0904-Mayoral Staff XVI- Director of Innovation

The Director of Innovation will guide the i-Team through the full innovation lifecycle, from research and community engagement to ideation, prototyping, and implementation. This role requires strong analytical and facilitation skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives in a fast-paced environment. The Director will work closely with the Mayor, senior City leadership, department heads, external experts, and community organizations to ensure the i-Team delivers meaningful, measurable impact on key mayoral priorities.  Reporting to the Mayor's Chief of Strategy and Performance, the Director of Innovation will drive proactive problem-solving, strengthen the City's capacity to innovate, and ensure that solutions are grounded in resident needs, rigorous research, and a commitment to equity. This position plays a central role in shaping how San Francisco approaches its most pressing challenges and sets a new standard for what modern, effective city government can look like. Key Responsibilities:    Lead Large-Scale Transformation: Drive complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives from research and design through implementation, producing meaningful and measurable changes across city departments and community partners.  Manage a multi-million-dollar grant portfolio: Strategically manage a multi-million-dollar grant portfolio to sustain team operations and drive impact.  Build and Develop a High-Performing Team: Recruit, manage, and grow an exceptional innovation team, fostering a culture of curiosity, rigor, collaboration, and continuous learning.  Engage Senior Stakeholders: Build and maintain strong working relationships with senior government officials, community organizations, and private sector leaders, aligning priorities and keeping work moving forward.  Make Decisions Under Ambiguity: Exercise clear, timely judgment in complex environments with competing stakeholder input, stand behind those decisions, and communicate them with confidence and transparency.  Manage Up and Across: Proactively align the Mayor, City leadership, and other senior stakeholders around shared priorities while maintaining focus and momentum for the team.  Navigate Political Complexity: Anticipate organizational and political friction, manage it proactively, and keep the team moving forward with awareness and discretion.  Embed Innovation Across City Government: Ensure the i-Team operates as a true partner to city departments, integrating work into existing structures rather than operating in isolation.  Lead a city-wide Open Innovation Challenge with community stakeholders and philanthropic partners.  Prioritize Ruthlessly: Focus the team's energy on the highest impact work, make tough calls about what not to pursue, and maintain discipline around scope and feasibility.  Apply Innovation Methods: Deploy design-based innovation methodologies across the full project lifecycle, including research, synthesis, ideation, prototyping, and testing, selecting the right tools and frameworks for each challenge.  Manage Complex Projects: Own initiatives from design to completion, setting clear milestones, maintaining accountability, and delivering results on time.  Communicate with Clarity and Impact: Translate complex ideas into compelling narratives for diverse audiences, from frontline community members to the Mayor, through exceptional written and verbal communication.  Champion Resident-Centered Impact: Center the needs of San Francisco residents in every phase of the work, maintaining an unwavering commitment to improving lives and delivering equitable outcomes.    Minimum Qua ... (truncated, view full listing at source)