At the center of one of the most dynamic technology ecosystems in the world, the City of San José offers a rare opportunity for a forward-thinking technology executive to shape the future of public service delivery at scale. As the Assistant Chief Information Officer, you will help lead a nationally recognized municipal IT organization that is redefining how local government leverages innovation, data, and emerging technologies – including artificial intelligence – to better serve a diverse and rapidly evolving community. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, and impact, partnering closely with executive leadership to modernize systems, strengthen cybersecurity, and build a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement across the enterprise.
Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Spanning 178 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is the largest city in Northern California and the 12th largest city in the nation. With approximately one million residents and 80,000 businesses, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. San José’s quality of life is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Diablo and Santa Cruz mountain ranges and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, residents have easy access to the beaches along the California coast including Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel; Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains; local and Napa Valley wine country; and the rich cultural and recreational life of the entire Bay region. San José has received accolades for its vibrant neighborhoods, healthy lifestyle, and diverse attractions from national media including Business Week and Money magazines and is proud of its rich cultural diversity and global connections, as well as the essential role the City plays in connecting residents and businesses to the nation and the world.
THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
The Information Technology Department’s (ITD) mission is to enrich the quality of life in San José through innovation, collaboration, and engagement. ITD advances this mission by delivering reliable business and infrastructure systems, strengthening cybersecurity resilience, enabling data management and business intelligence, promoting responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and supporting productivity and collaboration solutions. The department also oversees the San José 311 resident experience platform, supports data equity and privacy programs, and drives effective strategic planning. San José is powered by truly great people, a robust technology environment, and a strong sense of purpose. ITD is a leader in innovation, embracing cutting-edge technologies and pioneering solutions to enhance efficiency and quality of life in San José. As part of this effort, the City leads a national initiative for AI through the GovAI Coalition, which was established to give local governments a voice in shaping the future of AI, ensuring it is developed responsibly and for the public good.
ITD operates four primary service portfolios: Business solutions, cybersecurity, infrastructure and operations, and administration and strategic support.
The Assistant Chief Information Officer (ACIO) is the second highest technology leadership position for the City’s ITD organization. The person selected will team with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead and sustain an exceptional innovation and technology team, enabling the City to provide superior municipal services through advanced solutions and processes.
The City of San José is seeking a strong leader and mentor with expertise in solving business challenges, managing technology, and advancing a culture of innovation. This role requires a leader who can develop employees within a collaborative, team-oriented environment to address complex, multi-department challenges. The ACIO is expected to provide inspirational leadership, fostering confidence, empathy, and respect, while guiding and strengthening a high-performing innovation and technology team that enables the City to deliver exceptional civic services. The Assistant CIO is responsible for the Business Solutions, Data & Business Intelligence functions as well as the Customer Contact Center – with a total staff size of 51.
The following are the minimum qualifications for the Assistant Chief Information Officer position:
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
Experience: Seven years of progressive, senior-level experience in information technology, business management and/or administration, or operations with demonstrated growth in scope, responsibility, and organizational impact; including at least three years of direct supervisory and managerial experience leading multi-disciplinary technology teams, including hiring, performance management, professional development, and labor relations in a complex organizational environment.
Certifications: Advanced certifications such as PMP, ITIL, CISSP, CISM or equivalent are preferred.
The annual salary range for this position is $184,968.42 - $298,805.74 which includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. The final candidate’s qualifications and experience will determine the actual salary. In addition, the City provides an excellent array of benefits, including its own competitive defined benefit retirement plan, with full reciprocity with CalPERS. A defined contribution plan is available as an option.
For more information on employee benefits, review the detailed recruitment brochure at or visit the City’s
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Apply Immediately - A first review of candidates will be on Monday, May 11, 2026, but the City can close the recruitment at any time once a sufficiently strong pool of candidates has been established. Submit a cover letter and comprehensive résumé at:
This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.
Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:
Greg Nelson | | (916) 581-1426
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