Principal Technology Strategist - Strategic Planning & Innovation

This position is only open to Internal King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT) and Business Resource Center (BRC) employees. Only current KCIT and BRC employees will be considered.

King County’s Department of Information Technology (KCIT) is seeking a highly skilled Principal Technology Strategist to lead strategic planning and innovation across the organization. The Principal Technology Strategist reports directly to the Chief Innovation Officer and serves as a key member of the KCIT Extended Leadership Team. The Principal Technology Strategist mobilizes people across disciplines to develop and deliver our IT strategy;

works to advance IT capabilities and improve service delivery; drives experimentation and proof of value; measures results and performance; and tirelessly seeks opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement. The position plays a critical role in ensuring the County keeps pace with technology trends and prepares the County to capitalize on emerging technologies to improve the lives of residents and support better government.

King County is committed to being the best-run government in the nation, and King County Information Technology (KCIT) is helping lead that transformation. KCIT harnesses the power of technology to modernize operations, advance digital equity and social justice, and deliver innovative solutions that engage, empower, and serve our residents, businesses, and community partners.

Recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for excellence in vision, strategy, innovation, and collaboration, KCIT is focused on delivering smart, secure, and customer-centered technology services that strengthen county operations and support thriving, resilient communities. As the technology business partner to all 18 County departments, KCIT provides the foundational systems and services that power many of the region’s most essential functions.

We work side‑by‑side with our partners to design and deliver technology solutions that enhance customer experience and advance King County’s mission. Learn more about KCIT at: http://King County.gov/depts/it.aspx

• Lead the development, management, and maintenance of the Strategic Information Technology Plan and roadmap.
• Align strategy with IT goals, County priorities, and risk posture.
• Establish evaluation frameworks to identify, compare, and prioritize strategic opportunities and critical areas for investment based on potential value, feasibility, risk, and organizational readiness.

• Manage a portfolio of strategic initiatives, pilots, and proofs of concept that support proactive learning, strengthens IT readiness, reduces technology debt, and advances mission impact.
• Pursue value-driven opportunities with measurable outcomes, ensuring that strategy and innovation align with IT standards, governance, and security, privacy, compliance, and service delivery expectations.
• Monitor trends and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to identify responsible use cases, develop standards and policy guidance, and contribute to training and education plans.

• Serve as a strategic partner to KCIT leadership and agency leadership, facilitating multidisciplinary teams through discovery, design, testing, operational readiness, and adoption.
• Champion change-management best practices and foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain external relationships with industry bodies, government organizations, community groups, academia, and vendors.

• Progressive responsibility in…