Sebastien Plante

I am an intermediate technical writer with a varied and interdisciplinary background, and I am keen to learn and quick to adapt. I have a cumulative 3-7 years of direct and indirect experience of editing copy, producing help files, working with subject matter experts, and editing policy and procedure.
 

Technical Writer

XipLink Inc., Montreal QC  (2022-2024)

Sole technical writer managing the documentation for a tech firm that develops optimization software for wireless internet. Duties include updating the User Manual, Quickstart Guides, internal documentation, and providing support for any relevant research projects.
Major Accomplishments: 
   • Quickly trained up in the field of satellite information technology and generated helpful IT documentation, having no formal background in IT or telecommunications.
   • Expanded documentation to include more undocumented and underdocumented features, and reviewed the user manual to ensure that all features and technical notes are documented appropriately. 
   • Completed multiple archive audits, cataloging the full history of internal and external documentation, all historical product specifications, and cataloging the code backend. Provided recommendations and guiding principles for a cleaner process.
   • Restructured the archives for searchability, and advised on archiving process. 
   • Created visual, graphical, and structural style guides, and updated all relevant materials to comply.
   • Lead multiple in-depth research projects with implications on sales, process, and the internal knnowledge base.
 

Junior Technical Writer
Tecsys Inc., Montreal QC 2020-2021
 

Authored DITA-structured online help files for a shipping logistic and order management SaaS platform.
Major Accomplishments: 
   • Quickly trained up in the field shipping distribution and logistics and generated helpful user-friendly documentation, having no formal background in SaaS, shipping logistics, or shipping distribution. 
   • Cleared out the backlog of undocumented features, and audited the user manual to ensure that all features and technical notes are documented.
   • Audited the platform’s configuration settings and parameters, and proposed best practices and a clean-up procedure.

Administrator and Outreach Coordinator
Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa ON 2017-2020

Administrating and organizing the activities and meetings of the liaison committee, acting as intermediary between the committee, the community, and the Ottawa Police Service’s Diversity and Race Relations.
Major Accomplishments: 
   • Created formal templates and processes for minute-taking and archiving. 
   • Audited and fully re-authored the governing documentations to comply with modern standards of Policy and Process documentation. 
   • Restructured the intake and training process around tangibles, data-driven knowledge, and usable, in-the-field process. 

• Technical Writer, Algonquin College, Ottawa ON (2019-2020)
• PhD Cognitive Science (ABD), Carleton University, Ottawa ON (2011-2017)
• MA Theoretical Linguistics, York University, Toronto ON (2006-2008)
• BA Modern Languages & Linguistics, McMaster University, Hamilton ON (2004-2006)
• BSc Life Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton ON (1999-2003)