Project Manager

The Mississippi Secretary of State's Office is seeking a qualified contractor with 10 years or greater of relevant experience to provide elections oriented project management, elections systems and support technical coordination, and county consultation and support services for the Statewide Elections Management System (SEMS).

This position will be responsible for overseeing all SEMS development activities, coordinating and managing the third-party development vendor, monitoring project progress, and ensuring that development activities, enhancements, and deliverables align with agency requirements and operational needs. The contractor will also serve as a primary liaison between the agency, county election officials, and the development vendor, including documenting, communicating, tracking, and escalating system issues or enhancement requests submitted by the agency or counties and coordinating with the vendor to ensure timely and effective resolution.

The contractor will provide consultation and assistance to county election officials regarding SEMS functionality, utilization, troubleshooting, and related inquiries.

Responsibilities

will also include assisting with the development, coordination, and delivery of training to counties concerning SEMS operations, system features, and other relevant or applicable election procedures and processes, utilizing agency-approved guidance and materials. The contractor shall not independently provide elections-related policy, procedural, or legal interpretations or advice to counties.

When such matters arise, the contractor may serve as an intermediary by referring inquiries to appropriate authorized agency personnel or other official sources and communicating the guidance received. This contractual position will operate within the Elections Division of the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office and report directly to the Assistant Secretary of State for Elections or their designee.

The anticipated weekly work schedule, including the number of hours worked and any required onsite presence, will be mutually agreed upon following contractor selection but prior to contract award. Total compensated hours shall not exceed 1,040 hours per calendar year, regardless of the agreed-upon weekly schedule or work arrangement.

Special Note: Funding for this position will consist of a combination of federal grant funds provided under the Help America Vote Act and state general funds. The position will be required to provide detailed time sheets for accurate record keeping and auditing. The candidate must have relevant experience in software application project management, third-party vendor coordination, and technical issue resolution.

Preferred qualifications

include experience with election management systems, governmental information systems, or comparable enterprise applications. Candidates should possess strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to coordinate software development activities, document and track technical issues through resolution, and communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Experience providing system consultation, user support, and training to government personnel or other end users is highly desirable. Familiarity with Mississippi election administration, Mississippi county election processes and procedures, and the Statewide Elections Management System (SEMS) is required.

Requirements

Preferred qualifications

include familiarity with application security best practices, including secure software development, vulnerability management, access controls, data protection, and identification and remediation of security risks. Additional preferred experience includes software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies, quality assurance, user acceptance testing (UAT), database management, systems integration, and software change and release management.

Experience with the Statewide Elections Management System (SEMS) or comparable election management applications is preferred, along with familiarity with Mississippi election administration, county election operations, and applicable election procedures. Prior experience coordinating technology projects involving state or local government agencies, managing third-party software vendors, and providing technical consultation and training to governmental personnel is also desirable.

These qualifications are preferred but not required for consideration Scoring Method Criteria Score Percentage Must equal 100% Software Project Management 25% Third-Party Vendor Management 20% Elections Systems and Government Operations 20% Technical Issue Management 15% Consultation, Training, and Communication 20%