Chief data officer

Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted: 09/25/2026
Closing Date: 10/15/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Minnesota Management & Budget
Division/Unit: Minnesota Data Strategy Team
Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
Days of Work: Monday - Friday
Travel Required: No
Salary Range: $64.10 - $91.70 / hourly; $133,841 - $191,470 / annually
Classified Status: Classified
Bargaining Unit: Manager's Plan
FLSA Status: Exempt
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes
Working Title: Chief Data Officer
Job Class: General Counsel 3
Agency: Minnesota Management & Budget
Job ID: 97241
Location: St. Paul, MN
Telework Eligible: Yes
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) is seeking a Chief Data Officer (CDO) to serve as the State of Minnesota’s enterprise leader for statewide data strategy, governance, and ethical use. This position will set the vision for how data can strengthen program integrity and overall government performance. As the lead of the Minnesota Data Strategy Team, the CDO will build the legal, technical, and operational foundation that allows agencies to securely and responsibly use and share data, while guiding commissioners, executives, and cross‑sector partners through complex policy and privacy considerations.
This role pairs strategic leadership with practical problem‑solving, setting a statewide vision for data infrastructure by building collaboration across a federated data environment. The CDO will be a trusted advisor on law, ethics, and information policy, driving long‑term improvements of the state’s data ecosystem and helping ensure Minnesotans benefit from well‑governed, high‑quality data.
Job Duties For This Position Include
Providing executive leadership for the Minnesota Data Strategy Team (MDST), directing managers, staff, and cross‑agency partners to implement statewide data governance and privacy priorities
Establishing strategic, operational, and legal direction for the MDST, incorporating input from commissioners and executive leaders while making final determinations on statewide priorities
Advising senior leaders on the strategic, legal, and ethical considerations of data sharing and use, and directing implementation of governance mechanisms that balance innovation, privacy, risk mitigation, and accountability
Serving as the statewide point of escalation for complex, novel, or cross‑agency legal issues affecting enterprise data sharing and governance
Establishing and implementing an enterprise data strategy that integrates national best practices in data governance, sharing, and use consistent with state and federal information policy and law
Building the enterprise legal frameworks, technical infrastructure, and agreements required for secure, privacy‑protective, and responsible data sharing across agencies
Advancing the enterprise workforce’s capability to access and use data effectively to improve service delivery
All MMB Leaders are expected to demonstrate and develop the six competency themes from the Enterprise‑Wide Leader Competency Model:
Leading Self
Leading Others
Leading the Organization
Leading Outside the Organization
Leading with DEAI
Getting Work Done
Telework options for this position are dependent on where the employee lives. With approval, employees that live within 50 miles from the primary work location may telework up to 50%. Employees that live 50 miles or more from the primary location and live in Minnesota may telework more than 50% with approval.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper years of service crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held. Candidates must clearly demonstrate all the following qualifications on their resume. Resume tips are available here. To be considered for the Chief Data Officer position, applicants must submit a cover letter.
At least six (6) years of experience developing or overseeing governance structures, data‑sharing frameworks, or major policy or technology implementations involving multiple stakeholders or organizations
Juris Doctor (J. D.) from an ABA‑accredited law school and actively licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Minnesota (or ability to obtain licensure prior to end of standard one‑year probationary period).
Experience Must Include