Elections Field Specialist

Agency State Board of Elections

Division State Board of Elections

Job Classification Title: Elections Specialist II (NS) Position Number: 65031075 Grade: NC15

About Us

The N.C. State Board of Elections is the statewide agency that supervises elections administration, enforces campaign finance requirements, and conducts associated investigations. The State Board ensures uniform implementation of state and federal election laws and appoints local officials serving on county boards of elections. The board is composed of 5 individuals appointed by the State Auditor from the list of nominees submitted by the chairs of the two political parties having the highest number of registered affiliates. Agency staff are civil servants subject to the State Personnel Act.

Description of Work

This position will provide support for the counties and must be able to arrive at any assigned location within 4 hours of notification in the South-Central Region, which includes: Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, and Union.

Primary Purpose of the Position

This position provides county board of election field support to their assigned region. The primary purpose of the position is to support the election program operations of their assigned counties and help foster compliance with federal and state election law, administrative guidelines, and best practices.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit

The Field Specialists Team is a section of the Election Services Division and works directly with the Voting Systems Team and the Election Administration Team, as well as the IT team as needed for special projects or issues. This professional team is tasked with assisting counties in their region working to achieve success for each county and for each election.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Management Preferences

Recruitment Range: $55,221 - $76,716

Voting Systems and Security Technical Support

• Work with County Boards of Elections (CBE) to implement or adhere to cyber and physical security practices as directed by the State Board of Elections
• Assist CBE with acceptance testing on all new and repaired voting equipment
• Monitor simulated elections before county purchase of a new voting system
• Review and guide County Board of Election (CBE) officials regarding district relation reports or other jurisdictional reports used to code ballot styles
• Review and develop voting system procedures, including logic & accuracy testing, mock election, user manuals, and post-election audits
• Assist counties in writing ballot test scripts
• Assist CBE with Election Contest Preparation and Support Proof, and approve ballot content and layout
• Assist with state and county owned Ballot on Demand systems across the state
• Assist counties with media burning for election definition files
• On-site or on-call support for early voting and election day for all primaries, general elections, municipal elections, and special elections
• Troubleshoot voting equipment issues
• Provide supervision and oversight of Election Night procedures
• Assist counties in election reconciliation
• Respond as needed to CBE issues via Helpdesk
• Provide supervision and oversight for agency programs including the North Carolina Voting System Certification Program and HAVA
• Install software upgrades for computer and voting equipment
• Provide on-site assistance with IT and SEIMS equipment
• Examine and assess county compliance with HAVA standards
• Ensure preventative maintenance procedures for voting equipment are performed

County Board Support

• Respond to requests for assistance and providing accurate information
• Develop effective working relationships with staff and board members of county boards of election
• Provide support, (with assistance from appropriate NCSBE staff), to county board staff on SEIMS applications
• On call assistance to county board staff during election cycles including help with early voting, absentee by mail, election day, canvass, and recounts
• Assist with daily reconciliation of the four voting methods during election cycle
• Assist counties with review of precinct boundaries and other GIS map projects
• Provide on-site assistance to county boards during emergency leave by director and/or director vacancies
• Attend and present at county election board meetings as needed to address topics such as voting equipment storage, voting facilities, reporting and tabulation procedures
• Assist counties with ADA compliance surveys
• Assist counties with regular list maintenance processes and ensure they are performed in a timely manner
• Prepare counties for Wellness Checks
• Conduct Wellness Checks with other SBE staff
• Provide follow up assistance after Wellness Checks

State Board Representative

• Serve as point of contact regarding State Board of Elections guidance and State Law requirements with the counties and the public
• Advise agency leadership on matters pertaining to voting system and election security found in the counties
• Personally visit each county in the district at least one time every six weeks
• Provides on the ground support to county elections staff while reporting needs and concerns back to the State Board
• Survey counties to assist state staff in determining county priorities
• Collect CBE best practices to share with state staff and other counties
• Serve as HUB leader or co-leader

Training

• Assist in development and presentation of topics at New Director Training and State conferences
• Assist counties in creating Poll Worker training
• Assist counties in creating Election Day Rover and Technician training
• Provide voting equipment and support systems training to new directors and staff
• Provide training for voting systems-related pilot programs or special projects
• Develop, prepare, and present training documentation for county and state staff
• Provide SEIMS training and training documentation to counties with new staff as well as established staff as needed
• Develop and prepare training material for state staff and counties as requested by supervisor and through HUBS

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Management Requirement:

• At least 2 years of experience conducting elections with direct hands-on experience implementing and administering core voting programs.
• 100% Traveling within State. Must be able to arrive at any assigned location within 4 hours of notification.

Additional required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough working knowledge of the election program, processes and procedures
• Considerable knowledge of research and standards applicable to the area of assignment
• Ability to plan, organize and supervise the work of others
• Ability to analyze and interpret organizational and procedural problems and to make changes in existing systems, and set work priorities
• Ability to interpret, apply, and communicate statutory regulations of the assigned area
• Ability to analyze, interpret, revise, and implement policy and procedural guidelines
• Ability to instruct and explain standards and procedures
• Ability to establish effective working relationships, including seeking compliance with regulations
• Ability to work independently and use sound judgment in making decisions and applying the law and state guidance to real world scenarios
• Ability to maintain daily a current and thorough knowledge of all written guidance not limited to but including Numbered Memorandums, NCSBE emails and any other training content provided to counties

Management Preference:

• Desired candidate will have at least 2 years of election administration or voting systems administration experience working directly with NC county board of election offices.

NOTE: Selected candidates for Election Field Support Specialist roles are subject to be assigned to different regions upon management discretion.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

• Bachelor's degree, preferably with an emphasis in public policy, political science, business administration or closely related area from an appropriately accredited institution, and four years of administrative and/or technical experience in a public program as it relates to the area of assignment;

• Associate's degree in business administration or closely related area from an appropriately accredited institution, and six years of administrative and/or technical experience in a public program as it relates to the area of assignment;

• High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and eight years of progressive administrative and/or technical experience in a public program as it relates to the area of assignment;

• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter: Latanya Nicole Gant Recruiter Email: LATANYA.GANT@NCSBE.GOV