Line Editor

Please submit two writing samples and resume

REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to address content, writing style, and language use at the sentence and paragraph level.
• Ability to assess how the client's report uses language to communicate to the reader, including clarity of language used, fluidity, ease to read, etc.
• Ability to assess atmosphere, emotion, and tone.
• Ability to assess if the words chosen convey a precise meaning or broad generalizations
• Ability to identify the following:
  • Words or sentences that are extraneous or overused
  • Run-on sentences
  • Redundancies from repeating the same information in different ways
  • Dialogue or paragraphs that can be tightened
  • Areas that are confusing or the author's meaning is unclear due to bad transitions
  • Tonal shifts and unnatural phrasing
  • Passages that don't read well due to bland language use
  • Confusing narrative digressions
  • Changes that can be made to improve the pacing of a passage
  • Words or phrases that may clarify or enhance your meaning.
• Conducts initial edit review to ensure reports and correspondence conforms with stipulated submission guidelines and make suggestions concerning updating those guidelines.
• Exceptional writing skills with a demonstrated ability to evaluate the big picture as well as the fine details, and handle multiple projects while delivering high-quality content in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback to employees to improve writing quality.
• Ability to provide employees throughout the organization with advice and assistance, and reviewing drafts to ensure that each document accurately reflects the intent of the report findings and conclusions.
• Ability to evaluate the report writing process through the writing lifecycle and provide feedback on best practices for a fluid writing and editing process for the client and where writers and editors can best serve the process with efficiency.
• Ability to collaborate with the client's teams in a deliberative process to develop, write, edit, format, process, and prepare reports.
• Ability to analyze selection of facts drawn from different sources and synthesized into a unified presentation to deliver the client's findings and messages to an audience that includes elected officials, District employees, and the public that is consistent with the appropriate tone and policy of the client.
• Advising on when new approaches are needed to prevent adverse audience reaction or misunderstanding and the ability to take into consideration special consideration required of reports that are politically sensitive or controversial.
• Training individual staff members on techniques to improve writing skills and develop formal training materials for this purpose.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 7 years of editing or technical writing experience, including at least 5 years of line editing experience.
• Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or other similar field with a heavy emphasis on writing.
• 5 years of experience in developing and writing reports for a government agency
• 3 years of experience evaluating processes to improve efficiency; Lean Six Sigma preferred but not required.
• Advanced MS Word proficiency required; strong ability to use and troubleshoot Adobe Acrobat, Google Docs, file converters, and other applications.
• Proven ability to write and edit complex content so that it is easy to understand.
• Proven experience consistently identifying and adjusting tone to convey messages effectively to different audiences while adhering to brand and style guidelines.
• Confident editing various types of reports across several channels
• Able to interpret data and help shape it into comprehensible written products that are appealing to various stakeholders.
• Exceptional time management skills, ability to effectively prioritize tasks with competing deadlines, and superior ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to manage priorities, and a proactive approach to resolving problems and delivering results.
• Must be able to pass background check