IE11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Interviews Near in State Department's Quest for New CIO

A linchpin state agency is making progress in its search for a new IT leader, roughly three months after the application deadline.

Three months after a job search closed, a major state department’s quest for a new chief information officer has moved into later stages.

The California Secretary of State’s Office advertised in early April, seeking a replacement for CIO Rita Gass, who moved into the same position at the Employment Development Department — replacing its seven-year CIO Gail Overhouse, who retired in June. Gass had been CIO at the Secretary of State’s Office since June 2016 and, previously, had been CIO at the California Conservation Corps for more than eight years.

Applications were due April 17 for the CIO position, which has a monthly salary range of $10,360 to $12,341 and is a Career Executive Assignment. Responsibilities include leading statewide automation activities and through subordinates, directing data processing, automation development and management information programs; developing and recommending policies on automated systems development and maintenance; and representing the office in legislative committees and in other issues including IT, data collection and interpretation, and automation.

Joe White, SOS’ first-ever chief risk officer, who joined the office in October 2018, is serving as acting CIO, Sam Mahood, press secretary for Secretary of State Alex Padilla, told Techwire via email. The recruitment, he said, hasn’t been completed.

“Over 20 candidates responded, and we are finalizing scoring those applications and are in the process of setting up interviews,” Mahood said earlier this month.

Theo Douglas is Assistant Managing Editor of Industry Insider — California.