Elections Director, Deputy

Elections Director, Deputy

Salary

See Position Description

Location

New Hanover County, NC

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202600020-A

Department

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Opening Date

06/30/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Information

Are you an experienced elections or public administration professional with a strong commitment to public service? New Hanover County is seeking an Elections Deputy Director to support the Elections Director in overseeing daily operations and ensuring the successful delivery of election services. This role provides staff supervision and assists with procedural and technical improvements, voter education programs, public communications, in-person voting operations, Board of Elections meeting preparation, and election official training. The Deputy Director ensures continuity of operations in the Director's absence and directly supervises teams responsible for voter registration, outreach, and logistics, maintaining a high level of customer service during large-scale election events and periods of increased demand.

New Hanover County, located on the North Carolina coast with a population of over 240,000 and approximately 183,400 registered voters. The mission of the NHC Board of Elections is to provide the highest level of professional standards to ensure accurate, honest, and fair elections through accountability and integrity and to provide all citizens our services in the most efficient, effective, and timely manner. The New Hanover County Board of Elections administers elections with the highest commitment to accuracy, integrity, and public trust. The department oversees all aspects of election administration, including voter registration, polling site operations, ballot preparation, and election result certification while ensuring compliance with all applicable election laws. With an annual operating budget of approximately $2,123,000, the department maintains a strong focus on transparency, collaboration, and voter confidence, working closely with local, state, and federal partners to ensure fair and accessible elections for all citizens.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Supervises staff, prioritizes, and assigns work; conducts performance evaluations; and ensures staff is trained.
• Assists the Director of Elections in the administration and management of departmental operations in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 163-33 and other applicable laws and regulations.
• Assists in the preparation, administration, and monitoring of the departmental budget.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with county departments, state election officials, elected officials, community organizations, and external stakeholders.
• Serves as assistant clerk to the Board of Elections and supports the planning, coordination, and facilitation of Board meetings, including the preparation of agendas, reports, meeting materials, and official records and minutes.
• Ensures compliance with public meetings, records retention, and election law requirements while providing administrative and operational support to the Board of Elections and Director in carrying out board-related responsibilities and initiatives.
• Provides leadership and oversight for voter registration, voter list maintenance, absentee voting, provisional voting, campaign finance administration, ballot auditing and reconciliation, financial compliance, and related election administration functions; monitors division performance and ensures the timely, accurate, and efficient execution of operations.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of standard operating procedures and ensures compliance with Article 7A of Chapter 163 of the North Carolina General Statutes, the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), State Board of Elections policies, and other applicable laws and regulations.
• Supervises division leadership and staff by providing guidance on complex election administration and compliance matters; assists with recruitment, training, performance management, succession planning, and professional development initiatives.
• Assists with election preparation, administration, and post-election activities and serves as a resource to elected officials, candidates, political parties, voters, media representatives, and the public regarding election-related matters.
• Ensures continuity of operations in the event of the Director's absence by serving as acting director of Elections during the Directors absence and exercises delegated authority as assigned.
• Performs other duties required of a county elections director by NC statutes and by the State or County Boards of Election.
• Performs work with regular and predictable attendance consistently meeting the scheduling needs as required by the county.
• Performs work during emergency/disaster situations.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of and principles and practices related to the area of assignment; applicable local, state, and federal statutes; Specifically, N.C. General Statute Chapter 163, as well as the rules, orders, and directives of the State Board of Elections; basic management principles; comprehensive understanding of in-person voting procedures; department-wide procedures and their implications on the in-person voting process. basic human resources and performance evaluation principles; community resources and organizations; basic finance principles; marketing and promotion principles; educational practices, especially pertaining to adults.

Skill in using a computer and related software programs; using general office equipment; managing databases; preparing formal documents and reports; assessing client needs; preparing and creating schedules; developing and implementing programs; supervising and training employees, volunteers, and clients; communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

New Hanover County is dedicated to the recruitment and recognition of a talented and diverse workforce that is committed to public service. Our shared values of professionalism, innovation, equity, integrity, stewardship and accountability guide the way we conduct ourselves and deliver services to our customers. New Hanover County celebrates diversity in our employees' backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and abilities, while supporting growth opportunities for all. Our talented team has a passion for providing care and services that effect change on the everyday lives of the citizens they encounter. The differences that unite us are a reflection of the community we serve. If this sounds like an organization that models the values you uphold, we invite you to join our team at New Hanover County.

