Yuma County, Arizona is Recruiting for an Elections Director

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1 Yuma County, Arizona is Recruiting for an Elections Director Yuma County is pleased to announce the recruitment and selection process for the Elections Director position. This brochure provides information regarding the position and the Yuma community. YUMA COUNTY MISSION STATEMENT Yuma County Government is dedicated to providing customer-focused services to enhance the health, safety, well-being, and future of our entire community

2 Yuma Community Yuma County spans more than 5,500 square miles in the southwest corner of Arizona, bordered by California and Mexico. The Colorado River runs through Yuma County. Yuma County has a year-round population of over 210,000 residents. During the winter, the population can increase significantly due to the influx of sun-seeking winter visitors affectionately known as snowbirds. Because of its sunny climate and location next to the Colorado River, the region boasts year-round golf, wilderness exploration, hunting, and fishing, and boating. Both road and mountain biking are becoming increasingly popular, as the region has numerous paths and desert hill areas for riding. The region also includes numerous arts and cultural attractions and local travel opportunities, including the Yuma Fine Arts Center in the Historical Downtown Area, the historical Territorial Prison State Park, the Yuma Crossing State Park, several local museums, and Native American petroglyphs. Also, there are a number of festivals and special events throughout the year. The Yuma Convention and Visitors Bureau website features a full list of local attractions and things to do at Yuma is officially the sunniest place in the United States, as well as the driest and least humid with only about 3.3 inches of rain per year. Farming, cattle, tourism and two military bases, U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) and U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) are the County's principal industries. The busiest air station in the Marine Corps, MCAS Yuma supports 80 percent of the Corps' air-to-ground aviation training because of its access to 2.8 million acres of training ranges and superb flying weather. Education in Yuma County includes public schools in several elementary and high school districts. Other educational alternatives include public charter schools and a variety of private and parochial schools, or parents may home school their children. Yuma offers a variety of opportunities for higher education within the local community, including Arizona Western College (AWC) and Northern Arizona University Branch campus at AWC. The University of Arizona also has a presence here through a cooperative program with AWC and NAU, offering several degrees in agricultural sciences and engineering. Yuma County Government Organization Yuma County employs approximately 1,431 full-time employees with a total of $226 million in expenditures and transfers out. Of this, approximately $77 million reflects General Fund spending. As is the case with most complex local governments, especially counties, large amounts of revenues (and thus expenditures) are derived from special funding outside of the General Fund. County services are diverse with 29 separate departments. Major expenditure areas are centered on public safety, roads and highways, the court system, and health programs. Organizationally the County operates with a number of elected officials such as the Sheriff, Assessor, and Presiding Judge responsible for discrete functions. The County Administrator is appointed by and reports to the elected Board of Supervisors, which has budget authority over all organizational units including those of elected officials.

3 Elections Services Division The Elections Services Division mission is to provide for the security and integrity of the electoral process and to ensure that the citizens of Yuma County recognize the importance of voting and agree that election information is easy to access and understand that it is convenient to cast their ballot. The Division conducts all elections for the county and special taxing districts, cities, and school districts. Also to include recruiting, training of election workers, preparing and distributing ballots, voting equipment, precinct supplies, results tabulation and provides voter education and election awareness. The Elections Director reports directly to the County Administrator and oversees a budget of over $539,000 and 2 employees. The Director leads by establishing objectives and goals to align the department with the County s mission, vision, and values. The Director evaluates program objectives to determine effectiveness and efficiency, provides input on policy development, oversees implementation of departmental policies, manages the department s budget, establishes departmental goals, and evaluates projects. He/she is also responsible for the selection, development, promotion, and oversight of department staff, including performance management and training. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will be a progressive and dynamic leader who embraces and promotes excellent customer service. This person must recognize the challenges of conducting elections and be committed to improving the election experience for county residents. The County is seeking a forward-thinking individual with excellent interpersonal communication skills to continue a cultural transformation within the Elections Services Division. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in effectively addressing personnel management issues and holding individuals and teams accountable The new Director of Elections will be a strong and dedicated leader who is passionate about providing the highest quality services possible. The selected individual will place a high priority on increasing effectiveness and efficiency, work to improve the Department s performance, and promote elections services within the community. The new Director must also work cooperatively with the Yuma County Recorder s Office to ensure the continuity of election services throughout an election cycle. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable of and anticipate trends and best practices in county elections services through ongoing professional development and networking with the Arizona Secretary of State s Office and peers in other counties and cities. He/she will be skilled in financial management, budget administration, capital planning, and contract management and negotiations.

4 Key Issues and Priorities Leadership. This is a great opportunity to shape and transform Yuma County s Elections Division so that it is ready to meet the needs of the voting public. The new Director will evaluate staffing levels, equipment inventory and operational procedures and make recommendations for improvement. Strategic Planning. A key focus for the new Director will be to establish long-term goals and objectives for the Division in collaboration with the Yuma County Recorder s Office. The Director will also need to establish operational protocols for both election and non-election cycles. Best Practices. It will be important for the new Director to identify key performance measures, implement best practices in each of the operational areas, and identify and treat risks related to division functions as part of the risk management program. The successful candidate will be expected to focus on maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of elections operations and improving the public perception of elections services and operations. Compensation and Benefits The salary for this position is negotiable within a starting range of $54,954 to $68,630. Actual salary will depend on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate. The County offers an attractive benefit package which includes: Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Paid Time Off (PTO) program Medical, dental and vision programs Long-term and short-term disability insurance plans Voluntary participation in the County s Section 457 deferred compensation plan (ICMA-RC or Nationwide) Use of county vehicle plus county related travel expenses Professional development and training opportunities Medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts Employee assistance program Relocation assistance Minimum Qualifications Must meet all current requirements of the State of Arizona (ARS ) and be able to obtain election officer certification from the Secretary of State within one (1) year of the date of hire; Bachelor s Degree in business or public administration, public relations or a closely related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible election experience; AND two (2) years of supervisory experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check.

5 How to Apply To apply for this opportunity, please visit our website at This position is open until filled; first review of applications will take place 10 days after announcement opening. Yuma County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. For more information: Yuma County Human Resources Department 198 South Main Street, Yuma, AZ Phone: (928) Fax: (928)