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DGS Begins Recruiting for Director Position

The award-winning $1 billion-a-year department, which comes under the umbrella of the California Government Operations Agency, has been led for five years by Daniel Kim, who is leaving for an executive position in Yolo County government.

The state has opened a high-profile recruitment for a new director of the California Department of General Services (DGS), which serves as the $1 billion-a-year business manager for state government, overseeing procurement.

Daniel Kim, who’s been DGS director since June 2015, told Techwire last week that he’s leaving state government and will be the new assistant county administrator for Yolo County.

The recruitment sparked by Kim’s announcement creates an opening that’s being advertised in a “Join the Team” posting by DGS’ parent organization, the state Government Operations Agency (GovOps), and through social media by, among others, state Chief Data Officer Joy Bonaguro.

“Huge. Like really really big opportunity in @CalifDGS,” Bonaguro tweeted Monday. “GovOps has a prominent role in innovation and the transformation of state government. We need a reform minded leader at DGS to perform a critical part in shaping this transformation. We would love someone with experience in government managing large organizations or large projects; demonstrated leadership and change management skills; and experience in any of the fields of operations, logistics, real estate, and procurement. And for extra fun -- you get to work a lot with the fabulous @kristallakis -- woot! Don't get better than that.” (She was referring to Krista Canellakis, deputy secretary of GovOps.)

DGS has a massive portfolio of responsibility and oversight in state procurement and purchasing, “providing a variety of services to state agencies through procurement and acquisition solutions; real estate management and design; environmentally friendly transportation; professional printing, design and web services; administrative hearings; legal services; building standards; oversight of structural safety, fire/life safety and accessibility for the design and construction of K-12 public schools and community colleges; funding for school construction; and disability access,” according to the agency website.

The director’s position opens just after DGS won an Innovation in State Government Award in the Infrastructure category from the National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) for the state’s “Project Homekey.” DGS won the innovation award in the General Services category in 2019 for its “e-Signature for Acquisitions” project, and in the Infrastructure category in 2018 for its Office of Administrative Hearings’ “Secure e-file” project.

The director of the 3,500-employee department will be appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and will report to GovOps Secretary Yolanda Richardson, who was appointed to that role in March.

The director’s role calls for skills and traits including “business acumen, inspirational leadership, results driven, stewardship, talent management, vision and strategic thinking,” according to the DGS announcement.   

The position comes with an annual salary range of $172,344 to $197,797. No application deadline is posted.

Dennis Noone is Executive Editor of Industry Insider. He is a career journalist, having worked at small-town newspapers and major metropolitan dailies including USA Today in Washington, D.C.