The California Department of Technology (CDT) is seeking candidates for a newly created role — chief digital strategy officer (CDSO), who would serve “as a thought leader for the state.”
“The CDSO is expected to have an extensive background and broad knowledge of technology, innovation, policy development and analysis, stakeholder engagement, writing and communicating complex technologies, and relationship building while demonstrating a high degree of initiative, strategic planning experience, and critical thinking in including, communicating and analyzing multiple and sometimes competing policy perspectives in response to the state’s complex technology needs,” the job posting says. “The CDSO should expect to use strategic thinking to develop robust, values-driven actionable plans for current and emerging technologies at the state that are inclusive of their key stakeholders.”
The position is a Career Executive Assignment, with a monthly salary range of $12,329 to $13,998, and the application deadline is Nov. 25. The CDSO will report to the state chief technology innovation officer (CTIO).
The new role includes responsibility for “leading the development and implementation of policy, performance management and communication of the state’s innovative and inclusive technology strategies at all levels, from a statewide strategic plan to individual strategy for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and quantum computing.”
Specific duties of the role, according to the posting and the duty statement, include:
- Oversee the state’s digital strategy and technology innovation governance processes, including policy formulation and relevant stakeholder engagement needed to innovate to meet the state’s digital services priorities. Oversee the state’s digital strategy development and implementation, including formulating, adopting, implementing and measuring the effectiveness of the digital strategy vision, mission, goals and objectives.
- Manage state innovative digital services teams and technology innovation services by “assessing public-facing digital services and partnering with department chief information officers and staff to align advancements in technology with specific goals and principles.” Oversee strategic technological planning to ensure that new and emerging technologies are evaluated inclusively and equitably.
- Serve as a state thought leader for innovative and emerging technology as a member of CDT’s executive staff. Act as an adviser to the CTIO and CDT’s chief deputy director/deputy state CIO. Advise the executive staff on the state’s IT strategic direction and the CDT Strategic Plan’s vision, mission, goals and objectives.
- Provide executive oversight of Technology Innovation Services personnel management and administrative responsibilities; evaluate direct reports on completion of their administrative responsibilities; develop and update duty statements as needed; establish performance expectations; and complete individual development plans annually.
This position is also a Career Executive Assignment, with a monthly salary range of $11,102 to $13,226. The application deadline is Nov. 2.
The CDD, according to the job posting and duty statement, “is responsible for the Center for Data Insights & Innovation (CDII) and the development and coordination of the California Health and Human Services data ecosystem.” Key responsibilities of the position include:
- Overall management of operations of CDII with particular emphasis on human-centered design, data integration, health information exchange, interoperability, privacy enforcement and ensuring that all covered state agencies implement and comply with federal health privacy laws. The CDD also works closely with legislation and program policy.
- Serve as a senior adviser to the director, as well as the directors of departments and offices within the agency, on the implementation of data initiatives to realize improved health and social services outcomes; identify and target resources to underserved populations; increase data literacy and use enterprise-wide; develop solutions and initiatives that are person-centered rather than program-centered; and drive decision-making based on data analytics.
- Collaborate across the agency “to enhance the operational use and quality of integrated data for program planning, policy development and rigorous research and evaluation, as well as increase the state’s ability to create evidence-based programs and maximize federal reimbursements.” The CDD’s responsibility will include the capacity of state staff to use linked data to inform policy and decision-making in addition to increasing collaboration among university-based researchers and state staff to translate data into knowledge.
- Foster and contribute to cross-departmental strategic data initiatives and develop partnerships, frameworks and processes to support CHHS’ data management vision, in alignment with the agency’s strategic plan. Create an environment across departments to foster data sharing and collaboration and the delivery of data products and services that meet users’ needs.
- Champion the development of data-driven management practices across departments and support the adoption of contemporary data management practices, open data and application programming interfaces (APIs) and industry and national standards.
- Experience and demonstrated knowledge of the health and human services data industry with an emphasis on human-centered design, data integration, interoperability and health information exchange.
- Knowledge of and experience working with privacy enforcement including the implementation of and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Experience implementing data initiatives with a focus on improving health and social services outcomes and experience creating evidence-based programs that influence planning, policy and decision-making.
- Ability to foster and contribute to cross-departmental strategic data initiatives by developing partnerships, frameworks and processes that support the California Health and Human Services (CHHS) data management vision.
- Experience developing a data-driven ecosystem designed to improve data sharing and analytics processes.
