Elections Division Manager

Washington County is seeking a steady, collaborative, and resilient leader to serve as our Elections Division Manager.

This role is well-suited for an experienced people manager who brings calm leadership to complex, high-pressure environments. While experience in elections is desired, it is not required; leadership in government or non-profit organizations may be transferable to satisfy what is needed in this role. We are most interested in candidates who demonstrate sound judgment, emotional steadiness, patience, and the ability to lead teams through change, ambiguity, and public scrutiny.

The Elections Division Manager oversees all aspects of elections operations, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements while leading a team of full-time and temporary employees in the administration of federal, state, county, municipal, school district, and special elections. This position requires someone who can navigate long hours during peak election periods, respond professionally to misinformation or heightened public concern, and provide steady leadership as the team continues to strengthen its structure and operations.

This is an opportunity for a leader who can bring structure, clarity, and trust to a critical public service function, while growing in their knowledge of the technical aspects of elections administration with support from experienced staff and state and county partners.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:

• At least two years in a management role including supervision of teams, with demonstrated ability to successfully lead teams through periods of change, set clear expectations and standards, hold employees accountable, and support employee development
• Demonstrated experience managing high-stress or emotionally charged situations in a public-facing, compliance-driven, or time-sensitive work setting, while maintaining professionalism, sound judgment, and a solutions-focused approach
• Experience administering complex, compliance-driven programs, such as elections, with responsibility for process oversight, statutory requirements, and operational logistics

SELECTION TECHNIQUE: Your training and experience will be rated based on the required application material submitted and the top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.

HOURS / DAYS: Typical business hours of operation are 8:00am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Hours may vary. Required to work nights, weekends, and/or holidays as needed in order to meet deadlines, especially during election season. Work schedules (hours and days) and location are subject to change based on department needs.

ANTICIPATED HIRING RATE: $87,276.80 - $119,246.40 Annually

E-Verify Participation: Washington County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Washington County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Washington County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.
E- Verify Participation Poster
Right to work Poster

The Elections Manager is responsible for overseeing the planning, organization, and execution of all functions within the Elections Division, including direct supervision to assigned staff. This position plays a critical role in managing the administration of all elections within the county, managing every phase of the process—from initial planning and scope definition to successful execution and long-term strategic planning. This position also serves as a member of the Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department Leadership Team, contributing to strategic decision-making and departmental initiatives.

This position requires:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public administration, public policy, or related field;
• And five years of experience in elections administration or a related field, with one of those years in a supervisory role;
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Support and prioritize a welcoming and respectful workplace that fosters diversity and encourages contributions from all individuals.
• Provide inclusive and equitable service to all members of the community with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate support for the County’s diversity, equity, and inclusion program.
• Promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement in the workplace.
• Demonstrates knowledge of continuous quality improvement.
• Promotes the engagement of staff and use of data in continuous quality improvement.
• Communication skills to collaborate with municipal, school district, and state-level government.
• Demonstrate knowledge of election laws.
• Demonstrate skill in team building and group dynamics.
• Demonstrate ability to translate complex information into understandable messages.
• Ability to interface with elected officials, candidates, media, high-level campaign operatives, community activists, etc.
• Demonstrate ability to identify and respond to changing customer needs.
• Demonstrate strong presentation skills.

1. Direct the operations of the Elections Division to ensure compliance with election laws, statutes, policies, and deadlines.
2. Interpret and monitor legislative changes to evaluate their impact on county election processes and develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with new legislation and alignment with best practices.
3. Manage and supervise staff, including hiring, training, completing performance evaluations on time, and resolving grievances or special issues.  
4. Ensure adherence to election integrity standards, including ballot proofing, absentee voting, and election night reporting.  
5. Oversee temporary employees and county staff volunteers during election cycles to ensure efficient workflow and statutory compliance.  
6. Negotiate and manage election administration contracts with local jurisdictions, including Joint Powers Agreements.  
7. Manage the Elections Division budget, including preparation, allocation of funds, cost analysis, and ensuring financial decisions align with statutory requirements while planning for current and future needs. 
8. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of election operations, implementing new technologies and systems as needed.  
9. Oversee campaign finance reporting and the collection of statements of economic interest from officials.  
10. Serve as the Election Division’s media contact, including conducting historical research as necessary.  
11. Respond to complex and sensitive inquiries from staff and the public.  
12. Prepare and submit grant proposals and reports.
13. Foster a workplace culture that respects and is sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of voters.  
14. Attend and participate in professional development opportunities, including conferences and association meetings.