Polis announces new Colorado Digital Service

Friday October 18, 2019 Tags: Denver, Jared Polis, Colorado OIT, Colorado Digital Service, Theresa Szczurek

DENVER -- Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced the launch of the Colorado Digital Service (CDS), a new team within the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT). 

CDS will recruit top technologists from diverse backgrounds into term-limited "tours of civic service," bringing their expertise to help improve the government services that millions of Coloradans use. 

The Colorado Digital Service will model the successful United States Digital Service, launched after the healthcare.gov rescue.

In CDS, small teams of senior engineers, designers, and product managers will work alongside dedicated civil servants to deliver user-centered solutions to Colorado's most pressing technical challenges.

Using modern product management and proven engineering approaches for successful deployments such as Agile methodologies, CDS will offer a fast-paced, innovative delivery process built on technology best practices.

“I encourage the incredible software developers, designers and product people we have here in Colorado to give back through a tour of service,” Polis said.

“My goal is to transform state government services through innovative accessible technology solutions, and these digital service experts will help us along our journey.”

The Colorado Digital Service combines “digital service experts” with the best government talent who have the policy knowledge, deep subject matter expertise, and understanding to navigate complex bureaucracy, OIT said.

The end goal is to provide all Coloradans a seamless experience accessing state services. 

“The Colorado Digital Service is an opportunity for tech talent to put their skills to work for the state they love, solving problems and building great solutions for our residents during a tour of service,” said OIT Chief Information Officer and Executive Director Theresa Szczurek. 

Software developers, designers, and product managers interested in applying for a digital tour of service in the State of Colorado can find more information at colorado.gov/digitalservice.