Chief Data Officer (0932) Digital Services

Appointment Type: Permanant Exempt (PEX), this position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

The San Francisco Digital Services (SFDS) Team is transforming how residents interact with the City, by building services designed around the people that use them. The team improves the public’s experience with the city by delivering high-quality, accessible experiences for the website, in-person experiences and for the city employees supporting these services.

SFDS is composed of product managers, designers, developers, and content strategists. As a member of this team, you would be part of a new and growing movement, with an opportunity to shape the City’s approach to technology.

Our Values

We are committed to equity in our hiring, team culture, and product outcomes and to fostering an inclusive work environment. We are building a team that reflects a diverse set of lived experiences and identities. This effort includes considering qualified candidates across a spectrum of races, colors, religions, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, national origins, genetics, disabilities, ages, or veteran status.  If you’re looking for a team where you can make an impact and improve the lives of all San Francisco residents, then we want to hear from you.

The Chief Data Officer (CDO) is a senior technical leader in the City and a champion for transparency and better services through data sharing. This position is a Mayoral Appointment and is enshrined in the City’s Administrative Code (Sec. 22.D).A primary responsibility is to ensure the code is met by continuing DataSF’s work to develop the City’s open data portal and working with departments to bring their data online in useful and usable formats.

Under the direction of the Chief Digital Services Officer, the CDO leads a team of six specializing in data and analytics. Responsibilities include setting data standards and governance, setting the Citywide data strategy, and working closely with our departments to support them on data transparency both internally and externally.

The CDO also: 

• Oversees the ongoing development of San Francisco’s open data platform, and continue work with departments to create data transparency through this central directory.
• Owns, develops and implements the City’s Data Strategy
• Works in coordination with the City Administrator’s Office to adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with the Charter and that implement the Privacy First Policy, including the privacy principles stated in Charter Section 16.130(e).
• Engages with departments and stakeholders across the City to communicate the importance of open data, analytics, and internal data sharing for better services and decision-making
• Identifies opportunities for internal data sharing that will lead to better services and better data for decision making.
• Establishes and sustain citywide training programs for data practices
• Leads critical analytics projects driven by mayoral priorities
• Participates as a leader within Digital and Data Services, and as a respected senior technologist

Work Location: 

Incumbent will conduct the majority of work at San Francisco Digital Services (1 S Van Ness, Ave San Francisco, CA 94103).  Employees may be permitted to work a hybrid schedule with supervisor approval, after which they must work at least one day in the office every week.

Minimum qualifications

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; AND
• Five (5) years of professional experience within a governmental or private sector organization, developing and implementing policies related to open data and/or data governance
• Three (3) years of experience managing professional staff.

Desirable Qualifications

• A bachelor or master’s degree in either a data or policy field
• Experience managing data and data products in regulated industries or government
• Experience with any of our major service domains: affordable housing, city planning, business permitting, public health, emergency services, grantmaking, budget transparency, etc
• Experience managing Data teams specifically
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams with product managers, designers, engineers, and policy staff
• Experience teaching and mentoring data professionals
• Public sector experience of any kind as a professional or volunteer
• Past experience as a hands-on engineer or analyst working with data
• Past excellent relationships with cross-disciplinary peers
• Experience presenting and negotiating at executive level, with technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong communicator orally and in writing - persuasive, authentic, and clear
• Bilingual experience is always valuable to our team
• Self awareness and humility

Application Opening: August 16, 2024 

Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but not before Friday, August 30, 2024.

Salary Range: $77.70 - $99.1375 (hourly) / $161,616 - $206,206 (annually)

You may contact Lawlun Leung via email at [email protected] with questions regarding this opportunity.

Important: Your application must include a resume and a cover letter that explains why you are applying for this job, and how your experience makes you a good fit for this role. To upload these items, please attach using the "additional attachments" function.

Guidance for Applying:  Applicants must include all relevant job experience in the online application.

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point in the application and/or departmental selection process. Written verification (proof) of qualifying experience must verify that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications stated on the announcement. Written verification must be submitted on employer’s official letterhead, specifying name of employee, dates of employment, types of employment (part-time/full-time), job title(s), description of duties performed, and the verification must be signed by the employer. City employees will receive credit for the duties of the class to which they are appointed. Credit for experience obtained outside of the employee’s class will be allowed only if recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Commission Rules. Experience claimed in self-employment must be supported by documents verifying income, earnings, business license and experience comparable to the minimum qualifications of the position. Copies of income tax papers or other documents listing occupations and total earnings must be submitted. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. 

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Mailed, hand delivered or faxed documents/applications will not be accepted.

Helpful Information 

• Information About The Hiring Process 

• Conviction History 

• Employee Benefits Overview   

• Equal Employment Opportunity  

• Disaster Service Worker 

• ADA Accommodation 

• Veterans Preference 

• Right to Work 

• Copies of Application Documents 

• Diversity Statement 

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.