Legislative Technical Editor

State of Montana•Helena, MT

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Montana has a decentralized human resources (HR) system. Each agency is responsible for its own recruitment and selection. Anyone who needs a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the agency's HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application. State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant. This is a unique and specialized position that utilizes what are likely unfamiliar styles, processes, and software. Adapting to and mastering these will require critical thinking, problem solving, and technological proficiency. This is a nonpartisan position. Applicants selected for interviews will be required to take an editing skills test.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (with coursework in English, Journalism, or related field)
Three years of relevant work experience in proofreading, editing, or legal publishing
The employee must reside in Montana.

Nice To Haves

Experience in editing tools and XHTML editor is a plus

Responsibilities

Reviews and edits legislative documents and Montana Code Annotated (MCA) statute text and annotations to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency, and conformity with designated style.
Reviews bill drafts and amendments prepared by research analysts and attorneys and reviews codification and annotations materials prepared by attorney/codifiers for strict compliance with department standards, compatibility with existing law, and accurate use of established terminology.
Proofreads bill drafts, engrossed and enrolled bills, and legislative publications for accuracy and style.
Assists chief editor with training and supervision of temporary session proofreaders.
Identifies potential deficiencies and proposes appropriate changes in bill titles, bill text, and amendments.
Researches and ensures accuracy of legal citations.
Provides process and style direction to department staff for drafting bills, codifying statutes, preparing annotations, drafting other legislative documents, and compiling and formatting publications.
Extensively uses a customized electronic system for bill drafting, codification, and preparation of annotations, including guiding other users, troubleshooting issues, updating procedures, and assisting with ongoing design and implementation.
Designs and performs complex computerized database searches and other database management duties.
Writes and updates style manuals and related aids.