BD is hiring: Associate Director, Senior Technical Writer in San Diego

The Associate Director, Senior Technical Writer is a strategic documentation leader responsible for driving the development, quality, and evolution of technical documentation for Class II medical devices. This role combines deep expertise in technical writing with strong people leadership, cross‑functional influence, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate brings extensive regulatory experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to lead a high‑performing team while collaborating across diverse business functions. Job Description We are the makers of possible BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world. Advancing the world of health™ is our Purpose, and it’s no small feat. It takes the imagination and passion of all of us—from design and engineering to the manufacturing and marketing of our billions of MedTech products per year—to look at the impossible and find transformative solutions that turn dreams into possibilities. We believe that the human element, across our global teams, is what allows us to continually evolve. Join us and discover an environment in which you’ll be supported to learn, grow and become your best self. Become a maker of possible with us. Associate Director, Senior Technical Writer Job Summary The Associate Director, Senior Technical Writer is a strategic documentation leader responsible for driving the development, quality, and evolution of technical documentation for Class II medical devices. This role combines deep expertise in technical writing with strong people leadership, cross‑functional influence, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate brings extensive regulatory experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to lead a high‑performing team while collaborating across diverse business functions. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Team Management Lead, develop, and mentor a team of technical writers, illustrators, and/or documentation specialists; provide coaching, performance feedback, and career development. Build a high‑performing documentation function by establishing clear expectations, aligning team goals to organizational priorities, and fostering a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement. Oversee resource planning, workload balancing, and vendor/contractor management as needed. Represent the documentation function in leadership forums and influence decisions affecting product development, quality, labeling, and regulatory deliverables. Own the end‑to‑end documentation lifecycle for customer‑facing and internal technical content including user manuals, IFUs, installation guides, troubleshooting guides, upgrade/downgrade instructions, and documentation for global regulatory submissions. Ensure compliance with FDA, EU MDR, ISO 13485, and other relevant standards; embed regulatory and quality requirements into documentation workflows. Establish, maintain, and enforce documentation standards, best practices, templates, and style guides across all product lines. Drive documentation quality through consistent editorial review, standardization, and improvement of content clarity, structure, and usability. Cross‑Functional Influence & Collaboration Partner with engineering, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, clinical/medical affairs, marketing, customer support, and global business units to gather information, validate content, and align documentation with product requirements. Lead the creation and review of IFU design specifications and quality documentation, collaborating with subject matter experts to ensure clinical and regulatory accuracy. Serve as the documentation authority in cross‑functional meetings, influencing project scope, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies. Communicate effectively with senior‑level stakeholders and international partners, ensuring alignment and timely delivery of all documentation commitments. Content Creation & Technical Expertise Create and edit technical documents with a high degree of accuracy, clarity, and regulatory compliance. Develop visual content including diagrams, illustrations, flow charts, line art, and product photography; advise engineering teams on data visualization and content usability. Stay current on industry trends, regulatory developments, and advancements in technical communication tools and methodologies. Program & Project Management Manage documentation schedules, dependencies, resource requirements, and deliverables within fast‑paced project environments. Drive process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce cycle times, and enhance documentation quality. Oversee version control, change management, and documentation integration within enterprise systems. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication, Engineering, or a related technical or communications field required. 7+ years of experience in technical writing, technical communication, or documentation development required. 5+ years of experience within a regulated industry (medical devices strongly preferred; pharma/biotech acceptable). 3+ years of people leadership experience, including managing writers, contractors, or cross‑functional documentation teams required. Extensive experience in regulated industries such as medical devices or pharmaceuticals, with deep knowledge of regulatory compliance and documentation requirements. Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams or cross‑functional documentation programs. Familiarity with electro‑mechanical systems and software applications. Experience with device labeling and packaging content. Knowledge of engineering change control processes and Agile methodologies. Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle. Proficiency with version control systems (Perforce, Subversion, TFS, GitHub). Skilled in technical editing tools (Microsoft Word, Acrobat, editorial symbols). Proficiency with DTP tools (MadCap Flare, Adobe FrameMaker, InDesign, Illustrator, XML, DITA). Experience with photography and image editing (Adobe Photoshop). Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Technical Communication, Regulatory Science, Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline. Prior leadership of technical writing teams within a medical device organization. Experience working with global regulatory submissions and country‑specific documentation requirements. At BD, we prioritize on‑site collaboration because we believe it fosters creativity, innovation, and effective problem‑solving, which are essential in the fast‑paced healthcare industry. For most roles, we require a minimum of 4 days of in‑office presence per week to maintain our culture of excellence and ensure smooth operations, while also recognizing the importance of flexibility and work‑life balance. Remote or field‑based positions will have different workplace arrangements which will be indicated in the job posting. For certain roles at BD, employment is contingent upon the Company’s receipt of sufficient proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID‑19. In some locations, testing for COVID‑19 may be available and/or required. Consistent with BD’s Workplace Accommodations Policy, requests for accommodation will be considered pursuant to applicable law. Why Join Us? Becton, Dickinson, and Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or domestic or civil union status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, disability, military eligibility or veteran status, and other legally‑protected characteristics. Candidates whose job duties will be physically performed within unincorporated Los Angeles County limits: All qualified Applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. BD abides by any and all laws or regulations that impose restrictions or prohibitions for hiring applicants with criminal histories for posted positions. At BD, we are strongly committed to investing in our associates—their well‑being and development, and in providing rewards and recognition opportunities that promote a performance‑based culture. We demonstrate this commitment by offering a valuable, competitive package of compensation and benefits programs which you can learn more about on our Careers Site under Our Commitment to You. Salary or hourly rate ranges have been implemented to reward associates fairly and competitively, as well as to support recognition of associates’ progress, ranging from entry level to experts in their field, and talent mobility. There are many factors, such as location, that contribute to the range displayed. The salary or hourly rate offered to a successful candidate is based on experience, education, skills, and any step rate pay system of the actual work location, as applicable to the role or position. Salary or hourly pay ranges may vary for Field‑based and Remote roles. #J-18808-Ljbffr In Summary: The Associate Director, Senior Technical Writer is a strategic documentation leader responsible for driving the development, quality, and evolution of technical documentation for Class II medical devices . This role combines deep expertise in technical writing with strong people leadership, cross‑functional influence, and operational excellence . The ideal candidate brings extensive regulatory experience, excellent communication skills . En Español: El Director Asociado, Escritor Técnico Senior es un líder de documentación estratégica responsable de impulsar el desarrollo, calidad y evolución de la documentación técnica para dispositivos médicos de Clase II. Este papel combina una profunda experiencia en escritura técnica con liderazgo personal fuerte, influencia transfuncional y excelencia operativa. El candidato ideal aporta amplia experiencia regulatoria, excelentes habilidades de comunicación y la capacidad de liderar un equipo de alto rendimiento mientras colabora a través de diversas funciones comerciales. Descripción del trabajo Somos los creadores de BD posible Es una de las compañías tecnológicas médicas globales más grandes del mundo. Avanzar el mundo de la salud TM es nuestro propósito, y no es una pequeña hazaña. Se necesita la imaginación y pasión de todos nosotros desde el diseño e ingeniería hasta la fabricación y comercialización de miles de millones de productos MedTech al añopara mirar y encontrar soluciones estratégicas que nos permitan transformarnos en mejores equipos técnicos. Creemos que es imposible convertirnos en directores asociados, directivos humanos y líderes de su propio entorno médico. Esta función combina una profunda experiencia en la escritura técnica con un liderazgo de personas fuertes, influencia interfuncional y excelencia operativa. El candidato ideal aporta una amplia experiencia regulatoria, excelentes habilidades de comunicación y la capacidad para liderar un equipo de alto rendimiento mientras colabora en diversas funciones empresariales. Responsabilidades clave Liderazgo & Gestión del Equipo Dirigir, desarrollar y asesorar a un grupo de escritores técnicos, ilustradores y/o especialistas en documentación; proporcionar coaching, retroalimentación sobre el desempeño y desarrollo profesional. Construir una función documental de alto desempeño estableciendo expectativas claras, alineando los objetivos del equipo con las prioridades organizacionales y fomentando una cultura de calidad, responsabilidad e mejora continua. Supervisar la planificación de recursos, equilibrio de carga de trabajo y gestión del proveedor / contratista según sea necesario. Para la mayoría de los roles, requerimos un mínimo de 4 días de presencia en la oficina por semana para mantener nuestra cultura de excelencia y garantizar una operación fluida, al tiempo que reconocemos la importancia de la flexibilidad y el equilibrio entre vida laboral y personal. Las posiciones remotas o basadas en el campo tendrán diferentes arreglos del lugar de trabajo que se indicarán en el puesto de trabajo. Para ciertas funciones en BD, el empleo depende de que la compañía reciba pruebas suficientes de que usted está completamente vacunado contra COVID-19. En algunos lugares, las pruebas de COVID-19 pueden estar disponibles y/o necesarias. BD cumple con todas las leyes y regulaciones que imponen restricciones o prohibiciones a la contratación de solicitantes con antecedentes penales para puestos publicados. En BD, estamos firmemente comprometidos a invertir en nuestros asociadossu bienestar y desarrollo, y a proporcionar oportunidades de recompensas y reconocimiento que promuevan una cultura basada en el rendimiento. Demostramos este compromiso ofreciendo un valioso paquete competitivo de programas de compensación y beneficios sobre los cuales puede obtener más información en nuestro Sitio de Carreras bajo Nuestro Compromiso Con Usted. Se han implementado rangos de salario o tasa por hora para premiar justamente y competitivamente a los asociados, así como para apoyar el reconocimiento de empleados, desde su nivel inicial hasta expertos en su campo, y movilidad de talentos. Hay muchos factores, tales como la ubicación, que contribuyen al rango de remuneración expuesto.