Elections and Special Programs Manager

City Auditor’s Office Job Announcement (External)

Elections and Special Programs Manager (Auditor - Supervisor II)

Opens: Monday, May 15, 2023

Closes: Monday, June 5, 2023

Salary Range: $77,376 – $140,025.60

The Position

The City Auditor’s Office is seeking an Elections and Special Programs Manager who will primarily oversee the Elections Office and lead or collaborate on other special projects office wide. The Manager will use strong project management skills to manage the current elections, campaign finance, and lobbying functions of the Elections Office while planning for the expansion of the Elections Office from City charter reforms approved by voters in 2022. These include changing how Portlanders vote (by district through ranked-choice voting) and introducing a new set of responsibilities for the Auditor’s Office to administer periodic voter education beginning in 2025. While elections will be the key focal point of this Manager’s portfolio, no prior experience in elections is required as the staff this position oversees will serve as the Elections Officer and content experts. Instead, we are looking for a seasoned project manager and supervisor, who also has experience working with policies and/or legal regulations. Additionally, it is preferred that the incumbent has experience conducting investigations.

The Elections and Special Programs Manager will report to the Chief Deputy Auditor and supervise the Elections Officer and Elections Coordinator. It is anticipated that over the next two fiscal years, the number of direct reports will increase as the team takes on new responsibilities. In partnership with Chief Deputy Auditor and Elections Office staff, this position will help determine the extent of the Elections team’s expansion and serve as a critical lead in advocating for resources, building the positions, and supporting onboarding of the newly hired team.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• experience in project management, supervision;
• understanding of and commitment to the work of the Auditor’s Office; and a
• commitment to fostering a positive, supportive and respectful working environment.

To Qualify

Three documents are required for a complete application: 1) a resume,  2) a cover letter and 3) a written exercise. Omitting any of these documents will disqualify potential applicants from consideration.

1) Resume

List professional and relevant volunteer experience; education and training; and the time periods for each. If you speak more than one language or have specialized skills, please list them.

2) Cover Letter

Describe how you meet the following minimum qualifications, which are required to be successful in this position. Where possible, connect items in your resume to demonstrate how you meet these qualifications. It is advised that you use the numbered list below to ensure you respond to each item. Skipping any of the items will disqualify your application from further consideration, so please complete your cover letter with care.

1. Four years of progressively responsible experience in a public agency or field related to the Auditor’s Office and/or in program management, including one year of experience in a supervisory role; OR a combination of education and experience in the areas of elections, campaign finance, voter education, or project or program management in a public agency.
2. Knowledge of principles and practices of program management, evaluation, and fields related to the mission and purpose of the Auditor’s Office;
3. Ability to plan, organize, and assign work to staff;
4. Ability to make decisions within established policies and procedures that influence the daily operations of the unit and the work of others;
5. Ability to exercise independent judgment, problem-solve, and take initiative within established procedures and guidelines;
6. Ability to communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively, both orally and in writing;
7. Ability to communicate cross-culturally and facilitate inclusive participation in Auditor’s Office programs and activities by communities of color and people traditionally underrepresented in local decision-making;
8. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers and staff, elected officials, government representatives, and others; and
9. Ability to supervise a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex services.

If you meet these preferred qualifications, please briefly describe how in your cover letter.

• Experience conducting and/or overseeing investigations of any kind (examples may include HR, compliance, etc.);
• Experience in community engagement, education, or elections; and
• Knowledge of City Code, City Charter and applicable State of Oregon statutes.

3) Writing exercise

In addition to the cover letter and resume, please submit an essay describing 1) your experiences or participation with any of the following, and 2) what you learned from them:

• exposure to racial inequities and actions you took to help resolve them;
• steps taken to make workplaces and/or public spaces inclusive;
• experiences as a member of a historically underrepresented group in government decision-making;
• experiences living, working with, and/or interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities;
• experiences ensuring equitable and inclusive workplace operations and/or program outcomes.

If your experiences are different from those listed and you have a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please explain how you will manifest that commitment in this position.

The Recruitment Process

Applicants must submit their resume, cover letter, and writing exercise through the City of Portland's online application system no later than 11:59 p.m. on the closing date. Emailed, mailed, or faxed applications will not be accepted. Your application materials should not exceed a total of five pages. Please do not include materials not requested.

Recruitment Timeline (subject to change)

Application period: May 15 – June 5

Applications reviewed: Week of June 5

First interviews: June 13-15, 2023

Second interviews: June 21-22, 2023

Job offer: June 28, 2023

Additional Information

Auditor’s Office Mission: The mission of the Auditor’s Office is to promote open and accountable government by providing independent and impartial reviews, access to public information, and services for City government and the public.

Salary range/Pay equity:  Per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law, individual salaries are determined based on the experience and education listed in a candidate’s resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure an offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.

Language pay differential: Auditor’s Office employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English, may be eligible to receive additional compensation if they qualify and use their language skills to assist the community.

Employee benefits: The City of Portland is committed to offering medical, dental, vision, basic life, and long-term disability coverage that provides quality care, support and value to eligible employees and their family members. Additional benefits such as flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance and employee assistance program coverage are available to ensure employees have the appropriate tools to safeguard themselves and their family. The City of Portland participates in PERS, the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System.  Find more information on the City of Portland's benefits here: Benefits Information | The City of Portland, Oregon.

Civil Service:   This position is in the Classified Service and subject to Civil Service provisions. It also is subject to the Human Resources Administrative Rules for the Auditor’s Office, City Charter, and Code.

Work status: Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.

Work location: The position is based in City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave. The Auditor’s Office is currently operating in a hybrid schedule of in-person and remote work.

Veteran’s preference: If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, attach a copy of your DD214 and/or Veteran's Administration letter stating your disability to your profile (if applicable), as well as checking the box identifying yourself as a Veteran. You must request Veteran's Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment you apply for. Veteran's Preference documentation must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM on the closing date of this recruitment.

Equal employment opportunity:  It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply.

Disability, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability, are pregnant or nursing, or observe a religious practice(s) and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, contact Administrative Specialist Andrew Bryans at Andrew.Bryans@portlandoregon.gov.

Technical assistance: If you have questions about how to apply or require any assistance in submitting your application, please contact Administrative Specialist Andrew Bryans at Andrew.Bryans@portlandoregon.gov.

For more information about the Auditor’s Office: https://www.portland.gov/auditor/