Chief Data Officer

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

3d•$12,428 - $21,019•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Data Officer is responsible for advancing and exercising clear authority over an enterprise‑wide data governance, management, and strategy framework that enables cross‑divisional integration, informed decision‑making, policy analysis, and performance management. Reporting to the Director of the Office of Strategic Integration, the Chief Data Officer serves as the agency’s principal authority on data governance and data-driven strategy, with a mandate to set and enforce data stewardship standards and oversight across the data lifecycle. While the agency programs participate in developing and implementing new standards and processes, the Chief Data Officer is empowered with a clearly defined role and the necessary authority to direct, monitor, and enforce compliance, effectively executing the agency’s data mission. The Chief Data Officer works in close partnership with agency executives and leadership to ensure data is well-governed, reliable, aligned, secure, and usable across systems—supporting executive priorities, policy development, operational improvement, and accountability.

Requirements

Deep understanding of enterprise data governance, analytics, and performance management in large, complex organizations.
Ability to bridge policy, operations, and technology through data.
Strong executive communication and data storytelling skills.
Demonstrated ability to influence across divisions without direct line authority.
High level of judgment, discretion, and organizational awareness.
Experience navigating legal, privacy, and security considerations in data use.
Demonstrated experience establishing or operating enterprise data governance, stewardship, and standards programs.
Bachelor’s degree in data analytics, public administration, public policy, information systems, statistics, or related fields.
A minimum of 5 years significant progressive leadership experience in data, analytics, performance or strategic roles.
Experience supporting executive‑level decision‑making in a complex organization.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, information systems, data science, health policy, or related fields.
Experience in health and human services, Medicaid, behavioral health, regulatory, or large‑scale public systems.
Experience establishing enterprise data governance or leading cross‑system analytics initiatives.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead an enterprise data strategy aligned with the system’s priorities and strategic goals.
Promote and embed data governance, standards, and decision‑making structures across divisions.
Define clear ownership and accountability for data assets, quality, and stewardship.
Promote consistent definitions, metrics, and reporting across programs and systems.
Provide governance oversight for interagency and cross-program data sharing to ensure consistency, security and compliance with state requirements.
Promote integration of data across divisions, programs, and systems to support enterprise analysis and cross‑cutting initiatives.
Partner with agency leadership to identify high‑value data that support policy, operational, and strategic decisions.
Identify gaps and barriers to effective data sharing and recommend solutions. Recommend solutions, such as improving data management rules, strengthening oversight and stewardship, or enhancing processes across the data lifecycle.
Promote enterprise data quality principles, standards, and expectations to ensure data is accurate, reliable, consistent, and fit for use.
Promote data quality monitoring and remediation processes that support analytics, reporting, and operational data flows.
Prioritize data quality improvement initiatives based on risk, mission impact, and analytic need.
Leverage maturity assessments or equivalent mechanisms to inform strategic decision-making, identify gaps and monitor progress in data stewardship and quality capabilities.
Promote enterprise metadata management practices, including business definitions, data lineage, data classification, and data catalogs, to foster shared understanding, transparency, and accountability for data assets.
Promote enterprise data stewardship operating model, including defined roles, responsibilities, onboarding, and support for business and technical data stewards.
Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on data‑related risks, opportunities, and tradeoffs.
Align data efforts with cross‑divisional data related initiatives.
Support policy research and evaluation through high‑quality data.
Collaborate with policy, legal, and program leaders to assess data implications of legislative and regulatory changes.
Ensure data supports access, transparency, and accountability goals.
Work closely with the CIO to align data strategy with technology architecture, security, and governance of emerging capabilities and system modernization efforts.
Coordinate with Legal, Privacy, and Security leadership to ensure compliant and responsible data use.
Partner with Finance and Audit leadership to support forecasting, oversight, and accountability.
Collaborate with Communications and Public Affairs on responsible data transparency and reporting.
Build data literacy and analytic capability across divisions and leadership levels.
Promote a culture of data‑informed decision‑making and continuous improvement.