Job Overview: 

The Primary/Elections Director will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Harris County Republican Party’s elections. The ideal candidate has experience in working elections and has strong management and organizational skills. Candidate must be detailed-oriented and able to multitask under stressful situations. A deep understanding of the electoral process and election law is desired. This role will require strong leadership skills, strong communication and diplomacy skills, an ability to interpret and read law and contracts, and the ability to work collaboratively with volunteers, candidates, and other stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain regular office hours to be available to candidates and election workers, while maintaining communication between all stakeholders involved. This includes, but is not limited to, working with election judges, clerks and poll watchers and coordinating the primary election (and runoff) for 2024 with Harris County and Harris County Democrat Party.
• Manage and coordinate efforts to place all locations with adequate Election Judges, and assist Election Judges with clerks for all elections where applicable. 
• Coordinate efforts with Senate District chairs, primary committee, and HCRP staff to decide on precinct locations and desired polls for the primary election. 
• Coordinate efforts between the Election Coordinator and the Party in regards to, but not limited to, placing election workers, finding alternative locations, facilitating training, as well as ensuring the letter of the law and contracts are being upheld, etc. 
• Lead work processes, address quality control issues and document procedures and work instructions with a demonstrated comfort with the use of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, email and electronic record filing systems to create correspondence and spreadsheets, send and receive information, access and analyze data, and develop reports and outreach materials. 
• Select, research and report specialized or technical information from varied system or process sources, i.e. spreadsheets and customized database applications. 
• Research and assist in resolving questions or concerns from staff, volunteers and/or stakeholders. 
• Provide clear communication to election workers, poll watchers, and other stakeholders regarding process and status updates. 
• Facilitate EJ law training, election training, Poll Watcher training and Election Coordinator elections training (when applicable), in all elections. 
• Work with HCRP legal counsel in regards to creating and upholding primary contract, as well as working with counsel in other elections, besides the primary to ensure the letter of the law is being upheld in all regards. 
• Develop Primary Committee, resolutions, and assign suggested members to the Advisory Board to have presented at EC meetings as early in the primary process as possible.  
• Conduct ballot draw for the Primary in coordination with the Primary Committee. 
• Accept, review and approve filings for all positions encompassed wholly in the Harris County Primary Election while maintaining records in the most efficient and effective format, understanding that these are legal documents. 
• Create and distribute candidate packets to candidates for Primary Election. 
• Ensure all filings required to be filed with the Secretary of State are timely and accurate – included but not limited to candidate filings.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of the primary and primary runoff ballot language.
• Follow all laws and procedures in regard to Primary Election as portrayed in training documents provided by Secretary of State, State Party, as well as Election Code. 
• Maintain Primary Budget and Election Department budget throughout the course of the year. 
• Hire, train, and fire additional permanent or temporary staff for the Elections/Primary Department, as needed and provide training to new employees. 
• Ensure elections are run smoothly by coordinating efforts with all parties involved, included but not limited to, the Elections Administrator or County Clerk, the HCRP Advisory Board, the Rapid Response Team, Legal Counsel and HCRP staff.

Qualifications, preferred not required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in management of staff, volunteers, and candidates in the political sector, preferably in Texas and/or Harris County.
• Strong understanding of the Texas electoral process, election law, and placement of election judges, clerks, and poll watchers.  
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Work experience that includes maintaining and tracking data and data analysis. 
• Experience presenting information to large diverse audiences. 
• Demonstrated ability maintaining a professional demeanor and providing timely and reliable customer service.
• Demonstrated skill in handling stressful situations effectively while maintaining composure. 
• Experience maintaining confidentiality, while sharing the right information with the appropriate people. 
• Demonstrated ability managing quickly changing priorities and quickly changing information. Ability to multi-task in a busy environment. 
• Ability to work cooperatively with a variety of individuals in a team environment with a diverse range of stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to receive feedback with grace and introspection and incorporate it into making meaningful changes. 
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly when facing new situations and opportunities. 
• Demonstrated ability to approach tasks with energy and a sense of urgency, take on new opportunities, and handle tough situations.  
• Strong organizational and project management skills and ability to work within statutory deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Attend Elections Trainings run by the Secretary of State and State Party. 

The Harris County Republican Party is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to Executive Director Vanessa Ingrassia, [email protected].