As Government IT Evolves, So Do Job Titles

The chief information officer, the chief technology officer, the chief information security officer and even the chief data officer are all fairly common in government in 2020. And other titles like the chief innovation officer and the chief privacy officer, or minor variations of those roles, have been steadily gaining ground for the past several years. But the antennae of news hounds perk up when a city, county or state adds an interesting new job to their payroll — especially one that touches tech. And while many come and go faster than an elected official with a pet project, others end up gathering momentum and entering the mainstream. Click through for a look at a few that caught our attention.

Chief Compliance Officer

Following government’s many rules and regulations generally falls to the chief compliance officer, usually someone with some legal background and an awareness of the applicable rules that govern the business of the public sector. A stronger link to data privacy issues has connected this role to technology in recent years, and some organizations, like San Diego County, have linked the two formally with a chief privacy and compliance officer role. Others, like the state of Idaho, have a chief compliance officer in IT security.

Chief Digital Services Officer

San Francisco’s Digital Services team is the envy of many cities, and with good reason. Described as a group focused on “improving the city’s customer service experience,” at its helm is Carrie Bishop, whom San Francisco hired fresh off a stint as director of London-based FutureGov, a private-sector company devoted to helping governments achieve a similar mission. A handful of other jurisdictions, including Boston, now have or have had a chief digital officer (hold the “services”) with similar responsibilities.

This story first appeared in its entirety in Government Technology, Techwire’s sister publication.