Chief Innovation Officer

City of South Bend; South Bend (IN); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Residency bonus of $2,000

Hybrid work option

Job summary

A municipal organization located in South Bend, Indiana is seeking a Chief Innovation Officer to lead innovation strategy across departments. The role includes managing technology functions and requires strong leadership and project management skills. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is necessary, while a master's degree is preferred. The position offers a base salary between $120,000 and $130,000 with a $2,000 residency bonus for local candidates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or significant professional experience.
• Strong management skills across people, projects, and budgets.
• Self-motivated with keen attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Department of Innovation & Technology.
• Develop and maintain strategic IT plans.
• Craft the annual budget for I&T.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Analytical ability

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or related field

Master’s degree in Business Management, Public Policy, or Technology preferred

Tools

Desktop computer

Project management software

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Chief Innovation Officer role at City of South Bend.

This range is provided by City of South Bend. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$120,000.00/yr - $130,000.00/yr

Position summary

The Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) leads with the City’s leadership team to create, formalize, and foster innovation and strategy across the City’s departments. As head of the Department of Innovation & Technology (I&T), the CIO oversees IT, data, and technology-related functions including Enterprise Services & Software, Customer Service, Infrastructure, Digital Services, Applications, Civic Innovation, and Data & Performance. I&T is an internal service department that supports all city departments in modernizing operations, analyzing data, and achieving operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strategic IT plans for the City and align I&T goals with City Leadership – especially the mayor.
• Advance procurement and impact across the City’s priorities as they intersect with I&T: data-driven public safety; user-friendly government forms and resident experiences; intelligent infrastructure; AI change management for a more efficient City; secure enterprise IT operations.
• Craft the annual budget for I&T, manage resourcing, spending, and planning to operationalize the budget.
• Maintain strong customer service relationships with other Department Heads and City Teams.
• Foster an excellent I&T culture to attract and retain top talent.
• Lead important projects, act as project champion and change manager for technology.
• Direct projects, programs, and product priorities for staff; guide Directors to focus on high-impact work.
• Handle escalated issues, blocked projects, decision impasses, and time-sensitive emergencies (e.g., data breaches).
• Identify areas for innovation and growth, including IT transformation, R&D partnerships, and pilots that elevate the City’s mission.
• Recruit and develop talent at all levels, especially Directors and C-Suite positions reporting to you.
• Stay informed of national trends and best practices in government technology and security.
• Develop regional and national partnerships in IT workforce, smart city, technology equity, and data management spaces.

Non-essential/marginal functions

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education / Qualifications

To perform this position successfully, the following qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or related field; significant professional experience may substitute for a degree.
• Strong interpersonal skills; knowledge of government technology and trends.
• Strong management skills across people, projects, and budgets.
• Strong sense of accountability; good judgment and analytical ability.
• Ability to adapt and continuously learn.

Other knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Master’s degree in Business Management, Public Policy, or Technology preferred.
• Certifications in product management, change management, and/or security preferred.
• Proven leader and public speaker; excellent organizational skills.
• Experience with project management, change management, and product management.
• Self-motivated with keen attention to detail; ability to prioritize and execute tasks.
• Ability to analyze problems and determine corrective actions.

Certificates, licenses, registrations

• Valid Driver’s license required.

Equipment

Desktop computer or laptop, telephone, fax, copy machine, scanner.

Physical demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee may be required to sit, walk, talk or hear; occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include vision and focus adjustments.

Work environment

Office setting with moderate indoor temperatures; typically quiet to moderate noise. The office is smoke-free. This position is based in South Bend, Indiana and is eligible for hybrid work in the Department of Innovation & Technology, subject to engagement and performance.

Disclaimer

The statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position and are not exhaustive. The City of South Bend is an at-will employer.

Required

Pre-Employment Drug Screen

Employee Background check

Equal Employment Opportunity

EOE

How to apply

Application Link: https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=6948116

Salary range and residency bonus: City provides a $2,000 residency bonus to employees who live within South Bend city limits.