Government Digital Service Consultant

Position: Government Digital Service Consultant

Organization: Institute for Responsive Government

Location: Remote in the U.S.

Structure: Contract, part-time (can scale up or down as mutually agreed upon)

Term: Flexible

Application Deadline: rolling

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The Organization

Responsive Gov helps policymakers find solutions that make government more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of real human beings. 

Our work begins with the mechanics of democracy, including practical pro-voter reforms like Automatic Voter Registration and modern, voter-centered election administration, as well as structural reforms that strengthen representative government and the institutions that support it. 

But we don’t stop at elections. We work to ensure democracy delivers meaningful service and tangible benefits at every interaction people have with government—from accessing health benefits, to paying taxes, to renewing a license at the DMV. A democracy that asks people to participate must also earn that participation by delivering clear, reliable, and human-centered public services.

Building on a decade of success working in partnership with state political leaders from both parties, lawmakers, NGOs, and academic leaders, Responsive Gov is a hub for policy and technical experts, organizers, and government officials working together to craft pragmatic, human-centered policies designed to make government more responsive to all of us. 

The Position

Support and advance implementation efforts under clear strategic direction, working as part of a coordinated team of fellows, consultants, and Responsive Gov’s policy and campaign teams to provide technical assistance and guidance. 

Areas of Substantive Expertise

Past expertise and subject-matter expertise in the establishment and/or leadership of jurisdiction-wide office of digital transformation or digital service team. 

Expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Government efficiency and modernization initiatives
• State and local administrative capacity
• Process improvement, performance management, or service delivery reform
• Cross-agency coordination and implementation challenges

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as a subject matter expert and trusted implementation advisor on Responsive Gov’s core policies and best practices for their implementation, including how these best practices can align with a state’s unique legal, political, and logistical landscapes.
• Provide strategic analysis, support, and guidance to Responsive Gov’s policy and implementation teams, and our network of state advocacy campaign leads, lobbyists, and consultants, that leads to impactful policy wins and clear paths for successful implementation. 
• Build trust-based, collaborative relationships with state agency staff, and in-state partners and become a key resource for addressing their implementation challenges.
• Create foundational implementation resources that inform and support the broader Responsive Gov team, including detailed state overviews and regular monitoring of key implementation details; generalized implementation roadmaps for our most frequent issues; and accessible guides outlining national best practices.
• Proactively identify potential problems and administrative or policy-based opportunities to achieve Responsive Gov’s policy goals, and develop and execute solutions that will have a positive impact.
• Prepare well-crafted briefs, reports, and guidance materials that communicate complex subjects and our recommendations with clarity and precision.
• Document implementation learnings, decisions, and state-specific nuances in shared systems to ensure continuity, institutional memory, and smooth handoffs across the team.

Demonstrated Experience

• Proven experience in navigating complex policy implementation challenges and dynamic political environments.
• Professional and/or volunteer experience in government agencies, authorities, or boards, and an understanding of the legal, technical, and financial frameworks in which they operate and make decisions. 

Compensation and Payment

Compensation will be determined based on experience and agreed-upon scope, paid upon invoice. This is a 1099 independent contractor role; the contractor is responsible for their own taxes and insurance. No benefits are included.

For questions, please contact  [email protected].