Department Information

COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF STATE

The Colorado Secretary of State's office seeks applications from highly qualified candidates for the position of Chief Information Officer. This position is in the Senior Executive Service (SES), a performance-based pay plan reserved for senior-level management positions.

SERVICE. INNOVATION. INTEGRITY. EXCELLENCE. INCLUSION.

Are you looking for a career that allows you to improve your world and the world around you? The Colorado Department of State (CDOS) is seeking diverse individuals from all backgrounds to apply for a position that makes a direct impact on enhancing the lives of Coloradans.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference through the work you do each day, consider joining the dedicated employees of the Colorado Department of State. Whether working from your home or collaborating onsite, your professional experience will be connected and meaningful. In addition to a great location and fulfilling, impactful work, we offer:

Employee wellness programs and an on-site fitness center
12 paid holidays per year plus generous personal time off and sick leave
Access to a diverse array of technical, leadership and supervisory training opportunities
Strong, yet flexible retirement benefits including a choice of the PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Paid life insurance
Automatic short-term (and optional long-term) disability coverage
Excellent work-life balance through flex schedules, flexplace/remote work, and ad-hoc arrangements

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation

Our Culture & Environment

Coloradans come from all walks of life and so do we.

Who We Are

Our mission is to make government easy and accessible for people to further democracy, support economic opportunity for all Coloradans, and demonstrate a standard of integrity and excellence. Our vision is to ensure all Coloradans have a voice in our future, help Coloradans and their businesses thrive, and be the best at what we do.

What We Believe

The State of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer. At the Colorado Department of State, we are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are committed to building work environments that are inclusive and reflect our communities and the diverse talents of all people. We highly encourage people from all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply.

Our agency website: Colorado Secretary of State's Office

Description Of Job

Information Technology (IT) Division

Provides information systems and computer support for employees, customers of the Department of State, and therefore the people of Colorado. Much of the work completed by the division can be done remotely, contributing to the positive work-life balance of its employees. The Colorado Department of State is unique from many state agencies in that we are a smaller agency with an in-house IT division, as a result our employees maintain greater collective impact over the work product of the Department.

The Chief Information Officer leads the Information Technology (IT) Division for the Colorado Department of State (CDOS), overseeing all technology operations, systems, and cybersecurity initiatives that support both Department staff and the citizens of Colorado. This executive role provides strategic direction, leadership, and management of the Department’s enterprise technology environment, ensuring efficiency, innovation, and security across all IT functions.

The CIO oversees a full-service in-house IT Division responsible for managing network and server infrastructure, desktop and enterprise systems, cloud platforms, software applications, and data services. The division ensures system reliability and aligns all operations with the Department’s mission and statutory responsibilities.

The CIO and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) ensure cybersecurity principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability are embedded across all systems. The IT Division maintains a robust cybersecurity program that includes a full staff supporting firewalls, web application security, network security, threat detection, systems hardening, vulnerability management, governance, training, penetration testing, and other essential cybersecurity services to not only the Department but also other government entities as appropriate.

Under the CIO’s leadership, the Department develops and maintains secure, custom web applications using a DevSecOps approach and manages all supporting infrastructure, including web, application, and database environments. The Division also oversees core system and domain services, such as email, file, print, accounting, and communication systems, and ensures the secure processing, storage, and management of data for statewide programs including voter registration (SCORE), charitable gaming, UCC filings, business registration, notary, campaign finance, lobbyist reporting, and bingo and raffle systems.

As one of the few state agencies with a fully in-house IT Division, the Colorado Department of State provides a unique environment where technology leadership directly influences statewide services and supports multiple critical systems for the State of Colorado.

Illustration of Duties

The Chief Information Officer (herein after “position) is the head of the Information Technology division of the Colorado Department of State. The Division employs 43 people under the supervision of the CIO. Position directs and oversees all Division personnel and manages information systems including network, servers, workstations, software, cloud infrastructure, application development, and data services to support the Department, as well as the citizens of Colorado. In addition, the position ensures the cybersecurity tenets of confidentiality, integrity, and availability are integrated throughout the infrastructure.

