Chief Innovation Officer *REPOST* (EXEC AIDE VII) at State of Maryland

Introduction

*REPOST* Previous applicants need not reapply.

The Chief Innovation Officer is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor.

The successful candidate will execute on the vision of the Innovation Team and lead the day-to-day management of the team to work on some of the State’s biggest challenges.

To apply, please submit your resume to Sophie Bergmann at sophie.bergmann@maryland.gov by the deadline, May 6th, 2024 at 11:59PM ET. The subject line should read: YOUR NAME – Chief Innovation Officer.

GRADE

26

LOCATION OF POSITION

Annapolis, MD

POSITION DUTIES

General Purpose: The Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) is charged with leading an Innovation Team focused on building prosperous futures for Marylanders. The CIO will work closely with the Governor’s Office leadership team, as well as departmental staff, external experts, community organizations, and others to ensure the team is delivering meaningful and sustainable solutions.

Responsibilities:

1. Lead the Innovation Team with an equity-centered, design-based approach to problem solving that focuses on identifying root causes of civic challenges and sustainable long-term solutions.
2. Collaborate with state and local government colleagues and community partners to co-create and manage bold, innovative solutions to jointly address child poverty, economic mobility, and other challenges.
3. Effectively manage the diverse skill sets of the team and leverage available technical expertise to maximize creativity and impact.
4. Maintain strong relationships and foster collaboration among a broad set of stakeholders, including senior government officials and private sector and nonprofit leaders across the state.
5. Strengthen the capacity of state government colleagues, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to co-create and implement transformative solutions.
6. Inspire the Innovation Team to challenge the status quo and encourage creative ways to overcome roadblocks.
7. Ensure that there are clear and appropriate implementation plans for delivery on all major initiatives.
8. Oversee the development of targets and regular measurement of progress for the Innovation Team and achieve defined targets by monitoring performance and correcting course when needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have demonstrated many or preferably all of the following:

1. A collaborative leadership style that engages others, earns trust, and influences the entire organization.
2. Aptitude for moving people outside their comfort zones to embrace new approaches, mindsets, and solutions.
3. Experience leading large-scale transformations that involve multiple stakeholders and constituencies.
4. Experience working effectively and collaboratively with senior government, community, and/or private sector leaders.
5. Experience with design–based innovation, data, and/or other innovation methods and tools.
6. Experience project-managing complex initiatives from design to their completion.
7. Understanding of state governance and public sector innovation.
8. A track record of delivering significant innovation results and impact in the public, nonprofit, or private sector.
9. A track record of demonstrating and successfully applying the following characteristics:
1. Excellent ability to simplify information and concepts, to formulate options and recommendations, and to communicate with all levels of management and workforce to achieve objectives.
2. Steady and resolute manner that inspires confidence and trust.
3. States and maintains position backed by facts, while working through differences and alternative views in a respectful manner.
4. Effective listener - probes, surfaces, and shares new ideas and ways of doing things.
5. High energy, highly resilient, and resourceful.
6. A “self-starter” motivated by the achievement of the organization, the team, and themselves – in that order.
7. Organized, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple priorities and work projects.
8. A team player, with the ability to organize, assign, and track completion of work by direct and indirect team members.
9. Flexible and adaptable, even while maintaining a keen focus on objectives.
10. Leads by example – hands on role model.
11. Highest personal standards of integrity.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.

BENEFITS

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits. Leave may be granted to a contractual employee who has worked 120 days in a 12 month period. This leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

To apply, please submit your resume to Sophie Bergmann at sophie.bergmann@maryland.gov by the deadline, May 6th, 2024 at 11:59PM ET. The subject line should read: YOUR NAME – Chief Innovation Officer.

The State of Maryland is committed to diversity among its staff, and recognizes that its continued success requires the highest commitment to obtaining and retaining a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to supporters and constituents. The State of Maryland is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or expression, ethnic identity or disability, or any other legally protected basis. The State of Maryland is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the hiring process and on the job, as required by applicable law. The State of Maryland will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination and any such conduct is strictly prohibited.