Overnight Mail Processing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department Background

The mission of the Department of Elections (Department) is to provide equitable access to voting and election-related services and to conduct free, fair, and functional elections for the City and County of San Francisco. Department staff work year-round to ensure that every eligible San Franciscan has easy access to safe, barrier-free registration and voting options. The Department also works continuously to improve its elections programs with the goal of making them ever more efficient and responsive to the needs of San Francisco voters.

The Department strives to cultivate a workplace environment in which employees of all racial and ethnic backgrounds feel respected, valued, and supported in providing the fairest and most effective services possible to San Francisco residents. The Department is committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace and to providing the training and resources necessary for all employees to succeed in delivering equitable services to city residents.

The Department is committed to reaching job seekers of all backgrounds. Everyone, including job seekers from underrepresented communities, is strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Description

In preparation for the November 3, 2026, Consolidated General Election, the Department is seeking applications for seasonal positions as Mail Processing Equipment Operators (1404 Clerk).

Under general supervision, the Mail Processing Equipment Operator is responsible for setting up, operating, and monitoring mail processing equipment used to process high volumes of election mail. The position monitors equipment performance and mail flow, performs routine operational adjustments in accordance with established procedures, maintains production and processing records, performs quality-control checks, and identifies equipment or processing issues requiring attention.

The position works closely with staff assigned to receive, sort, and stage processed mail to support the continuous, accurate, and timely processing of election mail.

In addition to the range of duties assigned to the 1404 Clerk classification, https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=1404&setId=COMMN, the person in this position will have the following essential duties and responsibilities:

1. Set up, operate, and monitor mail processing equipment used to process election mail in accordance with established procedures.
2. Verify appropriate equipment settings and processing parameters before and during assigned mail-processing runs.
3. Monitor equipment performance, mail flow, and production output during processing.
4. Monitor daily mail volumes and production benchmarks and communicate processing status to the Ballot Distribution Manager.
5. Make routine equipment and workflow adjustments, within established procedures, in response to mail flow, equipment performance, or processing needs.
6. Identify equipment malfunctions, processing errors, jams, or other operational issues and take appropriate action within established procedures; coordinate with the Ballot Distribution Manager when service or technical assistance is required.
7. Maintain production records, including mail volumes, processing activity, equipment interruptions, and other required operational information.
8. Perform quality-control checks to verify processing and sorting accuracy and identify mail requiring additional review or processing.
9. Coordinate the flow of mail into and out of the equipment to support continuous processing and minimize interruptions.
10. Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work area around the mail-processing equipment.
11. Assist with other ballot-processing and other election tasks, including ballot adjudication, tabulation, and remake, using established procedures, as assigned.               

Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the position and what to expect by viewing the Department's video available at: https://youtu.be/qgH-4bgAMLs.

Position Schedule, Requirements, and Work Location

This is a seasonal position with a tentative start date of October 21, 2026, and a tentative end date between November 6 and November 13, 2026. Actual start and end dates will depend on the Department's operational needs.

Work will primarily be performed on site at the Department of Elections office at City Hall in San Francisco. Employees may also be required to work at the Department's warehouse at Pier 31 or at other locations within San Francisco, as operationally necessary.

Work schedules will vary based on the demands of the election cycle and may range from 20 to 40 hours per week. Candidates must be available to work flexible schedules, including mandatory evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts. During the peak election period, beginning on Election Day, November 3, 2026, and continuing for approximately three to five days thereafter, candidates must be available to work overnight shifts, which may include shifts of approximately 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Actual schedules will be determined based on operational needs. Overtime hours are paid at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate.

The position requires prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing and the ability to lift and handle items weighing up to 25 pounds.

This is a temporary exempt, as-needed position. Temporary exempt as-needed employees who have worked more than 1,040 hours in any consecutive 12-month period and whose normal workweek at the time of inclusion in the system is not less than 20 hours may be eligible for health coverage and retirement benefits. Additional information regarding City and County of San Francisco benefits is available through the Department of Human Resources: https://careers.sf.gov/benefits/.

Position Salary: $32.1625 per hour

Minimum Qualifications:

One (1) year of clerical experience including preparing and maintaining a variety of records and/or documents, filing, use of office equipment, public contact and processing of incoming and outgoing mail.

Substitution:  Completion of an approved City and County of San Francisco Clerical Administrative Training program, or completion of a clerical training program (240 hours), or 15 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of coursework from an accredited college or university may substitute for up to 6 months of required experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

1. Ability to learn and operate mail processing equipment and follow established operating procedures.
2. Ability to monitor equipment performance and mail flow and recognize processing or equipment irregularities.
3. Strong attention to detail and accuracy in performing quality-control checks and monitoring processed mail.
4. Ability to maintain accurate production and processing records.
5. Ability to respond appropriately to routine equipment or processing issues in accordance with established procedures and promptly communicate issues requiring additional assistance.
6. Ability to remain attentive and work efficiently in a high-volume, deadline-driven production environment.
7. Dependability, punctuality, and ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

To be considered for the position, applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. September 4, 2026.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Elections Hiring Team at [email protected].

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Carol Isen - Human Resources Director

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.