Mission, Vision & Leadership

Department Mission

The mission of the Department of Management (DOM) is to maximize performance of enterprise agencies across Iowa via management of financial resources, technology, and information.

Department Vision

To serve government entities across Iowa to fulfill their missions with efficient, innovative, and strategic solutions.

Department Values

• Integrity
• Teamwork
• Service
• Partnership

Director

Kraig Paulsen was appointed director of the DOM on October 1, 2021 by Governor Kim Reynolds.

Director Paulsen had previously served as the director of the Iowa Department of Revenue from February 25, 2019 to March 28, 2023. He served as director of Revenue and Management concurrently from October 1, 2021 through March 28, 2023.  Prior to his tenure with Revenue, he was director of both supply chain and business analytics initiatives at Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business. He was also a past commissioner at the Iowa Department of Transportation and had served in the Iowa legislature as Speaker of the House.

Paulsen received his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, his Master of Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a law degree from the University of Iowa.

The director is the officer who has immediate charge of the department. The position is appointed by the governor and is subject to confirmation by the senate.

Department Overview

The DOM was established in 1986 by the 71st General Assembly. It supports government agencies across Iowa by providing efficient, innovative, and strategic solutions to help them fulfill their missions. DOM consists of three divisions:

1. Division of Budget, Finance, and Human Resources
2. Division of Data, Planning, and Improvement
3. Division of Information Technology

Governance and Leadership

The DOM is directly connected to the Office of the Governor and operates under the Governor's control. The Governor appoints the department director, who must be confirmed by the Senate and serves at the Governor's discretion. The director represents the Governor on various committees, including the School Budget Review Committee, the Technology Governance Board, and the State Appeal Board, acting as the chief fiscal advisor.

Key Responsibilities

Budget Development: DOM is responsible for creating the Governor's budget recommendations and establishing oversight procedures to maintain Iowa's fiscal integrity. This includes:

• Preparing economic and revenue projections for the Revenue Estimating Conference.
• Drafting legislation to support the budget.
• Monitoring the use of appropriations and reviewing final appropriation bills.

Budget Oversight: The department manages state and local budgets, including those for cities, counties, and school districts. It certifies property tax rates and provides budget data to the Governor’s Office, the legislature, and various agencies.

Performance Management: DOM administers the Accountable Government Act and oversees the state's performance management system. This ensures that executive branch agencies engage in strategic and operational planning and effectively monitor their operations. The department promotes continuous improvement through proven tools and methodologies, such as Lean and Organizational Change Management (OCM).

Information Technology Management: DOM leads and manages statewide information technology (IT), ensuring accountability for technology resources. This includes:

• Establishing rules for statewide IT operations.
• Overseeing all IT-related projects.
•  Conducting inventory of IT devices and maintaining security policies.

Recent Developments

In 2024, the data and research arms of the former Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP) were brought under the DOM umbrella and joined the Division of Data, Planning and Improvement.  This research team serves as Iowa’s Statistical Analysis Center (SAC), and carries out research, data analytics, and program evaluations to assist policy makers seeking to make data-driven decisions.

This team also manages Iowa’s Justice Data Warehouse (JDW) and is able to provide valuable information about Iowa’s criminal and juvenile justice systems to the Judicial Branch, various Executive Branch agencies, and the general public.

This team also manages Iowa Integrated Justice, which is a data-sharing system that allows state, county, and local agencies to share data with one another.  These data exchanges are seamless, secure, and occur in real time. 

Leadership Team

The department's leadership team is made up of the director, general counsel, the deputy director, and division administrators.