Enterprise AI & Data Systems Manager

County of Ventura, CA; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Ventura seeks an Enterprise AI & Data Systems Manager to shape AI strategy and governance across the county’s data platforms. You will lead pilots, evaluate tools, and ensure security, privacy, and operational standards for enterprise data initiatives.

The role involves collaborating with stakeholders, developing standards, and supervising staff to deliver AI-enabled solutions in a complex public sector environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive professional level experience in systems design and programming.
• Experience with data architecture, enterprise applications, and cloud/data platforms.
• Experience in AI-enabled solution design and governance.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate AI tools, pilot projects, and sandbox environments.
• Develop recommendations for responsible AI adoption and data governance.
• Supervise and train subordinate staff; coordinate work of others.
• Prepare reports and present options for data systems and analytics platforms.
• Collaborate with security, infrastructure, and business stakeholders.

Skills

AI solution architecture

Data governance

Staff supervision

Stakeholder communication

Security & privacy

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT or related field

Graduate degree preferred

Project management certification

ITIL/Service Management knowledge

Tools

PowerBuilder

SYBASE

DMS

CASE tools

Data warehouse/Lakehouse concepts

Job description

What We Offer

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• General Salary Increase of 3.5% on December 20, 2026 and 3.5% on December 19, 2027.
• Educational Incentive for completion of an associate degree (2.5%), a bachelor's degree (3.5%), or a graduate degree (5%).
• Annual Leave: 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after five (5) years of service.
• Annual Leave Redemption: The option to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave hours per year after using 80 hours in the preceding twelve (12) months.
• Deferred Compensation: Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans: You are afforded a flexible allowance credit of up to $26,626.86 annually for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts:Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS-approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan: Both the County and the employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as CalPERS.
• Holidays: 13 paid days per year, which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

The Department

The Information Technology Services (ITS) department partners with every Ventura County department and agency to deliver secure, innovative, and reliable technology solutions that support both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic initiatives. ITS provides expertise in project and portfolio management, business process improvement, enterprise applications, voice and data infrastructure, cybersecurity, risk and vulnerability management, technology consulting, contract management, and strategic IT staffing to help departments achieve their business objectives.

The Position

The Enterprise AI & Data Systems Manager will help shape how the County evaluates, designs, implements, and responsibly uses artificial intelligence, automation, analytics, and enterprise data technologies. This position will lead AI pilots and proof-of-concept efforts, support the development of the County's AI and data strategy, and help establish the governance, security, and operational standards needed for successful implementation. The role will also collaborate with business an technical stakeholders, evaluate emerging technologies, develop recommendations, and supervise staff supporting these initiatives.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is forward-thinking technology leader with a strong understanding of artificial intelligence, enterprise data, analytics, automation, and responsible technology adoption. They will be skilled at evaluating emerging tools, identifying security, privacy, governance, and operational risks, and translating complex technical concepts into clear recommendations for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. The successful candidate will also be collaborative leader who can build strong relationships, guide cross-functional initiatives, develop standards and procedures, and effectively supervise and develop staff. The ideal candidate will also have strong hands-on technical experience designing, integrating, and implementing AI-enabled solutions within complex enterprise environments.

Payroll Title: Data Systems Manager

Distinguishing Characteristics

This classification differs from that of a Senior Data Analyst in that the latter provides installation, maintenance, and support to specific physical data bases.

Educational Incentive:Incumbents may be eligible for educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's degree that is not require for the classification.

Data Systems Manager is a management position and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

The list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Regular, Temporary, Fixed-term, and Intermittent vacancies for this and similarly situated positions only.

There is currently one (1) Regular, full-time, vacancy.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Opening Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Closing Date: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend on when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applicants to meet business needs.

