Principal Technology Strategist - Strategic Planning & Innovation

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

King County's Department of Information Technology (KCIT) seeks a Principal Technology Strategist to lead strategic planning and innovation across the organization. The role reports to the Chief Innovation Officer and mobilizes cross-functional teams to develop and deliver IT strategy.

You will drive experimentation, measure results, manage a portfolio of strategic initiatives, align with IT goals, and ensure compliance, security, and service excellence.

Qualifications

• Progressive responsibility in technology management and leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, management, and maintenance of the Strategic Information Technology Plan and roadmap.
• Manage a portfolio of strategic initiatives, pilots, and proofs of concept.
• Collaborate with KCIT leadership and agency leadership to drive adoption and governance.

Skills

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Innovation management

AI readiness

Job description

This position is only open to Internal King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT) and Business Resource Center (BRC) employees. Only current KCIT and BRC employees will be considered.

King County’s Department of Information Technology (KCIT) is seeking a highly skilled Principal Technology Strategist to lead strategic planning and innovation across the organization. The Principal Technology Strategist reports directly to the Chief Innovation Officer and serves as a key member of the KCIT Extended Leadership Team. The Principal Technology Strategist mobilizes people across disciplines to develop and deliver our IT strategy; works to advance IT capabilities and improve service delivery; drives experimentation and proof of value; measures results and performance; and tirelessly seeks opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement. The position plays a critical role in ensuring the County keeps pace with technology trends and prepares the County to capitalize on emerging technologies to improve the lives of residents and support better government.

About King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT)

King County is committed to being the best-run government in the nation, and King County Information Technology (KCIT) is helping lead that transformation. KCIT harnesses the power of technology to modernize operations, advance digital equity and social justice, and deliver innovative solutions that engage, empower, and serve our residents, businesses, and community partners.

Recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for excellence in vision, strategy, innovation, and collaboration, KCIT is focused on delivering smart, secure, and customer-centered technology services that strengthen county operations and support thriving, resilient communities. As the technology business partner to all 18 County departments, KCIT provides the foundational systems and services that power many of the region’s most essential functions. We work side‑by‑side with our partners to design and deliver technology solutions that enhance customer experience and advance King County’s mission. Learn more about KCIT at: http://kingcounty.gov/depts/it.aspx

Strategic Planning

• Lead the development, management, and maintenance of the Strategic Information Technology Plan and roadmap.
• Align strategy with IT goals, County priorities, and risk posture.
• Establish evaluation frameworks to identify, compare, and prioritize strategic opportunities and critical areas for investment based on potential value, feasibility, risk, and organizational readiness.

Responsible Innovation and Proof of Value

• Manage a portfolio of strategic initiatives, pilots, and proofs of concept that support proactive learning, strengthens IT readiness, reduces technology debt, and advances mission impact.
• Pursue value-driven opportunities with measurable outcomes, ensuring that strategy and innovation align with IT standards, governance, and security, privacy, compliance, and service delivery expectations.
• Monitor trends and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to identify responsible use cases, develop standards and policy guidance, and contribute to training and education plans.

Collaboration and Change Leadership

• Serve as a strategic partner to KCIT leadership and agency leadership, facilitating multidisciplinary teams through discovery, design, testing, operational readiness, and adoption.
• Champion change-management best practices and foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain external relationships with industry bodies, government organizations, community groups, academia, and vendors.

Experience and Qualifications

• Progressive responsibility in business or technology management, including leading cross-functional teams and contributing to enterprise-wide programs.
• Deep experience in business operations, process and service design, program/project management, and organizational change management.
• Systems and enterprise thinking with the ability to identify relationships, dependencies, effects, and constraints across complex problem spaces.
• Experience with public-sector technology environments, regulatory compliance, and government procurement practices.
• Ability to effectively engage and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures and socio‑economic backgrounds.
• Prior experience evaluating, implementing, and maintaining AI‑enabled systems is desirable.

Knowledge and Skills

• Comprehensive knowledge across multiple technology areas.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex environments and develop durable, scalable, data-driven solutions.
• Proven facilitation and stakeholder‑management abilities across all roles and levels.
• Ability to deliver multiple, competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, adept at translating complex technical concepts clearly for diverse audiences.

Hybrid Work:

KCIT works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is the Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department’s hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County‑issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Work Schedule:

The normal workweek for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Alternative schedules may be considered by your manager.

FLSA Status:

This position is FLSA Exempt and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Classification:

Principal Technology Strategist (740801)

Union:

This position is represented by Local 117: IT Managers and Supervisors

Who May Apply:

This position is only open to Internal King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT) and Business Resource Center (BRC) employees. Only current KCIT and BRC employees will be considered. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background to apply.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Shannon Hoeper at [e-mail]

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action‑oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.