Tara Lynch
	
705 Fairview Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238	E-mail: [Send email using form
at bottom] 
Home:  [Send email to request phone number] 63-1650	Mobile:  [Send email to request phone number] 89-6404

Summary
•	15 years experience in researching, designing, and writing technical
documentation including: functional and requirement specifications, user’s
guides, and software process guidelines. 
•	Eight years experience in soliciting, gathering, and analyzing user input and
requirements; determining project scope; scheduling and planning documentation
solutions; developing process flows; and building intuitive screen layouts.  
•	Demonstrated success in project management including: managing the planning,
organization, and implementation of project activities; coordinating day-to-day
project activities, such as risk mitigation, facilitating project team meetings,
and preparing/delivering status reports.
•	Proven ability to collaborate with internal and external partners and build
consensus on cross-functional teams across all levels of an organization. 
•	Experienced in SCRUM and Agile software development methodologies.
Web Information Architect 
Thermo Fisher Scientific 						January 2009 – Present
•	Design/architect the user experience for Thermo Fisher Scientifics’ Content
Management System.
•	Lead design sessions using RUP, UML, and requirements analysis skills to
understand and define business requirements, create storyboards for documentation
deliverables, and design user interface.
•	Collaborate with data architects, counterparts in Quality Assurance, and
technologists to create and validate business requirements and project
specification documents.
•	Create and maintain Functional Requirements, Use Cases, Activity Diagrams, and
User Interface Specifications.
•	Plan and coordinate full-scale training program including: project
communication to stakeholders, managing a small team responsible for producing
quality deliverables on time and on budget, and proactively identifying and
solving project issues.
Senior Technical Communications Specialist
Development Dimensions International, Inc. 			April 1999 – November 2008
•	Worked with stakeholders and project managers to assess documentation needs.
Then, scheduled, planned, and produce technical documents such as requirements
specifications, functional specifications, work flows, and end-user documentation
that supported identified needs.
•	Coached and collaborated with Technical Writers at all skill levels.
Coordinated and supported the technical writing efforts of a Technical Writing
intern for 18 months.  
•	Provided subject matter expertise in documentation needs analysis and planning
on large- and small-scale software projects.
•	Defined, implemented, and promoted brand and style standards for technical
documentation, client reports, and software interface.
•	Led and executed several usability testing initiatives, which lead to
increased usability and readability for end users and a marked decrease in
Technical Support service requests. 
 
Senior Technical Writer 
Formtek, Inc., A Lockheed Martin Company 			October 1993 – February 1999
•	Designed documentation set for most new applications: determined scope and
layout of documentation, gathered information from software engineers and through
use of software, developed documentation, and supervised contract writers.
•	Took an active role in designing the user interface of new applications, and
in design reviews and enhancements of existing applications.
•	Researched, designed, and wrote online Help for Formtek’s first web-based
application. Worked with user interface analyst to design the interface of the
application.
•	Supervised contract staff in planning, scheduling, and writing technical
documentation.
•	Wrote department standard’s guide for designing and writing quality
documentation.
•	Instituted peer reviews of documentation to ensure quality and adherence to
department standards and style guidelines. 
Technical Writer 
Oracle Corporation							January 1992 – May 1993
•	Lead technical writer and editor for UNIX platform. Documentation included
installation and configuration guides, database administrator’s guide, and
release notes.
•	Designed, wrote, and tested UNIX-based documentation for Oracle Installer.
Also, contributed to initial design of Oracle Installer. 
•	Edited and indexed Oracle Financials and Manufacturing documentation for
UNIX.
•	Edited Installation and Configuration documentation for Oracle Server on a
UNIX platform. 
Technical Editor
Westinghouse Electric Corporation 					April 1991-August 1991
•	Edited complex software and hardware maintenance manuals.
•	Developed standards guide for editing and producing documentation in a
development environment.
•	Interfaced with project manager and development engineers to establish
documentation schedules.
Environment
Adobe Frame Maker; Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Visio, Word, Excel);
Windows XP and 2000
Education
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Professional Writing
References 
Available upon request.