The Director's Office

Essential, centralized support services for the Department are administered by and coordinated through the Director’s Office.  Staff in the Director's Office oversee all strategic planning, financial and budgeting, legislative affairs, administrative rulemaking, personnel, purchasing, and public information activities for the Department. The Director's Office also supervises the activities of the Food and Consumer Safety Bureau, which include food safety inspections at restaurants, grocery stores, and food processing plants, as well as sanitation inspections performed at hotels and motels.  The State's Social and Charitable Gambling and Targeted Small Business Certification programs also are located in the Food and Consumer Safety Bureau.

In addition to duties as the Department's Chief Administrative Officer, the Director is authorized to enter into and implement agreements or compacts between the State of Iowa and Indian tribes to operate Indian gaming establishments. Currently, three casinos in Iowa are operated by Indian tribes:  Blackbird Bend Casino in Onawa, operated by the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Meskwaki Bingo and Casino in Tama, operated by the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; and WinnaVegas in Sloan, operated by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.