City Data Officer

Bellevue is a dynamic, international and multicultural, future-focused Smart City serving 152,000 residents. Our Council vision is: “Bellevue welcomes the world, our diversity is our strength.” We value all employees and their contributions. The City invests in its employees and encourages and rewards employee growth and development by building on our commonalities and our differences. Bellevue is high tech hub, noted for its diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. We work collectively to make it a place where you want to work, live and play. 

The IT Department consists of 70 talented employees serving over 1,800 staff in 13 departments across 35 different locations. The IT Department (ITD) supports the computers, applications, network, servers, communications, and services needed to support high quality City operations. As a full-service technology organization, ITD provides a wide range of services, including Network Systems and Security, Help Desk and Client Services, Application Development, Project Management, Technology Business Solutions, Geospatial Technology Services, and Graphics. In addition, Bellevue ITD provides technology and business services to the regional government non-profit eCityGov Alliance. Bellevue is consistently recognized for its strong innovation, digital government and consistent top-tier performance in national digital city rankings. . Join our award-winning department to work with colleagues who partner, innovate, and evolve to deliver technology services inside and outside city hall. 

The City Data Officer is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, and enterprise-wide management of the organization’s data assets. This position leads two lines of business that include the data analytics team and the geographic technology systems team responsible for untapping the potential of data and geospatial services at the City. The candidate will work in a highly collaborative environment supporting data informed operations, engagement, and decision making across the City. 

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful leader and great communicator with strong technical capabilities who takes initiative, navigates complexity with confidence, and works collaboratively to deliver results.

The candidate should have strong skills in data architecture, data engineering, technical project management, and communication.

The person holding this position thrives on partnering to define and deliver innovative and structured data and geospatial programs. This position will help define the City’s data analytics strategy and vision, design the city-wide data and integration architecture and promote best practices of data engineering. The incumbent will partner with customers and staff to initiate and manage data analytics projects while driving technology innovation to support the City’s data informed decision making. Responsibilities include: 

• Data Strategy and Governance: Develops, implements, and maintains an enterprise-wide data strategy aligned with the city’s strategic priorities. Establishes data governance frameworks, policies, and standards that define how data is collected, managed, accessed, and retired across the organization.
• Data and Spatial Infrastructure and Architecture: Provides leadership and oversight of the city’s data infrastructure, including data platforms, warehouses, lakehouses, integration pipelines, and GIS systems. Partners with ITD leadership to ensure data and GIS architecture supports scalability, interoperability, and sustainability. Leads the evaluation and adoption of modern data tools, platforms, and standards including open-data technologies and cloud-based solutions. 
• Data Analytics, Insights, and Geospatial Services: Champions the use of data analytics and GIS across the city to drive operational efficiency. Partners with key leaders across the city on the development of enterprise dashboards, analytical capabilities, and geospatial solutions that provide actionable insights. Promote predictive, AI-assisted analytics, and advanced GIS applications for city planning, resource management, and public services.
• Data Literacy and Workforce Development: Builds citywide data and geospatial literacy by developing and delivering training programs, workshops, and resources that equip staff at all levels to work effectively with data. Cultivates a pipeline of data and GIS talent across the city and cultivates a culture where curiosity and continuous learning are valued across the workforce. Promotes a data-informed and geospatially-aware culture throughout the city by championing data and GIS literacy of leadership and staff. 
• Data and GIS Leadership: Serves as a trusted data leader in the city who models a data-informed decision-making culture and inspiring departments to view data and GIS as a strategic asset. Provides leadership, coaching, and professional development for Data Analytics and GIS staff, building a high-performing, collaborative, and customer-focused team. Oversees program planning, resource allocation, and budget development to ensure investments are aligned with city priorities and deliver measurable business value. Ensures that data and GIS initiatives align with city and council priorities, communicates program value, and advocates for sustained investment in the enterprise data program. Builds strong partnerships with department leaders to identify priority use cases, remove data access barriers, and guide responsible and effective use of emerging technologies.

The City Data Officer works under the guidance of the Chief Technology Officer leading the data analytics program and the city’s geospatial team. ITD is looking for a data and geospatial leader with an eye for business collaboration, city-wide data advocacy, technical excellence, continuous improvement, and excellent communications skills. The successful candidate will have the following experience:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expert communicator, and adept at aligning business goals and technical work. Expert knowledge and understanding of project management and lifecycle.
• Expert-level knowledge of IT operations, including hardware, software, networking, and security.
• Expert-level knowledge of project management principles and practices
• Advanced understanding of ITIL framework and best practices
• Expert-level technical skills in areas such as enterprise architecture, data analytics, and emerging technologies
• Expert-level program management skills, including the ability to manage complex, large-scale projects.
• Strong business acumen, including the ability to align IT initiatives with business goals and objectives.
• Ability to lead and manage large teams of technical staff across multiple locations and/or business units.
• Ability to develop and implement innovative IT strategies that drive business value.
• Ability to influence and persuade executive stakeholders on IT-related matters.

Competencies

• Customer Focus: Works closely with customers to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet their requirements. Ensures that all deliverables are of the highest quality and delivered on time.
• Instills Trust: Builds and maintains strong relationships with stakeholders and customers. Is accountable for delivering results and follows through on commitments.
• Communicates Effectively: Communicates clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing. Uses data and evidence to support recommendations and decision-making.
• Cultivates Innovation: Encourages and supports innovation and experimentation. Is willing to take risks and learn from failure.
• Values Difference: Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Promotes a culture of respect and open communication, and actively works to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Education, Experience, and Other Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Data Science, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered. 
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in the areas of data architecture, data engineering, business intelligence, or data analytics.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

The physical demands and work environment 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.

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.

FLEXIBLE/HYBRID WORKING: 

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period with at least 2 days onsite. Remote work for this position is subject to the department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.