Election Materials Proofreader - Bilingual English/Chinese Skills (Open)

County of San Mateo•San Mateo, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division is seeking full-time seasonal extra-help Election Materials Proofreaders to assist in the upcoming November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election. This is an excellent nonpartisan opportunity to be involved in the election process. Proofreaders will be hired into one of four language-based teams (English, Chinese, Filipino, or Spanish). This announcement is for Chinese (Mandarin) proofreaders. All Proofreaders will be responsible for proofreading and copyediting election materials leading up to established election deadlines. Proofreaders will review, edit, and proofread documents in traditional Mandarin Chinese for accuracy, context, readability, and syntax. Proofreaders will work remotely using equipment provided by the Registration & Elections Division. Towards the end of the assignment, two days of on-site work will be required for final proofs of physical material. Important: Per County policy, employees of the County of San Mateo must reside in California. Examples of projects and materials needing to be proofread include, but are not limited to: Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlet, Official Ballot, Remote Accessible Vote by Mail system, Website content, Legal documents, Letters, flyers, postcards, and other notices to voters. The Elections Materials Proofreader is classified as an Office Specialist. The hourly wage for this position starts at $33.44. NOTE: This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Extra-help hours are dependent on the business needs of the department and therefore work hours may vary from week to week. Extra help employees shall not exceed 1,040 hours of work per fiscal year. Some extra-help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.

Requirements

Experience using Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel.
Strong technical skills, including the ability to perform basic troubleshooting for software and hardware problems.
Ability to research problems and solutions.
Ability to learn new software and procedures quickly.
At least six months of experience proofreading documents and/or translating in the target language (English, Chinese, Filipino or Spanish).
Professional background in proofreading, editing, journalism, translating, creative or technical writing, or another related field.
Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite applications: Word, Excel, Outlook, and OneNote.
Familiarity with Microsoft SharePoint and One Drive.
Experience with or ability to learn Microsoft Teams or equivalent video-conferencing software.
The ability to prioritize work.
Strong organization and time management skills are essential.
Must reside in California.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree or higher in proofreading, editing, journalism, translating, literature, or another related field.
Technical writing certificate or other related certification.

Responsibilities

Review, edit, and proofread documents in traditional Mandarin Chinese for accuracy, context, readability, and syntax.
Proofread and copyedit election materials leading up to established election deadlines.
Coordinate several activities simultaneously.
Organize and maintain accurate files and records.
Use spreadsheets to track files and task progress.
Understand and carry out oral and written directions.