Director of Election Results Operations

USA TODAY Co.

48d • $108,000 - $168,750 • Remote

About The Position

The USA TODAY NETWORK is seeking a Director of Election Results Operations to oversee the buildout of a modern, newsroom-centered election results operation capable of delivering fast, accurate, verifiable data across the country. To lead this work, we seek an experienced elections professional who understands how U.S. results are collected and reported, and who can translate that knowledge into a scalable operational framework.
This leader will oversee the national standup of election-night staffing, workflows, data-handling processes, and coordination structures needed for statewide and county-level results reporting. The role blends operational design, team leadership, and cross-disciplinary collaboration with technology, data, editorial, and field personnel. Candidates should bring a builder’s mindset, a deep grounding in best practices for results handling, and the ability to lead large, distributed temporary teams under high pressure.
This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska and Hawaii.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant experience (7–12+ years preferred) working in U.S. elections, election results operations, election data management, or comparable newsroom or civic-tech environments.
• Deep understanding of how election results are reported across diverse jurisdictions, including manual, hybrid, and automated systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, distributed teams, including temporary and freelance staff, in high-stakes, deadline-driven environments.
• Experience working alongside technology, data, or product teams to define operational needs and ensure reliable tools and workflows.
• Strong background in process design, quality assurance, and operational problem-solving.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across multiple disciplines and time zones.
• High level of judgment and calm decision-making under time pressure.
• Commitment to accuracy, transparency, and public trust in election reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive national operation for election results reporting, including planning, readiness, and election-night execution.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to define requirements and ensure reliable systems and workflows that support real-time results gathering and verification.
• Establish and manage field operations in all states, including staffing models for coordinators, clerks, stringers, and temporary support roles.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management for large election-cycle workforces.
• Develop and enforce clear protocols for validation, issue escalation, quality control, and timely publication of results.
• Coordinate closely with editorial leadership, data teams, and operational partners to ensure accuracy, consistency, and transparency in reporting.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with election officials and other external partners through designated field staff.
• Drive operational rehearsals, scenario planning, and continuous-improvement processes across cycles.
• Deliver clear reporting to senior leadership on readiness, staffing, timelines, and risk assessments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director