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
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

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

Demonstrated senior-level experience in leading teams and large coalitions through complex organizational change, including designing and driving strategy through periods of significant structural, technological, or policy transformation.
Experience leading teams to analyze and set direction on complex issues at the intersection of policy, technology, and law, applying rigorous legal and technical analysis, negotiation, and sound judgment to forge a shared vision among parties with divergent interests.
Advanced ability to interpret statutes, regulations, and policy frameworks, including privacy law, and translate them into practical, actionable guidance for executives, legal teams, and technical stakeholders.
Writing and communication skills sufficient to represent significant projects with authority, distilling complex technical and legal information into clear, credible narratives for executives, subject matter experts, legislators, external partners, and the public.
Demonstrated respect for diversity and a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

MMB values diverse perspectives and encourages all qualified candidates to apply, even if they do not meet 100% of the preferred qualifications. Your unique skills and background might be just what we need!

Experience designing or overseeing fraud prevention, detection, or risk mitigation frameworks, including data-sharing agreements, analytics, or controls used to safeguard institutions.
Familiarity with data governance, including data quality standards, data classification, stewardship models, or data lifecycle management.
Experience advising or directing technology implementation, data infrastructure, or IT modernization initiatives, including budget, procurement, or vendor management.
Demonstrated ability to ground organizational decisions in evidence, including using analysis or evaluation results to improve public services.
Experience engaging legislators, public sector leaders, or high-level policy bodies on statutory, policy, or technical issues related to data governance, sharing, or use.
Substantive familiarity with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act or comparable policy regimes.

Additional Requirements

It is the policy of Minnesota Management and Budget that a successful candidate must pass all required checks prior to employment which may consist of the below checks:

SEMA4 records check (applies to current and past state employees only)
Criminal history check
Reference check
Social Security and address verification
Education verification
Conflict of interest review
Other legally or internal policy required checks

A criminal history does not automatically disqualify candidates, and each case will be reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis and in alignment with fair and equitable hiring practices.

Minnesota Management & Budget does not participate in E-Verify. Minnesota Management & Budget will not sponsor applicant work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

How To Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title, and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Jake Pleschourt at jake.pleschourt@state.mn.us.

MMB May Choose To Non-competitively Interview Certain Disabled Veterans (CDVs). To Receive Consideration As a CDV Under M.S. 43A.111, You Must

Meet service requirements and have a verified service-connected disability rating of at least 30%
Provide qualifying documentation verifying the disability
Meet all minimum qualifications identified in this posting
Submit all documentation by the closing date to Jake Pleschourt at jake.pleschourt@state.mn.us.

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Jake Pleschourt at jake.pleschourt@state.mn.us or 651-201-2567.

Working together to improve the state we love.

What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

A sense of purpose in their work
Connection with their coworkers and communities
Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your Benefits May Include

Paid vacation and sick leave
12 paid holidays each year
Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
- Fertility care, including IVF
- Diabetes care
- Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being

Support To Help You Reach Your Career Goals

Training, classes, and professional development
Tuition reimbursement
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) For Work/life Support

A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. State agencies are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state and strongly encourages persons of color and Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve Minnesotans.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants With Disabilities

Minnesota state agencies make reasonable accommodations to their employees and applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in searching or applying for jobs with the State of Minnesota, call the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and let us know the support you need.

Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment

New Jobs

Chief Data Officer - General Counsel 3