Registrar of Voters - Oakland, California, United States

Introduction · The County of Alameda invites applications for: Registrar of Voters  · The County of Alameda (County) is conducting a national search for a dedicated, visionary, and highly skilled Registrar of Voters (ROV) to lead one of California's most dynamic and diverse elect ...

Job description

Introduction

The County of Alameda invites applications for: Registrar of Voters 

The County of Alameda (County) is conducting a national search for a dedicated, visionary, and highly skilled Registrar of Voters (ROV) to lead one of California's most dynamic and diverse election jurisdictions.

This executive position plays a central role in ensuring that every eligible voter can participate in free, fair, and transparent elections.

The next ROV's sole scope will be to lead the Registrar of Voters department, focusing exclusively on election administration, strategic planning, legal compliance, public trust-building, and modern operational excellence.

 

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of elections in a major California county and to lead an organization committed to innovation, transparency, and civic equity.

The salary range for this position is $226,116-$274,788 annually. The successful candidate will receive a
highly competitive salary with an excellent benefits package that considers the candidate's experience,
qualifications, and track record of success.

DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE COUNTY
Alameda County is one of California's most populous and diverse counties, serving over 1.6 million
residents. Governed under a charter form of government, the County is led by a five-member
Board of Supervisors, which sets policy, oversees operations, approves the annual budget, and
represents the County regionally. The Board-appointed County Administrator directs departments
in delivering programs aligned with Vision 2036, the County's forward-thinking strategic framework
focused on equity, well-being, and thriving communities. The County employs over 10,000 staff
across 21 agencies and departments and manages a $6.1 billion annual budget, providing vital
services including health care, social services, public works, elections, criminal justice, and other
public and safety net services common to county government.


ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Alameda County offers a wide range of cultural and recreational opportunities, including the
Oakland Museum, Oakland Symphony, Fairyland, Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center
as well as an extensive regional park system. The inland Tri-Valley wine country, Niles Canyon, the
Fairgrounds and renowned Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories provide
additional venues for leisure, exploration, and learning. The region is also home to distinguished
academic institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, and California State University,
East Bay. Convenient transportation options include the Oakland International Airport, Bay Area
Rapid Transit (BART), and the San Francisco Bay Ferry system.


ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The County Registrar of Voters department is charged with administering
elections in Alameda County. Core responsibilities include registering eligible
voters, preparing and mailing ballots, recruiting and training elections workers,
setting up polling stations/vote centers, and conducting local, state and federal
elections in a fair, accurate, and efficient manner, while working in conjunction with the Secretary
of State and the many levels of government (including cities, school boards and other local
districts) that place matters on the ballot. Examples of other duties include processing candidate
nominating petitions and other candidate services, establishing/updating voting precincts,
tabulating and certifying election results, and conducting outreach to encourage broad voter
participation across the County's diverse communities.


THE ROLE:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The ROV serves as the County's chief election administration executive and department head,
appointed by the Board of Supervisors to lead all aspects of voter registration and election
operations. The role provides strategic direction, oversight, and accountability for the planning,
conduct, and certification of elections; the management of voting systems and technology; the
integrity of voter records; and the implementation of evolving State and Federal election laws. With
responsibility for year-round operational readiness, the ROV directs a multifaceted organization
that oversees ballot design and production, precinct and mapping systems, vote tabulation, public
information, petition verification, and large-scale staffing for election events, ensuring accessible,
transparent, accurate, and timely election services for all Alameda County voters. 

Executive Leadership & Governance 

• Provide vision, strategic direction, and operational excellence in all election functions. 
• Lead a year-round team of 50 permanent staff and up to 1,500+ temporary workers during

major elections. 

• Collaborate effectively with the Board, Elections Commission, cities, school districts, and

community partners. 

Election Operations & Technology 

• Oversee Vote-by-Mail processing, Central Count operations, and secure tabulation workflows. 
• Maintain chain-of-custody and asset-tracking systems using modern, technology-supported

methods. 

• Implement ranked-choice voting and youth voting effectively where authorized. 
• Ensure all voting systems are secure, accurate, tested, and fully compliant. 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance 

• Serve as the County expert in California Election Code, federal requirements, signature

verification, and voter-roll maintenance. 

• Implement new legislative mandates, including expanded electronic signature-cure processes

and updated privacy/security protocols. 

Transparency, Communications & Public Engagement 

• Lead efforts to build trust through livestreams, public observation, multilingual outreach, and

rapid response to misinformation. 

• Expand civic education, particularly around Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV), Youth Voting and ballot

processes. 

Fiscal Management & Human Resources (HR) Leadership 

• Manage a budget of over $32 million, forecast variable election costs, and pursue

reimbursement. 

• Oversee large-scale workforce recruitment and multilingual staffing to meet community needs.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal ROV candidate is an accomplished executive leader, highly knowledgeable of election
laws and administration, with the ability to demonstrate: 

Core Competencies 

• Strategic leadership and change management
• Deep knowledge of California and federal election law
• Operational excellence in large-scale logistics
• Public transparency and effective communication skills
• Financial stewardship and HR acumen
• Resilience, integrity, and commitment to nonpartisan professionalism 

Technical Strengths 

• Experience with complex voting systems 
• Understanding of cybersecurity and technology oversight 
• Proficiency with asset-tracking and chain-of-custody systems 

Equity & Community Leadership 

• Commitment to inclusive elections 
• Experience serving multilingual, multicultural communities 
• Ability to design targeted turnout and education strategies

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please click the thumbnail below to view the recruitment brochure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate brings either two years of full-time experience as an Assistant Registrar of
Voters in the County or four years of full-time, responsible managerial or administrative experience
in a public agency, preferably with recent election management responsibilities.  A bachelor's
degree in a related field from an accredited institution may substitute two (2) years of managerial
or administrative experience. 

The successful candidate exercises sound executive judgment in election administration and
demonstrates the organizational and political acumen necessary to guide ROV programs and
services. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong understanding of election
administration principles, election technologies, voting procedures, and federal and state election
laws.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Candidates are encouraged to express interest early in the process for optimal consideration. This
recruitment is considered open until it is filled.
For first consideration, apply by March 20,

Please submit a cover letter and a
comprehensive resume to Monique Hill at:   

SELECTION  

The County's Human Resource Services Department (HRS) will screen resumes against the criteria
in this brochure and conduct preliminary interviews with the most qualified candidates. HRS will
report results to executive leadership and invite selected candidates to a formal interview process. 

The County of Alameda is an equal opportunity employer.