Chief Innovation Officer (Unclassified) (Mayor’s Office)
City of San Jose San Jose, California, United States
- Location: San Jose, California, United States
- Categories: Administration and Management
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: May 18, 2026
Job Description:
Chief Innovation Officer (Unclassified) (Mayor’s Office)
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 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .
About the Department
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 Councilmembers 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.
Position Duties
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San José’s website at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.
Chief Innovation Officer for the Mayor’s Office
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.
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. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.
Responsibilities for this position may include, but are not limited to the following:
- 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 convenings, 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
Minimum Qualifications
The minimum qualification requirements include 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.
Required Licensing: Possession of a valid California Driver’s license is required.
Other Qualifications
Desirable Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess the most desirable combination of training, skills, and experience, which will allow them to serve as a member of the Mayor’s Team.
Education: A 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
Experience: 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.
The ideal candidate is a well-rounded, dedicated and enthusiastic individual with a broad combination of skills and abilities. A competitive candidate will possess the following attributes:
- 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
Core Competencies:
- Vision/Strategic Thinking: Understands trends in civic innovation and funding; builds and communicates a shared vision for partnership development.
- Leadership: Demonstrates high integrity, sets clear direction, and fosters collaboration and accountability.
- Management: Strong skills in project management, budgeting, and organizational development.
- Job Expertise: Demonstrates understanding of cross-sector partnerships, grantmaking, and urban policy issues.
- Supervision: Empowers and develops others, assigns responsibilities effectively.
- Communication Skills: Speaks and writes clearly, persuasively, and with influence.
- Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Collaborates effectively across departments and sectors.
Selection Process
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the cover letter, resume/CV, three (3) references, one (1) writing sample, and four (4) application question responses demonstrating their qualifications. Those candidates with experience and training that best match the position will move forward to the next phase of the selection process, which may include interviews and reference checks.
To be considered for this position, you must fill out the online application on the City of San José website and submit the following:
- Cover Letter
- Resume/CV
- 3 References
- 1 Writing Sample
- 4 Job Specific Question Responses
You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.
You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.
This role will require positive collaboration with City Staff, as well as the local and regional business and tech industry, and the public interest sector. Please provide two clear and distinct instances where you collaborated with the private and public sectors to deliver a positive result.
Please describe a time where you were a key stakeholder or decisionmaker on a complex or strategic issue, and how you exercised sound discernment to deliver a positive outcome or resort.
Please articulate a brief (2-3 paragraph) vision of the body of work you would achieve 1 year into the role if chosen.
Where should AI usage within local government be encouraged, prohibited, and regulated/limited?
Applicants must write their own responses. We are interested in hearing your innate voice and reasoning. Use of AI content in responses may result in disqualification.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns about the recruitment, selection, or hiring process, please contact Stephen Caines at Stephen.Caines@sanjoseca.gov.
To learn more information about City Benefits, click on the Benefits tab of this job posting.
To learn more information about the Mayor and City Council, click here .
Link to California Equal Pay Act .
This position will remain open until filled . The Mayor’s Office will begin reviewing applications as of June 8, 2026, and applications will be reviewed continuously. Therefore, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.
Additional Information:
Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.
You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.
Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.
AI and the Hiring Process
We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.
The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.
For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.
In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.