Hours:

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Overtime is common and should be anticipated during election-related events.

Must be available to report for emergency work assignment during emergency situations.

Employment Type:

Full-time, Exempt

Salary Information:

The hiring range for this position is $62,126.00 to $83,870.50 annually plus a competitive benefits package. Salary will be determined based on qualifications, internal equity, budget, and market considerations.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, or related field, and four (4) years of progressively responsible elections experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the specific position as listed above.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

Must be able to perform the physical responsibilities required by this position unaided, or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation. These physical tasks include: the ability to remain standing/move about the different work spaces that include both indoor and outdoor locations, move/transport boxes and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, position oneself to maintain equipment, computers, cords and other materials under desks and along floors and walls. The work is performed primarily in an office or indoor setting with typical levels of noise and disruptions.

Licenses/Certifications

Required:

• Valid Drivers License (from any state) and good driving record required at time of application.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License required by first date of employment with good driving record.
• Must receive NC State Board of Elections certification as an Elections Administrator within three (3) years of employment.
• Must obtain Notary Public Certification within 6 months of employment.

Preferred:

• Certified Elections Registration Administrator (CERA) certification

Other Information

Applicant Information:

This role is posted continuously until filled, with a priority application date of Wednesday, July 15th. After the priority application date for this position, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants referred to the department will receive an email requesting important information pertinent to the position applied for. All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal.

In compliance with G.S. 153A-94.2(b), if this position requires an applicant for employment to work with children in any capacity, the county must require the applicant to undergo a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI for all offers of employment made after October 1, 2025. These checks must be performed in accordance with G.S. 143B-1209.26, which authorizes the SBI to provide fingerprint-based state and national criminal record checks to cities and counties. Additional information on how to complete this required check will be provided to the selected candidate after an offer of employment is accepted.

New Hanover County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

New Hanover County offers a competitive benefits package designed to encourage and support your health, well-being and productivity to include

• Employer paid 401k deferred compensation contributions (5% for sworn law enforcement and 2.5% for all other benefits eligible positions);
• Retirement plan through the NC Retirement system;
• Paid sick and personal leave + 13 paid holidays per year;
• Paid parental leave;
• Paid community services leave to give back to our community;
• Education leave to obtain a degree within your line of work;
• Medical, dental, vision insurance + many other insurance options;
• Employee assistance program;
• 100% employer paid long term disability;
• Onsite, employer-paid health and wellness center which includes a nurse practitioner and physical therapist;
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives;
• Opportunities to make a difference in your community;
• And so much more!

Benefit options for eligible positions include medical, dental, elective supplemental insurance options including short-term disability, vision, flexible spending accounts, voluntary term life, cancer, accident, and critical illness policies. Employees who elect medical and dental insurance within the specified timelines provided during on-boarding, will have coverage effective on their date of hire. For more information about New Hanover County benefit options, including our benefit rates, please click here.

Please check out our careers page at www.nhcgov.com/careers for more information on why New Hanover County is a great place to work.

Note: All positions listed as temporary, casual part time, volunteer, and intern are not eligible to receive benefits. Part-time position with fewer than 20 scheduled hours per week will not include benefits.

01

Indicate the length of your professional work experience in the elections field:

• No experience in the elections field
• Less than 1 year of experience
• 1 year but fewer than 2 years of experience
• 2 years but fewer than 4 years of experience
• 4 years but fewer than 6 years of experience
• 6 or more years of experience

02

Do you have experience working with electronic voting equipment?

• Yes
• No

03

Are you currently certified as a NC Election Administrator?

• Yes
• No

04

How many years of experience do you have supervising paid staff?

• No supervisory experience
• Less than 1 year of supervisory experience
• 1 year but fewer 2 years of supervisory experience
• 2 years but fewer 4 years of supervisory experience
• 4 or more years of supervisory experience

05

Do you have experience managing volunteers or temporary staff members?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have a valid North Carolina Drivers license?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you eligible to obtain a NC Drivers License?

• Yes
• No
• n/a - already have NC DL

08

Have you had your drivers license suspended or revoked for any reason in the last three years?

• Yes
• No

09

Have you had 2 or more driving violation tickets in the previous 12 months or 3 or more in the previous 25 months? *Please note: Answering yes to this question will not automatically disqualify you from consideration for the position.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer New Hanover County

Address 230 Government Center Drive - Suite 135

Wilmington, North Carolina, 28403

Phone 910-798-7178

910-798-7178

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/nhc