Ohio Secretary of State
ABOUT THE AGENCY
The Secretary of State is the Chief Elections Officer for the State of Ohio, responsible for overseeing the administration of elections, ensuring the integrity of the Ohio voting process, administering campaign finance laws, and appointing members of the 88 county boards of elections. The Secretary of State’s Office also grants authority to companies to do business in Ohio and provides the public access to a wide variety of records and documents, including safely archiving the laws and resolutions passed by the Ohio General Assembly.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Director of the Elections Division (often called the Elections Director) oversees a team responsible for one of the Office’s two main functions: the oversight of local, state, and federal elections. The director serves as the Office’s primary liaison to Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections and, under the general direction of the Chief of Staff, leads the strategic planning and daily management of the division, including the following duties:
• Supervises division employees, including the enforcement of workplace policies, periodic review of performance, and recommendations for compensation and promotion
• Oversees the issuance of advisories and directives that inform boards of changes to state election laws and sets uniform standards and policies by which elections are conducted
• Develops and executes a detailed plan to manage the division’s work product in support of all timelines and deadlines associated with the annual elections calendar
• Helps to develop and administer the division’s operational budget to ensure adequate levels of statewide support for the Office’s objectives
• Provides daily support to boards of elections, including troubleshooting and training, as well as assistance as needed with administrative functions such as voting operations, poll worker recruitment, records processing and retention, post-election auditing, budgeting, legal compliance, and all other expectations established in the Secretary of State’s Election Official Manual
• Reviews feedback from the Office’s regional operations teams and provides follow-up and support as needed
• Determines the forms of ballots, poll books, voter instruction notices, and other forms relevant to the administration of elections
• Oversees the collection, organization and review of statewide initiative and referendum petitions
• Coordinates the meetings and direction of the Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners and the Ohio Ballot Board
• Assists in the development and implementation of election-related public policy
• Supports the Office’s legal staff in fulfilling public records requests, addressing litigation, and supporting law enforcement inquiries
• Frequently briefs the Secretary of State and Chief of Staff on all relevant developments impacting the administration of elections in Ohio
• Advises on vendor and consultant contracts
• Assists the Office’s Information Technology team with election data retention and analysis efforts, including maintenance of voter registration records, investigations of fraud and irregularities, and publication of election statistics
• Communicates with advocacy groups and election officials seeking guidance on the Office’s directives, advisories, or strategic policy initiatives
• Represents the Secretary of State as needed in meetings, hearings, conferences, and other functions related to election administration
• Seeks opportunities to strengthen the influence and visibility of the Office with election officials, advocacy groups, and influencers
• Assists with the development of the Office’s communication content to intergovernmental contacts and third-party stakeholders
• Manages the logistical planning and execution of the Office’s statewide Election Night Reporting operation, which includes the collection, tracking, tabulation, and reporting of election data from boards of elections to an official website for public consumption
• Assists the Office’s legal staff in ensuring compliance with applicable rules, disclosures, and filings relating to lobbying and ethics laws
• Collaborates with the Office’s External Affairs, Business Services, and Public Integrity divisions to support their respective objectives, including the development of public voter awareness campaigns, informational publications, website content, and other communications content
• Otherwise supports the Secretary of State and the Office of the Secretary of State in complying with all statutory obligations set forth under Ohio Revised Code Section 3501.05, “Election duties of secretary of state.”
CLASSIFICATION: Administrative Staff
WORKING TITLE: Director of Elections Division
SUBMIT RESUMES AND SALARY REQUIREMENTS TO:
mluers@ohiosos.gov
TO QUALIFY
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed.
Your application must demonstrate experience in the following:
• A minimum of 3 years election administration or related experience
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Knowledge of federal and state law pertaining to elections including voter registration and overall administration of elections
As the most competitive candidate, your application will demonstrate the following skills and experience:
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team in multi-tasking, planning, and managing complex timelines and deliverables
• Exhibits initiative, strong attention to detail, responsibility, flexibility, and leadership and ability to maintain composure and consistency under pressure
• Advanced problem-solving and crisis mitigation skills
• Excellent communication abilities, both written and verbal
• Strong mathematical abilities, including the interpretation and analysis of election-related data sets
• Willingness to work extended hours in-office around critical time periods and deadlines, including daytime, evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Requires travel throughout the State of Ohio & may require overnight stay
• Must be willing and able to secure a valid driver’s license or supply own transportation
SUBMIT RESUMES AND SALARY REQUIREMENTS TO:
mluers@ohiosos.gov
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
What’s in it for you:
Secretary LaRose believes in supporting employee development and growth at the Secretary of State’s Office. The office offers an Employee Development Program, which allows employees to receive tuition reimbursement up to a maximum of $3,000 per fiscal year and reimbursement for professional development events up to a maximum of $1,500 per fiscal year. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
Medical Coverage
Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the Ohio Med PPO plan.
Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance
Dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums are free
Time Away From Work and Work/Life Balance
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth/Adoption leave
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.
Deferred Compensation
The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a Model Employer of Individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
This position is unclassified and overtime exempt.
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