This Position Is Also Responsible For The Following

Supervise Division personnel. This includes four senior positions (Deputy CIO, Senior Program Director, IT Infrastructure and Operations Manager, CISO) plus one Program Assistant I position, as well as supervising multiple units as a 2nd and 3rd level supervisor.
Initiate the hiring process, provide subject matter expertise to HR during the comparative analysis process, interview candidates, and hire. Recommend promotions and changes in pay, as well as sign personnel action forms.
Resolve problems, disputes, performance issues, and informal grievances and initiate corrective action or progressive discipline as needed. Provide feedback and coaching, write performance plans, and sign performance evaluations.
Assess importance and urgency of duties and activities to effectively deliver on commitments and minimize disruption to Department and division strategic planning.
Create the Division strategic plan, budget, and key initiatives in collaboration with Division senior staff as well as participate in the development of the Department’s overall strategic plan, budget, and other key initiatives.
Develop, cultivate, and sustain relationships with federal, state, and local partner entities and individuals to support and enhance the reputation and capabilities of the Department.
Represent the Department in public and private forums with the highest level of professionalism.
Direct the implementation of policies, rules, and regulations, working to reduce inequities in policy development and implementation.
Provide regular updates, reports, briefings, and counsel on areas within the position’s responsibility and accountability as requested by Department leadership to internal and external partners.
Position must maintain confidentiality of all sensitive and personal identifying information, personnel information, and any other confidential or proprietary information, as well as comply with all State and Department policies regarding professional conduct and professional practices.
Direct the preparation of an annual assessment of Department infrastructure and other technology assets.
Direct the implementation of the Department information security plan and an annual security review.
Support and drive initiatives to ensure that technology systems are accessible and up to date.

Required Education And Experience

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

A minimum of five years of related IT experience required.
System-wide experience with a large organization in enterprise-wide software and hardware systems.
Prior experience managing and supporting a diverse range of technology solutions while working with a wide range of employees and vendors.
Prior supervisory experience required.
A bachelor's degree in a related field of study will substitute for four years of related IT experience.

Preferred Qualifications And Competencies

The exceptional candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders, including elected officials, department heads, staff, and external partners.
Prior experience in public sector setting preferred.
Must perform well under pressure.
Executive level leadership experience in the IT field.
Experience developing and executing IT strategy aligned with an organization’s mission, business goals, operations, and long-term vision.
Experience with creating strategic plans, budgets, and key initiatives.
Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to adjust to changing priorities.
Demonstrates honesty, integrity, and discretion in handling sensitive or confidential information.
Competencies to Include: Strategic Thinking Skills
Strong Oral and Written Communication Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Decisive Judgment and Execution
Negotiation Skills
Conflict Resolution Skills
Complex Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills
Deductive Reasoning Skills

If you do possess any of the above knowledge, skills, and abilities, please specifically include the details on your application, as this information will be used to assess your qualifications and may be used to determine a top group of applicants.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

This position will be required to successfully pass a background check.
Position requires some travel – this includes travel outside local area and overnight stays.
This position requires varied working hours including nights and weekends.
The Department of State does NOT offer sponsored Visas for employment purposes.

Supplemental Information

Completing the Application

Please submit a cover letter, current resume and three professional references with your application. Email documents to applications@coloradosos.gov
Applications submitted without the required information will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the selection process.
Early submission of application materials is encouraged. Screening of application materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Online applications will not be accepted.

Equal Pay for Equal Work

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While all offers are compliant with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, there is no guarantee an offer will be at the top of the posted range based on the salary analysis.

ADAAA Accommodations and Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Department of State is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Laura Darby, at Laura.S.Darby@coloradosos.gov or call (303) 894-2200 ext. 6113.

E-Verify

The Department of State participates in E-Verify in accordance with the program’s Right to Work for all newly-hired employees. Employees are queried through the electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify identity and employment eligibility. You may complete section 1 of the I-9 form upon your acceptance of a job offer letter, but no later than your first day of employment and in addition, on your first day, but no later than the third day, you will be required to submit original documents to verify your eligibility to work in the U.S. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities at http://dhs.gov/e-verify .

Colorado Department of Revenue jobs

Chief Information Officer