Elections Division Manager

The Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as our Elections Division Manager.

We’re looking for a skilled manager with a strong background in election administration, voter registration, process management, or related fields. Experience leading complex operations, managing teams, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements will be highly valued. This position oversees all aspects of elections operations, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and department objectives while leading a team of full-time and temporary employees to successfully administer federal, state, county, municipal, school district, and special elections.

This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic thinker who excels under pressure, values integrity and transparency, and is dedicated to providing exceptional service to the residents of Washington County.

• Leadership & Management Experience: At least two years in a supervisory or management role, with proven abilities in leadership, team development, and guiding staff toward achieving organizational goals
• Elections Administration Expertise: Practical, hands-on experience in administering elections, including managing election processes, ensuring compliance with regulations, and overseeing operational logistics
• Technical Proficiency: Experience working with Minnesota’s Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS) or comparable election management systems, demonstrating the ability to effectively utilize technology to support election administration

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.