Back to jobs
New

Senior Software Documentation Specialist

US-Remote | US-Washington DC | US-VA-Arlington | US-NC-Chapel Hill | US-IL-Chicago | US-MD-Rockville | US-CA-Sacramento | US-MA-Waltham | US-TX-Austin

AIR is seeking a Senior Software Documentation Specialist to play a critical leadership role in developing, delivering, and maintaining comprehensive documentation for the FEWS NET Learning and Data Hub, a key component of the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) project. FEWS NET provides early warning and evidence-based analysis on food insecurity to support global humanitarian response.

This position is responsible for designing and managing a robust documentation ecosystem that supports the usability, transparency, and adoption of FEWS NET’s data platforms and tools. The Specialist will lead the creation of accessible, user-centered technical content, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and ensure the long-term sustainability of documentation systems and help platforms.

Success in this role requires advanced technical writing expertise, a deep understanding of data systems and user experience, and the ability to translate complex technical processes into clear, actionable guidance for a variety of audiences.

This position has the flexibility to work remote from anywhere in the United States or from any of AIR's U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.  

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world. 

Responsibilities

Documentation Strategy & Development

  • Lead the design, development, and maintenance of high-quality documentation for FEWS NET data platforms, including operational procedures, metadata standards, and user guidance.
  • Establish and enforce documentation standards, templates, and workflows to ensure consistency, clarity, and accessibility across all materials.
  • Translate complex technical concepts into clear, concise content tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Oversee external consultants and translation vendors to support surge documentation needs and multilingual content delivery.

User Support & Training

  • Collaborate with the Technical Communications Specialist and Customer Success Manager to develop multimedia training resources (e.g., video tutorials, interactive guides, FAQs).
  • Provide expert-level support to internal and external users in navigating and applying documentation.
  • Contribute to the design and delivery of user training sessions and onboarding materials.

Systems Oversight & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Monitor and maintain the health and functionality of documentation platforms and help systems (e.g., Google Sites, Mayan, or similar).
  • Serve as a key liaison between technical teams, data users, and project leadership to ensure documentation reflects evolving system capabilities and user needs.
  • Contribute to strategic planning and continuous improvement of documentation and knowledge management practices.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

  • Master’s degree in knowledge management, computer science, data analytics, international development, communications, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in technical writing, software documentation, or knowledge management, preferably in data-driven or international development contexts.
  • Demonstrated experience leading documentation strategy and managing complex documentation systems.
  • Familiarity with USAID-funded projects or government contracting environments is a plus but not required.

Skills:

  • Advanced technical writing and editing skills, with a strong portfolio of documentation for software, data platforms, or analytical tools.
  • Proficiency with documentation tools and markup languages (e.g., Markdown, Sphinx, Git-based workflows).
  • Experience with content management systems and help platforms (e.g., Google Sites, Mayan, Confluence).Strong project management and stakeholder coordination skills.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical information in a user-friendly, accessible manner.
  • Experience developing multimedia content (e.g., video tutorials, interactive guides) is desirable but not required.
  • Knowledge of international development, humanitarian data systems, or food security is a strong asset.

Disclosures:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at tboone@air.org or call 202.403.500

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe@air.org is correct and jdoe@aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out to recruitment@air.org.

If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams.

#LI-DNI

AIR’s Total Rewards Program, is designed to reward our staff competitively and motivate them to achieve our critical mission. This position offers the anticipated annual salary as listed. Salary offers are made based on internal equity within the institution and external equity with competitive markets. Please note this is the annual salary range for candidates that are based in the United States.

Anticipated Annual Salary Range

$110,000 - $130,000 USD

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

NOTE: Selecting “no” will not eliminate you from consideration for a job. Message and data rates may apply, depending on your mobile phone service plan. At any time, you can get more help by replying HELP to these texts, or you can opt out completely by replying STOP.  

View AIR's SMS/Text Terms of Service and Text/SMS Message Privacy Policy.

Select...

GDPR Notice: When you apply to a job on this site, the personal data contained in your application will be collected by the Controller, American Institutes for Research (“AIR”), which is located at 1400 Crystal Drive, 10th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202 USA and can be contacted by emailing Taliba Boone, Senior Recruitment Operations Specialist. AIR’s recruitment-related activities include scheduling and conducting interviews for applicants, evaluating and assessing results thereof, and such other tasks as are otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes.  Such processing is legally permissible under Art. 6(1)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) as necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by AIR, which are the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of applicants for employment.

Your personal data will be shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., a cloud services provider located in the United States of America and engaged by AIR to help manage its recruitment and hiring process on AIR’s behalf. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, your personal data will be transferred to the United States once you submit it through this site.

Your personal data will be retained by AIR as long as AIR determines it is necessary to evaluate your application for employment and to meet the legal requirements with respect to AIR’s hiring processes. Under the GDPR, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted. You also have the right to data portability. In addition, you may lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in American Institutes for Research’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.