🗳️ Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC): A Small Team Powering Big Democracy 🚀
Introduction
Dream of a career where every shift strengthens democracy? The Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC) might be your perfect match. From running remote polling booths to building secure election-tech platforms, this agile agency shows how a handful of experts can protect every Territorian’s right to vote. Read on for a 60-second snapshot of NTEC’s mission, money, and the career paths that lead straight to its Darwin HQ.
AT-A-GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC)
Location: Level 3, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell St, Darwin NT 0801 (Territory-wide operations)
CEO (Electoral Commissioner): Kirsten Kelly
Total Revenue (2023-24): AU $4.201 million
Total Number of Employees: 17 staff (16.3 FTE) + 134 casual election workers
DID YOU KNOW? 🤯
In 2023-24, a three-person outreach crew clocked up thousands of kilometres to visit 53 remote communities, completing 1,384 enrolment checks before the 2024 Territory Election — often travelling by 4WD or light aircraft.
THE QUALIFICATION, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO NTEC
Top 5 Academic Qualifications
Bachelor of Public Administration – translates complex electoral law into practical policy.
Bachelor of Information Technology – secures voter databases and election-day networks.
Degree in Communications / Journalism – crafts clear, impartial voter information.
Diploma of Project Management – keeps hundreds of polling tasks on schedule.
Certificate IV in Government (Records & Compliance) – safeguards the electoral roll.
Top 5 Certifications
PRINCE2® Practitioner – structured delivery of election projects.
Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) – ensures transparent campaign-finance reporting.
CompTIA Security+ – protects sensitive voter data from cyber-threats.
Professional Scrum Master (PSM) – drives agile improvements to core systems.
Senior First Aid – essential for remote fieldwork safety.
Top 5 Trades / Professions
IT Systems Administrator – maintains TIGER and eLAPPS platforms.
Graphic Designer – produces accessible ballot papers and signage.
Logistics Coordinator – ships ballots to 50+ remote booths on time.
Data Analyst – pinpoints low-enrolment areas for outreach.
Community Engagement Officer – builds trust in diverse communities.
Top 5 Skills
Soft: cultural sensitivity, stakeholder negotiation, clear writing, time-management, leadership.
Technical: SQL, GIS mapping, cyber-security, accessibility design, financial auditing.
General: 4WD driving, event planning, procurement, risk management, presentation design.
Top 5 Work Experiences
Managing tight-deadline government projects.
Coordinating large public events.
Conducting fieldwork in regional or remote Australia.
Auditing or compliance reporting.
Developing or testing business software.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: Northern Territory Electoral Commission
Year Founded: 2004 (Electoral Act 2004)
Main Mission & Purpose: Provide independent, high-quality electoral services—for example, NTEC will deliver the 2024 Territory Election with a target enrolment rate above 93 per cent.
Main Duties: Conduct Territory and local council elections; maintain the electoral roll; regulate political-donation disclosures; run community civics education — e.g., 14 council by-elections and 8 fee-for-service ballots in 2023-24.
Key Projects & Future Plans:
Replacement of legacy election-management system TIGER.
Expansion of Remote Community Engagement Program in 2025.
Planning for the 2025 Local Government Elections and new digital-service upgrades.
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Employees: 17 (12 permanent, 5 fixed-term)
Employees by Classification (FTE): ECO3 × 1; SAO2 × 1; SAO1 × 3; AO7 × 2; AO6 × 4; AO5 × 1.5; AO4 × 1.8; AO3 × 2
Salary Bands (NTPS Administrative Stream 2024):
AO3 $66.8k – $71.7k
AO4 $75.1k – $85.6k
AO5 $88.3k – $92.7k
AO6 $96.6k – $107.7k
SAO1 $117k – $131.7k ocpe.nt.gov.au
Average Salary (2023-24): ~$140 k (total employee expenses / 16.3 FTE)
Total Revenue: $4.201 million
Average Revenue per Employee: ~$258 k (revenue / 16.3 FTE)
GETTING A JOB AT NTEC
Which Academic Subjects Are Sought After?
Certificate / Diploma Level: Government Administration, ICT Support, Security & Risk, Finance, Indigenous Engagement.
Bachelor / Master Level: Public Policy, Information Systems, Data Science, Accounting, Communications.
PhDs: Electoral Behaviour, Cyber-Security, Constitutional Law—ideal for senior research or compliance roles.
Which Trades & Professions Are Valued?
Network Engineering, Remote-logistics, Graphic Pre-Press, HR/Payroll, Electoral Education Specialists.
Which Work Experiences Stand Out?
Multi-site event coordination, audit & assurance, remote Indigenous liaison, ICT system rollouts, media-relations campaigns.
Which Skills Shine?
Soft skills: diplomacy, analytical thinking, cross-cultural communication.
Technical skills: SQL & GIS, ITIL service management, secure cloud deployment, legislative drafting.
General skills: advanced Excel, budget tracking, contract procurement, public speaking.
Which Hobbies & Interests Align?
Bush travel, civic-tech coding, data-visualisation, podcasting about governance, volunteering at community events.
Want more information on this organisation?
📍 Address: Level 3, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell St, Darwin NT 0801
☎️ Phone: 08 8999 5000
✉️ Email: ntec@nt.gov.au
🌐 Website: ntec.nt.gov.au - click “Careers” (jobs advertised on the NT Government Jobs Portal).
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