Technical Writer

At Fors Marsh, we take on issues that matter. We are a team of researchers, strategists, and communicators working together to drive lasting change. We look at human behavior from all angles with a deep understanding of people and context to design solutions that influence decision-making and move people to action. Our work promotes health and well-being, shapes resilient communities, and builds effective and accountable institutions. We are a certified B Corporation and a Top Workplace for 7 consecutive years.

About the role

Fors Marsh is seeking an experienced hybrid writer/editor to write, edit, and refine technical research content for industry professionals. This individual will create original content from research, interviews, SME input, technical discussions, and source materials, then carry that content through editing, revision, approval, and publication. The role supports communications on a range of verticals across our portfolio, including infrastructure, natural hazards, transportation, and recruitment marketing. This position is a contingent hire, meaning it is contingent on Fors Marsh winning an upcoming proposal.

Responsibilities

• Research, write, and edit original content that supports communications across infrastructure, natural hazards, transportation, recruitment marketing, and other portfolio areas.
• Collaborate with engineers, researchers, developers, technical staff, and federal SMEs to translate complex technical concepts into clear narratives for technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Develop and edit materials including research summaries, fact sheets, brochures, magazine articles, newsletters, technical reports, technical briefs, user manuals, web content, presentations, social media content, talking points, FAQs, video scripts, storyboards, transcripts, alternative text, surveys, and other communication products.
• Conduct interviews, gather background research, attend or review technical discussions, and synthesize source material into accurate, publication-ready content.
• Perform substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, rephrasing, rewriting, formatting, fact-checking, reference checking, and data verification.
• Support publication development and delivery across print, web, email, presentation, and other digital dissemination channels.
• Ensure adherence to the GPO Style Manual, Chicago Manual of Style, American Psychological Association Style, client style guides, Section 508 requirements, and applicable federal publication standards.
• Maintain version control and support multi-stage review and approval processes involving project teams, client reviewers, External Affairs, Legal, technical SMEs, and external stakeholders.
• Support fast-turnaround writing and editing requests, including same-day or next-day products when needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in technical writing, English, communications, journalism, transportation, engineering, public policy, science, or a related scientific or technical field.
• 5-10 years of professional experience in technical writing, editing, publishing, or technical communications supporting scientific, engineering, research, or policy-focused programs.
• Demonstrated experience translating complex technical, scientific, engineering, or policy content into clear written materials for technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Demonstrated expertise applying major style guides, especially GPO and Chicago, with willingness or ability to apply client-specific style and reference guide.
• Fluency in assessing the best modern tools, including AI, to enhance operational scale and performance.
• Experience supporting federal publication, clearance, review, or approval processes.
• Experience developing Section 508-compliant content, including alternative text, accessible documents, and web-ready materials.
• Experience developing content for infrastructure, natural and man-made hazards, transportation, engineering, scientific research, public-sector, or federally funded programs strongly preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver outstanding content on tight deadlines.
• Experience working in a federal government contracting environment.
• Experience interacting with clients and steering conversations to resolve edits, comments, and content questions raised during review.
• Ability to work on-site in the Washington D.C. area as needed.
• Ability to work during standard business hours.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and consent to a full background check due to our federal contract requirements.
• Applicants may be subject to a low-level government security investigation and must meet eligibility criteria for access to sensitive information.
• Candidates must be able to complete any required federal background investigation, identity verification, security awareness training, and access procedures required for work with client systems or facilities.

Benefits

• Top-tier health and dental covered at 100% for employee coverage, with additional vision and long and short-term disability options.
• Flexible company culture that values work-life balance, allowing employees to take leave as needed without depleting available leave hours.
• A floating holiday bank for personal celebrations.
• Generous matching retirement contributions with no vesting period starting the third month of employment.
• Dedicated training and development budgets to expand expertise and grow skillsets.
• Paid volunteer time off.
• Participation in Fors Marsh staff-led affinity groups.
• Product and service discounts through the certified B Corp network.

Pay

Annual salary: $79,000–$96,000

Schedule

Hybrid position requiring onsite work 3-4 days a week during business hours at a client site near Washington, D.C. This position is contingent upon contract award and client approval; hiring and start date will depend on award, final staffing requirements, and completion of any required background investigation or access procedures.