Chief Director of Innovation (IT Program Director III)

The Chief Director of Innovation is a high-level executive leadership position within the Department of Information Technology (DIT), reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer (CIO). This role functions under limited supervision and serves as a strategic IT expert, providing oversight and direction for multiple divisions and functions within the department. The incumbent leads the development and implementation of countywide AI, ML, Data, Self-Service, and Business Intelligence solutions, ensuring alignment with the County's strategic goals and business needs. This position is a key member of the CIO's executive leadership team.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Supervision

• Supervises Directors and/or Branch Managers across multiple DIT divisions.
• Establishes priorities and leads performance management, staff development, and competency planning for assigned personnel.
• Collaborates with other Chief Directors and County leadership to plan and execute technology initiatives.
• Assists with division-wide budgeting, staffing, and performance planning.
• Oversees daily operations, ensuring reliable, secure, and continuous application services in coordination with CIO and CTO.

• Directs AI/ML, Data, mobility, cloud-native modernization, emerging technologies, citizen-facing solutions, and data platforms.
• Ensures security-by-design, performance resilience, technical compliance, and operational sustainability.
• Participate in enterprise architecture alignment and adoption of industry frameworks.
• Ensures Fairfax County remains a regional and national leader in innovative public-sector technology implementation.

• Oversees internal Innovation specific governance strategies, portfolio management practices, and technology prioritization.
• Develops and implements policies, standards, and procedures to ensure operational compliance and accountability.
• Establish objectives, KPIs, budgets, and performance metrics for assigned divisions.
• Leads executive reporting and performance presentations to leadership and stakeholders.

• Serves as a liaison between technical teams, executive leadership, and County stakeholders.
• Serves as an executive liaison for technology partnerships, innovation pilots, and cross-jurisdictional initiatives.
• Maintains productive engagement with internal departments, external agencies, localities, academic organizations, and industry partners
• Collaborates with departments to discover innovation opportunities and ensure strong alignment with business needs.
• Coordinates with other Chief Directors during emergencies and ensures disaster recovery plans are up to date for critical applications.
• Maintains continuity of operations documentation, including succession planning and emergency delegation of authority.

• Demonstrated success in the development and deployment of AI, ML, Data, Self-Service, and Business Intelligence applications and services in a large public, or private, sector environment.
• Demonstrates the ability to clearly articulate a strategic plan and define quarterly and annual deliverables in alignment with the strategic plan.
• Demonstrated success in defining, and implementing, innovative user experience strategies resulting in improved, year over year, self-service metrics.
• Extensive experience overseeing complex application environments and leading technical teams.
• Strong technical background, including hands-on experience in AI/ML/Data solutions development and the establishment of ethical and diversity focused standards.