Chief Innovation Officer (Unclassified) (Mayor’s Office)
About The Position
San José is the Capital of Silicon Valley—home to world-class innovators, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and civic leaders who believe big challenges deserve bold solutions. The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan is seeking an entrepreneurial and collaborative leader who is passionate about applying innovative technological solutions to better serve the community and advance Mayor Mahan’s strategic vision for San José. The Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) will lead a small but dynamic Technology and Innovation team that is responsible for carrying out the Mayor’s Smart City vision and designs the strategy and policies to ensure San José leads the country in technology and innovation policy. This leader will also work directly with other Mayor’s Office key functions, City Manager's Office, and City departments to implement this vision. Projects currently in this portfolio include onboarding the Service Innovation Fellow from the Responsive Cities Network, developing a series of business development convenings with the Office of Economic Development, supporting the GovAI Coalition started in San José, promoting and iterating the IT Training Academy, and acting as a filter for vendor pitches to City Departments. The CIO is also responsible for identifying new opportunities to pursue partnerships that support the Office’s long term strategic goals. This includes working collaboratively across the Mayor’s Office to identify and develop innovative solutions to advance the city’s five focus areas: Growing our Economy, Building More Housing, Increasing Community Safety, Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods, and Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness; and to align investments with the Director of Strategic Partnerships. Through this collaboration, the Office will leverage opportunities to drive innovation and advance outcomes for its priority policy initiatives.
Requirements
- Any combination of training and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advise the Mayor or Council Member on matters of public policy, democratic processes, constituent service, or citizen involvement.
- Possession of a valid California Driver’s license is required.
Nice To Haves
- Master's Degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university, preferably in the field of Public Policy, STEM, Engineering, Law, Business, Economics, or a related field
- At least ten (10) years of professional experience in a position with responsibilities and skills similar to the duties listed above.
- Real-world experience in public affairs, local government, management consulting, technology firms, or in marketing is highly desirable.
- A well-rounded, dedicated and enthusiastic individual with a broad combination of skills and abilities.
- Experience in technology policy, AI, emerging technologies, innovation, and data
- Passion for and preferred experience with the San José community and Northern California technology ecosystem
- Ability to create multi-stakeholder coalitions to support the work of the Technology and Innovation team
- A strong communicator who has the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, to executive audiences, as well as the general public
- Cultural sensitivity, discretion, discernment, and a high level of executive planning
- Comfort with operational ambiguity while still maintaining the ability achieve results
- Experience with communications, press, and fundraising preferred
- A highly organized individual who demonstrates sound judgment and extreme attention to detail, with the ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks on tight deadlines
- A "people person" who can relate to a diverse group of individuals, and who has the ability to initiate, develop and maintain productive relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders
- An individual who demonstrates high ethical standards
- Strong project management and organizational skills, including using online project management tools e.g. Trello, Slack, etc.
- An understanding of government processes and an appreciation for navigating complex bureaucracies
Responsibilities
- Develop a comprehensive strategy, vision, and program for the Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation
- Act as the public face for the Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation as appropriate, including representing the city on major stages around the world, interacting with the press, and producing various pieces of media collateral
- Advise the Mayor on major technology and innovation trends and develop strategies and programs to tackle these issues in San José
- Lead, manage and inspire the Technology and Innovation team including developing annual Objectives and Key Results (OKR) and work planning to ensure efficient delivery of the program
- Manage all aspects of the Technology and Innovation team portfolio including developing project priorities, driving public-private partnerships, managing communications and social media interfaces, and developing policy approaches
- Manage key donor relationships and fundraise as appropriate from corporate sponsors, foundations, and competitive grant opportunities
- Work with the policy team to develop state and national strategies working with our representatives in office to advance San José’s innovation mission
- Serve as the key liaison for Office of Retirement Services, Information Technology Department, and the San Jose Public Library
- Advance and maintain relationships with key partners like the Bay Area Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Plug and Play Tech Center, and local tech institutions e.g. Nvidia, Adobe, Zoom
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with San Jose State University and support ongoing initiatives like the AI Center for Civic and Social Good, engaging students through panels and other ונconvenings, and identifying ways students and faculty can support city services or community
- Manage high-level advisory boards with technology executives from leading companies in Silicon Valley
- Staff the Mayor at relevant meetings and events
- May supervise staff, fellows, and interns as the function grows and evolves
- Other duties as assigned
Benefits
- The total salary range for the Chief Innovation Officer is $138,628.10 - $215,798.70. This amount includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay.
- To learn more information about City Benefits, click on the Benefits tab of this job posting.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
