Chief Innovation Officer; Unclassified); Mayor’s Office

Job Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work.

Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at , 711 (TTY), or via email at City Careers.

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top ten cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural, government, and economic activity for the region. The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values:
Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect, and Celebration.

The San José City Council consists of ten Council members elected by district and a Mayor elected at-large, each for four-year terms. The Mayor serves as the political leader of San José, and under the City Charter, is responsible for recommending policy, program, and budget priorities for the City. The Mayor and City Council are responsible for representing the residents of San José, providing accountability, reviewing public policy and programs, and adopting those policies which best meet the needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in San José.

The Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation (MOTI) is charged with making San José the most innovative city in America, both inside and outside of City Hall. Key initiatives for the Technology and Innovation team include fostering economic development through startup-focused initiatives like the SJ AI Incentive Program, promoting AI literacy through partnerships with San José Public Libraries and San Jose State University such as the MLK Library’s AI Center for Civic and Social Good, and co-developing pilots alongside private industry and city staff such as our object detection pilot.

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…