PEX - Chief Innovation and Information Officer - San Francisco Public Library (0932) - 165485

City and County of San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

San Francisco Public Library seeks a Chief Innovation and Information Officer to lead enterprise‑wide IT strategy, governance, and digital transformation for the city’s public library system. This executive role reports to the COO and works with the City Librarian, COIT, and other key stakeholders.

The CIIO will shape technology standards, budgets, and procurement, driving innovative, equitable digital experiences for patrons and staff while ensuring security, reliability, and cost‑effectiveness

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise IT strategy and governance.
• Ability to partner with executive leadership and city stakeholders.
• Strong focus on equity and accessible digital services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a forward‑thinking IT strategy that aligns with the library's mission and goals.
• Define the IT operating model and governance processes across divisions to build scalable, cost‑effective digital solutions.
• Own and lead enterprise‑wide technology budgeting and vendor management with executive oversight.
• Drive enterprise digitization initiatives and modernization of service delivery across library divisions.
• Collaborate with city and department stakeholders to ensure IT delivers value and supports equity in access.

Job description

PEX - Chief Innovation and Information Officer - San Francisco Public Library (0932) - 165485

• Full-time
• Job Code and Title: 0932-Manager IV
• Fill Type: Permanent Exempt

Application Opening:Monday, August 31, 2026
Application Deadline:This recruitment may close at any time, but not earlier than 5:00pm on Friday, September 11, 2026.
Recruitment ID:165485; RTF0165473-01155340

Appointment Type:This is a Category 18 Permanent Exempt position, special project-based position limited to no more than 3 years in duration. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process, is considered 'at will' and shall serve at the discretion of the Department Head.

The San Francisco Public Library (SFPL)connects our diverse communities to learning, opportunities, and each other. The library system includes the architecturally significant Main Library, an anchor institution in the city's Civic Center, 27 neighborhood branch libraries that serve all neighborhoods throughout the city, two administrative buildings and four bookmobiles. With a collection of more than 5 million physical and digital items circulating 15 million times annually, SFPL is the highest-rated City department in San Francisco.

The library embraces its role as the most democratic of institutions, providing safe and welcoming facilities for all.Through a robust array of services and programs that serves 4.6 million patrons annually, the library is dedicated to advancing literacy and learning, serving as a cultural amplifier, acting as a catalyst for community engagement, guiding patrons as a thoughtful navigator, and providing essential resources to support healthy,equitablecommunities.For more information about SFPL, please visitwww.sfpl.org .

SFPL must build a culture, spaceand workplace that is accessible and welcoming to all current and future employees and to actively build an environment in which all people regardless of background,identity, or ability, can be equal participants. In this way, our staff at all organizational levels can reflect the communities we serve. A safe,equitable public library is an actively anti-racist public library. Creating an inclusive public library means aligning with the lived realities of people of color. SFPLis committed to advancing racial equity for our workforce and community, andwill actively engage in anti-racist practice programs, and collection development in carrying out theLibrary'smission.

SFPL seeks a Chief Innovation and Information Officer (CIIO), a visionary and mission-driven technology executive ready to shape the future of digital public services in libraries. This role is ideal for tech leaders who want to build systems that serve equity, access, and impact at scale. Technology is core to SFPL’s operations, equity agenda, and patron experience; this role leads the digital backbone of San Francisco’s library system.

The CIIO is the Library's highest IT leadership role, with full ownership of the enterprise-wide IT strategy and its integration with the Library's broader mission and business strategy. As a core member of the executive leadership team, the CIIO balances technology and business leadership, ensuring IT capabilities drive meaningful outcomes for patrons, staff, and the communities we serve. The CIIO brings both current knowledge and future vision to shape service delivery, operational performance, and the Library's long‑term digital direction. The CIIO establishes enterprise technology standards, governance, and prioritization processes and provides executive oversight for major technology decisions across the Library. This role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and serves on the Library’s Management Team, including regular engagement with the City Librarian, Library Commission, and other key City stakeholders such as the Department of Technology (DT) and the Committee on Information Technology (COIT).

