Chief Innovation Officer (Unclassified) (Mayor's Office)

Salary: $142,786.80 - $222,272.44 Annually
Location : San Jose
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
DEPART: Mayor and City Council
Opening Date: 05/15/2026

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
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

Employees in this classification are not members of the classified civil service and appointment would be on a contract "at-will" basis and is for a specified period of time to be determined by the appointing elected official and does not extend past the end of the elected official's term. Candidates must be willing to work frequent evenings and weekends, and as exempt management employees, are not eligible for overtime compensation. This unclassified position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income and business positions.
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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Please articulate a brief (2-3 paragraph) vision of the body of work you would achieve 1 year into the role if chosen.
4. 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
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: