King County’s Department of Information Technology (KCIT) seeks an innovative and transformative Deputy Director and Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) to join its executive leadership team. The KCIT Deputy Director and Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) serves as the senior executive responsible for driving technology innovation across King County. The CINO ensures that the county’s business strategy is positioned to maximize innovation, identifying and pursuing new opportunities throughout all county lines of business.

King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT)

King County is driving to become the best run government in the country. For King County Information Technology (KCIT) that means innovating and iterating on how we deliver high quality services and solutions to our customers. 

KCIT uses the power of technology to digitally transform King County. Building vibrant communities through digital equity and social justice, KCIT offers innovative solutions that engage, empower, and serve our residents, businesses, communities and interested partners. As the first-place recipient of the 15th annual National Association of Counties (NACo) Digital Counties Survey, KCIT is recognized for its vision, strategy, innovation, and collaboration. KCIT has a focus on delivering smart technology solutions that support customers, building stronger communities through innovation.

KCIT is providing the building blocks for many of the region's most critical services. As the business solutions partner, we collaborate with the 18-County departments to develop products and services that better serve the needs of our customers and our community. To learn more about KCIT, please visit: http://kingcounty.gov/depts/it.aspx

Position overview:

The Deputy Director and Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) reports directly to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and serves as a key member of the KCIT Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The CINO oversees multidisciplinary innovation functions and may directly lead teams responsible for enterprise innovation strategy, product development, digital experience, emerging technology pilots, and cross department innovation initiatives.

The central responsibility of the Chief Innovation Officer is to develop and execute the organization’s innovation strategy. This role is dedicated to realizing the strategic intent of King County information technology, balancing the advancement of long- term, integrative capabilities with the need to address short-term operational priorities and initiatives.

As a proactive leader, the Chief Innovation Officer monitors and champions emerging technologies, cultural transformations, and forward-thinking ideas that align with the enterprise’s objectives. The position plays a critical role in ensuring the county stays ahead of trends and is prepared to capitalize on new technological developments that support its goals.

The CINO leads the execution of most technology innovation initiatives within King County IT. These initiatives may include pilot programs, proofs-of-concept, new product development, and the establishment of innovation hubs such as labs, accelerators, incubators, and studios. In addition, this position oversees training initiatives and evaluates investment opportunities to further innovation throughout the enterprise.

The CINO participates in governance domains such as business strategy and planning, enterprise architecture, technology strategy and planning and must actively cultivate, influence, and sustain strategic relationships with key partners, including:

• The public and residents of King County
• The County Executive, Executive Office, and Cabinet
• The Chief Information Officer (CIO) and senior technology leadership team (SLT)
• The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) 
• Security and Privacy Team
• Executive Department and Separately Elected Agency Leadership
• The innovation community at large

These partnerships are essential to aligning technology initiatives with organizational priorities, advancing innovation, and ensuring coordinated, effective delivery of information services.

Job Duties:

• Lead the development of an enterprise-wide technology innovation strategy and roadmap and ensure its integration with the enterprise strategic planning process, and the resulting business strategy and plans. Provide a single point of coordination and executive oversight for all technology innovation initiatives and investments.
• Work with senior county leaders across the enterprise to bring new ideas that create value and match emerging technology capabilities with unmet business and constituent needs while creating a consistent innovation pipeline and fostering an innovation culture for the enterprise, identifying opportunities that create value.
• Lead the process to identify and evaluate innovative technologies and solutions. Proactively assess emerging trends and technologies as well as potential disruptions, align to business strategy and goals; define, measure and report key innovation measurements that represent progress against innovation goals.
• Ensure the enterprise has the tools, process, and support in developing new products and capabilities. Set innovation goals including innovation objectives and key results (OKRs) for the organization in line with overall business objectives and strategy.
• Serve as champion/change agent in leading the organizational changes required to create and sustain an enterprise-wide culture of innovation including process transparency, best practices (emerging technologies), learning and development.
• Establish and maintain external relationships in academia and with industry bodies, vendors and emerging companies to learn and influence. Create an innovative ecosystem inclusive of internal and external partnerships and community that grows innovation capabilities and opportunities.
• Partner to develop new digital solutions and scale digital capabilities to create value and impact for the enterprise. May also own and lead development teams and projects directly.
• Represent KCIT in executive meetings, cross-department initiatives, and regional partnerships.
• Serve as the acting Chief Information Officer in the CIO’s absence.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or STEM related field, or other related field; OR any combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Fifteen or more years of business experience, ideally in business management, technology management or marketing, ideally with some independent P&L or budget responsibilities.
• Five or more years of progressive information technology leadership experience in leading cross-functional teams and enterprise-wide programs, operating and influencing effectively across the organization and within complex contexts.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, IT governance, cloud technologies, and enterprise architecture.
• Experience with public sector technology environments, regulatory compliance, or government service delivery.
• Experience in innovating business models and developing new channels, leading disruptions or business transformation.
• Strategy and management consulting experience is desirable.
• Understand and practice inclusion as fundamental to the enterprise’s culture of innovation.

Are you ready to APPLY?

We encourage all candidates who meet the requirements for the position to apply at www.kingcounty.gov/careers, Job #2026JER26770