Associate Chief Information Officer
Salary
$299,876.62 - $364,505.63 Annually
Location
Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type
Executive Management
Job Number
26-A7F-A
Department
Technology Services and Solutions
Opening Date
06/26/2026
Closing Date
7/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
91
Description
Reimagine County Technology Leadership. Power Public Service Innovation.
The County of Santa Clara is not just any government agency-it's a premiere public institution known for technological ambition, operational excellence, and forward-thinking leadership. With a workforce of over 23,000 employees across 30+ departments, the County delivers essential services in health, social services, public safety, housing, and core government operations. Our teams are driven by a shared commitment to provide for the needs of a dynamic community, provide quality services, and promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous community.
We're on a mission to elevate our enterprise technology capabilities-and we're seeking a strategic, collaborative, and visionary Associate Chief Information Officer (CIO) to help lead the way.
As the Associate CIO, you will partner closely with the Chief Information Officer to shape the future of Countywide IT, driving modernized operations, service excellence, and technology strategies that meet the evolving needs of a large, complex government organization. In this role, you will ensure our IT ecosystem operates using best-in-class standards, processes, and practices-and you may act on behalf of the CIO when needed.
This is your opportunity to influence transformational change at scale and help define the next generation of digital government for one of California's most impactful public agencies.
Your Mission
Lead and evolve high-performing technical or non-technical IT functions to deliver exceptional services, customer satisfaction, and enterprise value. You will guide large, cross-functional teams responsible for shared IT operations across the County, driving strategy, performance, and continuous improvement.
What Makes This Role Unique
Scale and Complexity: You will guide enterprise shared services that support a federated technology environment serving 30+ departments-including a public hospital system, justice partners, emergency response agencies, social services, housing and development, transportation, and government operations. Your leadership will influence infrastructure, platforms, strategy, IT operations, policy development, financial stewardship, and customer-facing technology services used across the entire County.
Technology at the Forefront: Located in the center of Silicon Valley, the County of Santa Clara is reshaping how government leverages data, cloud services, cyber security, digital platforms, and innovative technology solutions to improve services for millions of residents.
Enterprise Collaboration: This role requires deep partnership with County departments and executive leaders. Through cross-agency collaboration, you will shape unified strategies, streamline IT operations, and support major Countywide initiatives that rely on scalable, secure, and forward-thinking technology.
Direct Impact: You will help set technology direction for the County-driving modernization, operational excellence, and customer-centered IT services that support critical public functions. Your leadership will influence how technology improves outcomes for the community.
What You'll Do
Strategic Technology and Operations Leadership
Organizational Development and People Leadership
Countywide Strategy and Transformation
Operational Excellence and Service Delivery
Enterprise Partnership and Collaboration
What You Bring
What Success Looks Like
In the first 6-12 months, you will:
In the long term, you will:
Why Join Us?
Virtual Executive Insight Session: Associated Chief Information Officer
Thinking about whether this executive role might be the right next step for you? Wondering what kind of difference you could help make for the people and communities we serve?
Join us on Thursday, July 2, 2026 from 12:00 NN-1:00 PM for a relaxed virtual conversation with our hiring team. We'll walk through what the role is all about, the community-focused work it supports, and what success looks like for leaders in this space.
It's a chance to ask questions, get a feel for the responsibilities, and see whether this opportunity aligns with your values and leadership style.
If you already know what you'd like to ask, feel free to submit your questions ahead of time through the RSVP form - it helps us make the session as useful as possible.
We hope you'll join us!
More About Our Competitive Executive Benefits
Strategic Financial and Retirement Benefits
Executive-Level Health, Wellness, and Family Support
Leadership Mobility, Time Off, and Professional Growth
Ready to join the leadership team? Apply now.
Learn more about the County and the impact you can have as a leader.
Application Process and Key Dates
Filing Deadline: Monday, July 27, 2026
This recruitment may close or be extended as early as 10 days after posting. Early application is strongly encouraged. Please check the website regularly for updates.
Apply at: https://esa.santaclaracounty.gov/career-seekers
What to include in your application:
Describe why you are the ideal candidate, highlighting relevant leadership experience and accomplishments.
Next steps in the process
Following mutual interest, a comprehensive background investigation and reference check will be conducted. Finalists will be asked to provide at least five professional references, with prior authorization obtained by Executive Services.
Questions regarding this Executive recruitment may be directed to Quynh Truong, Executive Services at quynh.truong@esa.sccgov.org
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Employment Standards
The knowledge and abilities required to perform this function are normally attained through possession of a Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration or a closely related field and ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of increasingly responsible senior management experience in the information technology and business industry, with at least five (5) years of which must be concentrated in managing multiple, large, cross functional teams or projects, with extensive experience in managing the technical and/or non-technical services of a complex organization similar to the County of Santa Clara, either public or private.
View the full job specification on our career site.
Overview of County of Santa Claras Executive Leadership Benefits package.
01
Please answer the following questions. Your responses in the following questions are REQUIRED, as it will be used to initially determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to the oral examination. Your resumes will not be accepted as a response to the following supplemental questions. You may attach a separate sheet and type "see attached" in the required field for each question. If you are attaching a separate document to answer the supplemental questionnaire, the responses should be limited to 2-3 pages. Do you understand this requirement?
02
Describe a specific example where you led the improvement of a non-technical IT business function (such as HR, finance, procurement, analytics, or project management). What was the problem, what did you change, and what was the measurable outcome?
03
Describe your experience developing or executing a multi-year strategic plan for an IT organization or business unit.
Required Question
Employer County of Santa Clara
Address 70 W. Hedding Street
8th Floor, East Wing
San Jose, California, 95110
Phone (408) 299-6816
Website http://www.sccjobs.org/