We welcome candidates from the public, non‑profit, and private sectors who are eager to bring their expertise to a civic mission and lead digital transformation at scale.

Strategic Leadership at the Executive Level

The CIIO role has evolved beyond technology management. Today's CIIO drives enterprise outcomes as a strategic executive partner. The most impactful persona is the Business Digitalization Leader: a CIIO who leads digital initiatives, shapes strategy at the executive level, and champions innovation grounded in mission and business need. At the San Francisco Public Library, this means delivering seamless, equitable experiences for patrons and empowering staff with the tools and capabilities to serve their communities with excellence.

Core Responsibilities

Visionary Leadership: Develop and implement a forward-thinking IT strategy that aligns with the library's mission and goals.

• Develop and launch a 3-year IT strategic plan and roadmap that establishes vision, priorities, and execution sequencing aligned with SFPL's service model, enterprise strategy, and Vision 2030 — completed and in active use within the first 12 months.
• Deliver IT capabilities with unwavering reliability, sustainability, cost-efficiency, and robust security, while maintaining the agility to adapt to evolving business objectives, goals, and strategies.
• Define the IT operating model to foster a service-oriented, digital-ready culture across the organization.
• Provide strategic direction on emerging technologies and how they can be integrated across library divisions to modernize the service experience and drive digital transformation.
• Lead innovation efforts that leverage digital capabilities to create and deliver new value for patrons and staff.

Solution‑Focused Orientation: Identify and implement technology solutions that address the needs of our patrons and staff, ensuring seamless and efficient library services.

• Oversee the strategic direction, design, development, operation and support of IT systems and programs that fulfill business needs, including enterprise architecture management, application management, security and risk management, and infrastructure and operations support management.
• Direct the design of the IT operating model and governance processes, collaborating across divisions to build scalable, cost‑effective digital solutions that achieve core business goals. This leader ensures fiscal resilience by evaluating the feasibility of all initiatives and identifying strategic efficiencies to maintain mission‑critical services during budget restrictions.
• Own and lead enterprise‑wide technology budget planning, ensuring alignment with service priorities and long‑term digital strategy. Partner with division leaders to develop and align their technology budgets, ensuring divisional input and ownership in the process. Direct the development and oversight of the annual operating and capital expenditure budgets for IT, ensuring technology investments remain consistent with the Library's strategic objectives and within approved financial plans.
• Enhance IT's capabilities by leveraging a multitude of internal and external resources. Direct the development of the IT sourcing strategy and provide executive oversight for strategic vendor and partner relationship management.
• Lead technology procurement, contract strategy and vendor accountability for the Library, including competitive solicitations, contract performance oversight, renewals, and alignment with City purchasing requirements and fiscal controls.

Collaborative Approach: Work closely with library staff, City stakeholders, and the community to understand and address IT service needs, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Build strong cross‑organizational partnerships with Library leadership, divisions, and the Department of Technology, positioning IT as a trusted, proactive partner embedded in enterprise planning and decision‑making.
• Collaborate with Public Services leadership to co‑develop and lead patron‑centered initiatives, prioritizing public‑facing innovation that enhances the Library experience and advances equitable access to services and resources.
• Promote democratized digital delivery (co‑create, co‑deliver, co‑manage) 'by design' with more digitally savvy executives. Offer to lead efforts to establish new team structures (fusion teams), support hiring and development of technology talent, and create and deliver new support approaches from the IT function.
• Serve on enterprise planning and policy‑making committees. Drive the development of enterprise technology standards, governance processes and performance metrics to ensure IT delivers value to the enterprise. Manage risks through the effective design, delivery and management of I&T capabilities for the enterprise.
• Board‑level engagement: Serve as a key partner to commissions, committees, and boards, presenting IT strategies, initiatives, and performance metrics while ensuring alignment with governance and strategic goals. Actively engage in new projects and initiatives to