City Data and Privacy Officer

ABOUT THE ROLE The City of Portland is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and transparent leader to serve as its inaugural City Data and Privacy Officer. Reporting to the City Operations Deputy City Administrator, this executive-level position leads the establishment, administration, and operations of the new City Data and Privacy Office. This is a unique opportunity to build a program from the ground up, holding citywide authority over data governance, privacy oversight, and surveillance technology, while directly supervising a foundational team. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Act as the City's lead for data governance, privacy oversight, and the surveillance technology inventory - Establish and chair the Data Governance Board and direct citywide data governance - Develop and implement citywide data governance and privacy policies, including a data minimization framework and Privacy First Policy - Create an enterprise data inventory accounting for all City datasets and their publication and sharing status - Operationalize and lead mandatory Privacy Impact Assessments for programs involving data, automated decision-making systems, or large language models - Audit and evaluate high-risk technologies, including AI and LLMs, for bias, privacy risk, and policy compliance - Coordinate delivery of required reports to Council and City leadership on sensitive data inventory and risk mapping - Facilitate statutory public engagement for Council to review the scope, priorities, and authorities of the Office - Partner with Communications and Engagement staff on outreach to underserved communities and community technology listening sessions - Manage and supervise personnel, budget, and daily operations of the City Data and Privacy Office - Represent the City in public forums, high-stakes environments, and intergovernmental conversations MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, information technology, public policy, data science, or a related field - Ten (10) years of progressively responsible information management or public administration experience, including five (5) years of senior leadership/supervisory experience and five (5) years of experience developing and/or implementing governance, strategy, and oversight of data management and privacy practices - Experience developing and implementing organization-wide data governance and privacy policies, with working knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and law, public records, and open meetings law - Experience in executive-level leadership of complex public sector operations, including budget development, personnel management, procurement, and contract management - Experience auditing or evaluating emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, large language models, or automated decision-making systems for bias, privacy risk, and regulatory compliance - Experience building trust and consensus across various organizational units and driving change without direct authority - Experience translating complex technical or policy concepts for diverse audiences, including strategic policy implementation and public transparency efforts - Experience applying process improvement methodologies and performance/accountability frameworks, or negotiating enterprise-wide vendor or intergovernmental agreements SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Preferred: Management experience working for a public agency - Preferred: Certified Information Privacy Professional/US (CIPP/US) certification SELECTION PROCESS 1. Application Review (Week of October 5): Review of application materials to ensure qualifications are met. 2. Selection Process (Mid-October to Mid-November): Two rounds of virtual panel interviews, a City Council meet-and-greet, and an in-person final interview with City leadership. Reference checks will be conducted for finalists. 3. Conditional Job Offer (Early December): The final candidate may undergo a background or driving record check. HOW TO APPLY - Submit a resume, cover letter, and responses to supplemental questions via the City of Portland's online portal - The cover letter must specifically address each qualification listed; using "see resume" may result in disqualification - Optional: Submit Veterans' Preference documents (DD214-Member 4 and/or VA Benefit Letter) if applicable - Virtual Meet and Greet Opportunity: Friday, October 2, 2026, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm via Zoom EMPLOYMENT DETAILS - Location: Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204 - Job Type: Full-time, At Will (exempt from Civil Service) - Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm (hours vary to meet business needs) - Bureau: City Operations Service Area - Job Number: 2026-00836 - Opening Date: 09/10/2026 - Closing Date: 10/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific - Contact: Amanda Hillebrecht, Senior Recruiter (Amanda.Hillebrecht@portlandoregon.gov)