review the work of others
• Take responsibility for ensuring appropriate publication

Content Publishing – SFIA Level 4

Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Apply organisational guidelines for publishing
• Use appropriate tools and techniques to publish content to new or existing platforms
• Maintain and update content management processes
• Select appropriate channels for content publication
• Provide advice to users and content authors on relevant publishing channels and tools
• Identify legal implications associated with publishing

Measurement – SFIA Level 3

Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Apply standard techniques to support measurement activities
• Support specification of measures and data collection approaches
• Collect and maintain measurement data
• Generate, produce and distribute reports
• Use measurement tools for routine data analysis
• Identify and implement improvements to data collection methods

User Experience Design – SFIA Level 3

Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Apply standard techniques and tools for designing user interactions and experiences
• Review design goals and agreed security, usability and accessibility requirements
• Create storyboards, static wireframes and dynamic or workable prototypes
• Assist with user experience design as part of a team
• Support evaluation of design options and trade-offs
• Apply visual design and branding guidelines consistently

Technical Skills

Candidates should have:

• Strong research skills
• Strong written communication skills
• Technical writing experience
• Content editing experience
• Ability to write for technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to develop technically accurate content
• Ability to adapt messaging for different communication channels
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster stakeholder relationships

Desirable Criteria

Highly desirable experience may include:

• Previous Defence, ASD or National Security experience
• Experience writing cyber security, technical, ICT or mitigation advice content
• Experience working in secure or classified environments
• Experience producing content for government audiences
• Experience developing web content, eLearning or interactive content
• Experience supporting publication campaigns or communication initiatives
• Experience working with technical SMEs
• Experience applying accessibility, usability and plain-language principles
• Experience with content management systems and publishing workflows
• Experience with UX writing, content design or service design practices

Engagement Details

• RFQ ID: LH-06945
• RFQ Type: DMP2 – ICT Labour Hire
• Role Title: Technical Writer Content Designer
• Number of Roles: 2
• Buyer: Department of Defence
• Organisation: Australian Signals Directorate
• Experience Level: APS6 equivalent
• Location: ACT
• Working Arrangements: Onsite
• Estimated Start Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026
• Initial Contract Duration: 12 months
• Extension Term: 12 months
• Number of Extensions: 2
• Maximum Hours: 40 hours per week

Working arrangements will be at the discretion of the assigned work area and subject to operational need. Due to the nature of ASD’s operations, not all work areas can accommodate work from home.

Clearance Requirements

Candidates must have a current NV2 or TSPV security clearance.

The RFQ notes the role must be able to obtain Negative Vetting Level 2, and that these are NV2 and TSPV roles.

Successful candidates will also be required to complete ASD’s Organisation Suitability Assessment prior to commencement.

Vendor requirements include current Defence Industry Security Program membership.

RFQ Relevance

Your profile will need to be positioned against the RFQ requirements, including:

• Technical writing and content design experience
• Content authoring capability at SFIA Level 4
• Content publishing capability at SFIA Level 4
• Measurement capability at SFIA Level 3
• User experience design capability at SFIA Level 3
• Strong research and technical communication skills
• Ability to develop technically accurate content for intended audiences
• Stakeholder consultation and relationship management experience
• Experience creating publications, web content, social posts, eLearning materials or interactive tools
• Current NV2 or TSPV clearance
• Ability to work onsite in ACT
• Ability to complete ASD Organisation Suitability Assessment

Rate Guidance

• Azooa recommended maximum rate: $115.08/hour including super

Azooa recommends candidates remain at or below $115.08/hour including super for this opportunity to support a competitive submission.

Rate competitiveness generally works as follows:

• At or below $115.08/hour including super: stronger competitiveness position
• Above $115.08/hour including super: may be less competitive unless specialist ASD, Defence, NV2 / TSPV, cyber security, technical publication or secure-environment content design experience strongly justifies the rate

Higher rates may still be considered where strong ASD, Defence, NV2 / TSPV, cyber security, technical publication or secure-environment content design experience outweighs rate competitiveness.

Please provide your expected hourly rate including super, so Azooa can assess competitiveness.

How Azooa Can Support You

Join the successful Azooa Contracts Team to deliver this engagement and receive support with:

• Positioning your profile to maximise win probability
• Helping align your rate with market expectations and value-for-money positioning
• Assisting with tailored resume positioning
• Highlighting relevant technical writing, content design, Defence, ASD and stakeholder engagement experience
• Providing access to similar Defence and Federal Government ICT opportunities