Clarification from the agency

Must be able to obtain a Secret Clearance.

HAVA was enacted to establish a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission to assist States with the administration of Federal elections, to otherwise provide assistance with the administration of certain Federal election laws and programs, and to establish voluntary voting system guidelines and guidance for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections. EAC serves as a National clearinghouse and resource for information with respect to the administration of Federal elections.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), specifically requires states to make polling places accessible "in a manner that provides the same opportunity to people with disabilities for access and participation" as is provided to non-disabled voters. This includes accessible parking and paths of travel. Each polling place is also required to have at least one direct recording electronic voting system or voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities. HAVA also requires equal access for people with disabilities to registration by mail and a computerized statewide database, eliminating the need to re-register when people move (or re-register as a person with a disability) amongst other provisions.

Overview

The incumbent is responsible to create EAC Accessibility related Clearinghouse material to assist election officials, voters, and other stakeholders with best practices, white papers, tools, data, training materials, instructions, and any other information that would be helpful to election administrators to assist with the administration of elections. The incumbent will provide expert guidance on accessibility related to election administration that touches all facets of the agency to serve EAC stakeholders.

Major Duties

Under the overall direction of the Executive Director and the Senior Advisor the Election SME for Accessibility is responsible for accessibility duties:

• Preparing and implementing accessibility programs and resources for election officials and voters.
• Updating and maintaining current Accessibility Clearinghouse resources for election officials.
• Creating professional accessibility related presentations, brochures, and training materials on all facets of election administration.
• Creating professional accessibility infographics using election-related data.
• Researching, collecting, and analyzing accessibility-related election data and presenting findings in reports, best practices, and white papers.
• Writing accessibility-related election blogs and other publications regarding election administration.
• Making recommendations for reorganizing Accessibility content on the EAC website to better serve its stakeholders regarding its clearinghouse function.
• Researching and analyzing accessibility related laws, trends, etc. and identifying solutions for election related challenges.
• Working closely with the senior advisor for programs and program directors to produce timelines for execution of work product and the expeditious issuance of reports, guidance to states, best practices and other documents, including factoring in timelines to accommodate review and comment of various draft documents. Recommends actions to alleviate conflicts within the timeline.
• Assists with work quality related to all accessibility related Clearinghouse functions.
• Ensuring 508 compliance of all EAC materials.
• Recommending action to ensure coordination and integration of accessibility related program activities of each division including meetings and activities of EAC advisory boards.
• Serving as a team member on ad hoc teams convened to provide quick responses to special projects and studies related to accessibility needs which may cut across organizational lines, disciplines, and functions. Team participation is vital to effectively accomplish unit assignments. Successful participation in both routine and special assignments requires flexibility, effective interactive skills, and willingness to cooperate to enhance team accomplishments.
• Ensuring documents and all work product meet EAC and Accessibility standards and improve the agency's clearinghouse function.
• Identifying areas that require improvement in the area of Accessibility, establish working groups to assist with gaps.
• Providing feedback on accessibility election-related work quality including editing and guidance to staff to improve overall quality of work.
• Serving as the Project Manager for outsourced accessibility election work product as needed.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

Candidates must meet all qualifications prior to the closing date of this announcement.

Candidates must be a US Citizen.

This position is subject to a (1) year probationary period.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of all facets of election administration.
• Ability to produce election work product in a neutral and nonpartisan tone.
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively in a bipartisan or nonpartisan environment with both internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Experience in creating accessibility election-related training material.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Experience and/or knowledge of Federal and State regulatory agencies and the Federal regulatory process, including promulgation of regulatory and enforcement of laws related to elections as well as the ADA, HAVA and all accessibility related laws pertaining to elections.
• Ability to successfully integrate election accessibility related internal and external program and policy issues that take into account objectives, risks, implications, and agency and governmental regulations.
• Ability to bring together key stakeholders, including accessibility groups to establish effective working groups, resulting in work product that proves to be valuable to stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, both orally and in writing, regarding all election related subject matter.
• A change agent and self-starter.
• Adept in working with and analyzing information and other quantitative data.
• Attentive to detail and consistently thorough.
• Collegial - must have a personality and work style that ensures that the internal atmosphere will remain open and collaborative.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Please read the "Next steps" section for more information.