Proofreader

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The Legislative Services Agency in Des Moines, IA, is seeking an entry-level Proofreader to support digital publication of bills, amendments, and state documents. The role requires meticulous proofreading, strong spelling, and the ability to work under tight deadlines, often in a paired-read setup.

You will routinely proofread and format legal and fiscal documents, adhere to style guides, and collaborate with staff.

Qualifications

• Excellent English grammar and spelling; read aloud clearly and maintain focus.
• Able to concentrate on meticulous, repetitive work; meet deadlines.
• Operate a PC and use basic database/file management software; communicate well.

Responsibilities

• Proofread legal and fiscal documents, including bills, amendments, and reports.
• Adhere to various style guides and maintain high accuracy under deadlines.
• Handle high-volume tasks with confidentiality, especially during sessions.

Skills

Proofreading

Grammar

Concentration

Multitasking

Communication

Stress resilience

Teamwork

Education

College degree

Tools

Basic database software

Job description

Job Description

The Legislative Services Agency is inviting applications for the position of Proofreader. The role is a full‑time position with a starting annual salary of $41,267, paid vacation, sick time, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan; and health, dental, vision, and long‑term disability insurance along with flexible spending accounts.

Proofreader

The nonpartisan position involves digital media publication of legislative bills and amendments and other state government documents. The position requires excellent digital publication, keyboarding, critical thinking, proofreading, spelling, and grammar skills. The ability to concentrate and perform meticulous, repetitive work, and to work well with others under short deadlines, is essential. Proofreading experience and knowledge are highly preferred. A college degree is required. Overtime work during the legislative session is mandatory. Aptitude exercises and spelling test are required of interviewees. Partisan political activity and legislative issue advocacy are prohibited.

This is an entry level Proofreader position.

Qualifications, Skills, and Ability

• Excellent English, grammar, and spelling skills and ability to read out loud in a clear, understandable voice and to listen and comprehend without a break in concentration.
• Aptitude and ability to concentrate and perform meticulous and repetitive work.
• Ability to operate personal computer and utilize basic database software and file management systems.
• Ability to communicate and work well with other persons.
• Ability to multitask and pivot between projects.
• Ability to work efficiently in stressful situations.

Duties

• Proofread, most often out loud and in pairs, legal and fiscal documents, including bills, resolutions, amendments, Acts, Code, tables, administrative and court rule documents, research memorandums, contracts, reports, summaries, legislative guides, legal background briefings, charts, spreadsheets, committee minutes, letters, interim calendar and briefing, style guidelines for legal and fiscal staff, publications specialists’ and proofreaders’ manuals, LIO and tour guide documents, factbook, fiscal notes, fiscal updates, issue reviews, topic papers, LADAR, LAGAR, graybook (fiscal summary), Roster, Redbook, and Internet pages and publications.
• Adhere and adapt to numerous style guides.
• Perform tasks with high quantity, quality, and confidentiality requirements, under occasionally tight deadlines, and in excess of eight hours per day during the legislative session.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify; a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

The Legislative Services Agency is an equal‑opportunity employer.

Application deadline is October 5, 2026.

The LSA is a nonpartisan central legislative staff agency consisting of around 100 employees serving members and committees of the Iowa General Assembly. The LSA’s workforce spans 3 divisions and multiple offices where individuals contribute their unique expertise and talents to advance a shared mission of serving the Iowa General Assembly in a nonpartisan manner.

LSA offers meaningful work with great benefits. Our employees participate in the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) pension plan, the LSA is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF), and low-cost, high-quality health and dental insurance is offered.