Election Operations Manager

Career Guide

An Election Operations Manager plans and runs the end to end logistics of an election so voting is accessible, secure, and on time. The role coordinates people, places, equipment, and procedures while ensuring compliance with election laws and clear communication to the public.

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Key Responsibilities

Create and maintain the election project plan and operating calendar
Recruit, hire, and schedule poll workers and temporary staff
Deliver training programs for poll workers and site leaders
Coordinate polling place selection, contracts, and accessibility readiness
Manage ballot production, inventory, and chain of custody processes
Oversee election equipment preparation, testing, and deployment
Run pre election readiness checks and contingency planning
Coordinate election day command center operations and issue resolution
Manage vote by mail workflows, where applicable
Partner with legal counsel on compliance and documentation
Track budgets, procurement, and vendor performance
Lead post election reconciliation, audits, and process improvements

Top Skills for Success

Project Management

Operational Planning

Team Leadership

Workforce Scheduling

Training Delivery

Vendor Management

Budget Management

Risk Management

Process Improvement

Election Law Compliance

Chain of Custody Management

Public Communication

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Election Operations Lead

Poll Worker Program Manager

Vote By Mail Operations Manager

Election Logistics Manager

Election Training Manager

Transition Opportunities

Election Director

Deputy Elections Director

County Clerk

Operations Director Program Manager Emergency Management Coordinator Compliance Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Election Technology FamiliarityAccessibility Standards KnowledgeData ReportingIncident Response PlanningDocumentation StandardsContract Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a repeatable election playbook, practice tabletop incident scenarios, and strengthen reporting with simple dashboards for staffing, inventory, and issue tracking. Seek cross training in vote by mail operations, equipment testing, and accessibility reviews to broaden readiness for larger jurisdictions.

Market Intelligence Report

Election Operations Manager is part of the DevOps & Reliability Engineering category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 55,000 to 75,000

Mid LevelUSD 75,000 to 105,000

Senior LevelUSD 105,000 to 145,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand with seasonal spikes near major election cycles, driven by workforce turnover, expanding vote by mail programs in some jurisdictions, and increased focus on security, accessibility, and public trust.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

County Elections OfficesCity Election DepartmentsState Election AgenciesSecretaries of State OfficesElection Vendor CompaniesCivic Technology OrganizationsGovernment Consulting Firms

Industry Sectors

Public SectorState GovernmentLocal GovernmentElection AdministrationCivic TechnologyGovernment Services

Recommended Next Steps

Compile a portfolio of runbooks, checklists, training materials, and post election reports you have led

Strengthen project management skills with a structured methodology and clear status reporting

Learn core election compliance requirements for your jurisdiction and how audits are conducted

Develop a staffing pipeline plan for recruiting and retaining poll workers

Create a risk register for election operations and define escalation paths

Build vendor and procurement basics, including service level tracking and acceptance testing

Network with election administrators through professional associations and regional working groups