Below is a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in this classification. These examples are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

• Evaluates AI-enabled tools, platforms and services for alignment with County business needs, security, privacy, governance, integration, supportability, and operational readiness.
• Develops technical recommendations regarding the architecture, selection, configuration, testing deployment, and appropriate use of AI-enabled tools, automation technologies, data platforms, and emerging technologies.
• Designs and coordinates AI tests, pilot, proof-of-concept, and sandbox environments in partnership with security, infrastructure, application, data governance, and business stakeholders.
• Supports AI strategy and roadmap planning by advising on data platform needs, governance requirements, integration patterns, analytics readiness, tool evaluation, and responsible use of enterprise data.
• Establishes and maintains data repositories, data catalogs, data dictionaries, metadata directories, and documentation supporting enterprise data systems, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled use case.
• Supports planning and implementation of enterprise data and analytical platforms, including data warehouse, data Lakehouse, business intelligence, self-service analytics, and related data integration environments.
• Defines and documents data structures, relationships, business rules, authorized uses, data lineage, ownership, classifications, and operational requirements.
• Participates in customer requirement sessions to identify business rules, data resources, reporting needs, analytic requirements, automation opportunities, and AI-enabled use cases.
• Reviews proposed data integrations, dashboards, automation efforts, AI tools, and AI-enabled use cases for alignment with County standards, security requirements, governance practices, and operational guidelines.
• Coordinates with vendors and internal stakeholders to evaluate emerging data, analytics, automation, and AI technologies; documents findings; and presents recommendations.
• Prepares and presents reports, standards, findings, recommendations, and implementation options related to data systems, analytics platforms, AI readiness, tool evaluation, and sandbox requirements.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates subordinate staff.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

Education, Training, and Experience

Extensive professional level experience coupled with education/training as a systems designer and programmer; data base designer and modeler developing client/server applications using Unix and Windows operating systems, in a relational data base environment such as SYBASE or DMS and using an object-oriented programming language, such as PowerBuilder and CASE tools.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Work experience with at least two (2) or more of the following:
  • Systems design and development; OR
  • Data architecture and modeling; OR
  • Enterprise application development; OR
  • Cloud or data platforms; OR
  • Related technologies within complex enterprise environments.
• Work experience with generative artificial intelligence platforms, AI-enabled applications, AI/data readiness initiatives, or closely related AI technologies; and at least one (1) or more of the following:
  • Generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms or AI-enabled productivity tools or AI/data readiness initiatives or related technology; OR
  • Modern data platforms; OR
  • Cloud-based data environments; OR
  • Data Lakehouse concepts designs and implementation.
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid California driver license.
• May be required to travel within the County to conduct studies or troubleshoot.
• May be required to work long hours to resolve production problems or meet project deadlines.
• Willing and able to work nights, weekends, and holidays on an on-call basis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

The following are highly desirable:

• Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Computer Science, or closely related discipline;
• Graduate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, business administration, or closely related study discipline;
• Work experience in both public and private sectors;
• Certification in project management; and,
• Working knowledge of IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)/Service Management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of:

• AI solution architecture; large language models; retrieval-augmented generation; AI agents and orchestration; APIs and enterprise integration patterns; identity and access management; AI monitoring and operationalization;
• Artificial intelligence concepts; generative AI platforms; AI-enabled productivity tools;
• Automation technologies; sandbox and proof-of-concept environments; responsible use of enterprise data in AI enabled systems;
• Security, privacy, governance, and operational considerations related to AI adoptions;
• Database technology; data modeling, metadata management; data quality; data governance; data integrations; data warehouse and Lakehouse concepts;
• Business intelligence, self-service analytics; and tools used to support enterprise systems, analytics, automation, and AI initiatives.

Comprehensive ability to:

• Evaluate AI-related tools and platforms, develop recommendations for responsible adoption; coordinate, pilot, test, and sandbox environments;
• Assess data and readiness; identify security, privacy, governance, and operational risk; and communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders;
• Supervise and trains staff, plan and direct the work of others;
• Maintain effective relations with others;
• Analyze complex data and business processes;
• Prepare and present reports and recommendations;
• Develops standards, procedures, and guidelines for data systems, analytics platforms, AI tool evaluation, sandbox testing, and responsible development of AI-enabled solutions.

FINAL FILING DATE: Your application must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough post offer, pre-employment background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record will be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information regarding this recruitment, please, contact Shannon Gibson by email at [e-mail] or by telephone at [phone].