Salary: $150,000.00 - $235,000.00 Annually
Location : Richland County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: 193918
Agency: Department of Administration
Division: Deputy Chief of Staff
Opening Date: 10/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/22/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Class Code:: UA17
Position Number::Normal Work Schedule:: Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Grade: Unclassified
Hiring Range - Min.: $150,000.00
Hiring Range - Max.: $235,000.00
Job ResponsibilitiesJoin Our Team as South Carolina's Chief Data Officer!As a newly created position reporting to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, the Chief Data Officer will play a pivotal role in advancing the Department's strategic priorities and driving meaningful, statewide improvements.
In this role, you will lead the Office of State Data and provide executive leadership and strategic direction for South Carolina's enterprise-wide approach to data governance, management, sharing, analytics, and responsible data use. You will establish and champion a statewide vision, strategy, policies, and governance framework that position data as a valuable strategic asset. Working collaboratively with state agencies and key stakeholders, you will lead efforts to improve the quality, accessibility, security, and effective use of government data. Your leadership will help strengthen government operations, support informed decision-making, enhance public services, promote transparency, and deliver better outcomes for South Carolina residents.
If you are a forward-thinking leader who is passionate about innovation, collaboration, and using data to drive meaningful change, we invite you to be part of this exciting new chapter at the Department of Administration!Responsibilities of the Chief Data Officer:- Manage and provide technical leadership to Statewide Data Office. Lead and support staff through coaching, training, and performance development. Streamline workflows while implementing management policies and organizational initiatives.
- Establish and lead the State's enterprise data vision, strategy, priorities, and roadmap. Advise executive leadership on data governance, analytics, emerging technologies, and opportunities to use data to improve government operations, policy, and service delivery. Develop statewide policies, standards, frameworks, and initiatives and align Office of State Data priorities with statewide strategic and operational objectives.
- Build partnerships with agency executives, chief information officers, data and program leaders, legal counsel, privacy and security professionals, and other stakeholders. Lead or support statewide governance councils, working groups, and communities of practice to establish priorities, resolve enterprise issues, and share effective practices. Represent the State with governmental and external partners on data-related matters.
- Establish and lead statewide governance for state data assets, including roles, responsibilities, standards, and decision-making processes. Partner with agencies to strengthen data quality, stewardship, documentation, interoperability, lifecycle management, integration, and responsible data sharing. Promote appropriate access and use while addressing privacy, security, confidentiality, records management, and applicable legal requirements.
- Advance statewide use of analytics, data science, visualization, and related capabilities to support executive decision-making, policy development, program evaluation, resource allocation, and operational improvement. Build agency capacity to translate data into actionable information and promotes responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and emerging data and data sharing capabilities.
Minimum and Additional Requirements - A bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, information technology, data management, data analytics, computer science, or a related field and progressively responsible experience in data strategy, data governance, data management, analytics, information technology, or organizational leadership, including experience leading complex enterprise initiatives.
Additional Requirements:- Knowledge of enterprise data strategy, governance, management, analytics, architecture, data sharing, interoperability, data quality, metadata, information lifecycle management, and emerging data technologies, including artificial intelligence and cloud data platforms.
- Knowledge of strategic planning, policy development, performance and change management, government operations, legal, privacy, security, confidentiality, and public-sector data records-management.
- Ability to establish enterprise strategies, governance frameworks, policies, standards, operating models, and measurable objectives.
- Ability to lead complex initiatives involving multiple agencies and stakeholders.
- Ability to build consensus and effective partnerships; and translate complex data, technical, and policy issues into clear recommendations for executive and nontechnical audiences.
- Establish priorities, manage resources and organizational performance, exercise sound judgment, lead, supervise, and develop professional staff.
- Position may require overnight travel.
- Position may require employee to work evenings and weekends.
- Position may be required to report to work during emergency situations.
Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application may bring a copy of college transcript to the interview. A copy of the transcript may also be uploaded as an attachment to the application, if required by the hiring department or if desired by the applicant. Please note that some areas of the Department may require an official, certified copy of the transcript prior to hiring or within a specific timeframe required by that area, after hiring. Failure to produce an official, certified transcript may result in not being hired or termination.
Preferred Qualifications - Executive or senior leadership experience involving multiple organizations or diverse stakeholders is preferred.
Additional CommentsSupplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.
The South Carolina Department of Administration offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees: - Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
- 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
- 15 days sick leave per year
- 13 paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available
- Retirement benefit choices *
- State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
- State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.
Benefits for State EmployeesThe state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.
Insurance BenefitsEligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.
Retirement BenefitsState employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.
Workplace BenefitsState employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.
Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
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Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted or reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position. I have read and acknowledge the above statement.
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Will you now or in the future require sponsorship from the Department of Administration for employment visa status?
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Do you have at least a bachelor's degree or higher in business administration, public administration, information technology, data management, data analytics, computer science, or a related field?
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Do you have progressively responsible experience in data strategy, data governance, data management, analytics, information technology, or organizational leadership, including experience leading complex enterprise initiatives?
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Please briefly describe your experience in data strategy, data governance, data management, analytics, information technology, organizational leadership, or experience leading complex enterprise initiatives.
Required Question
