Director Digital Innovation

JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Digital Innovation provides strategic leadership for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the establishment of a robust enterprise data governance program across Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS). Reporting to the Chief Information Officer this role serves as the districts primary architect and coordinator for AI innovation data governance and data stewardship ensuring that emerging technologies are implemented ethically securely and in alignment with instructional operational legal and regulatory requirements. This position collaborates closely with instructional leadership academic programs legal counsel information security data services and business units to translate emerging technologies into scalable value-driven solutions that support student learning operational efficiency and informed decision making across the organization.

Additional Work Days/Hours
Based on the assignment the following additional work days and/or hours may be required as needed:

• Ability to work flexible schedules
• Emergencies
• Evenings/Nights
• Holidays
• Outside of normal business hours
• Weekends

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads the development and execution of AACPSs enterprise AI strategy roadmap and governance model aligned to district priorities and public sector best practices. Serves as the district subject matter expert on emerging AI capabilities risks and trends in K12 and public sector environments.
• Partners with curriculum teaching & learning and school leadership to support evidenced-based appropriate instructional uses of AI and emerging technologies and tools. Use established rubrics to identify evaluate and guide implementation of AI use cases supporting instruction administration operations and decision support.
• Establishes safe responsible equitable and ethical AI practices including transparency bias mitigation privacy protections and model oversight consistent with government AI accountability and governance frameworks.
• Coordinates governance of data used by AI solutions to ensure accuracy integrity security and compliance with FERPA COPPA and other applicable regulations. Promote data literacy and a culture of responsible data use throughout the organization.
• Monitors assesses and pilots emerging technologies with potential value to K 12 education and district operations. Develop scalable frameworks for transitioning pilots into enterprise supported solutions. Ensure alignment between innovation initiatives IT architecture cybersecurity privacy and operational sustainability.
• Provides clear guidance and communication to executive leadership on emerging technology risks opportunities and readiness. Develop policies standards and executive briefings related to AI and data governance.
• Collaborates with procurement and legal teams on vendor evaluation contract language and compliance related to AI and data usage.
• Designs implements and oversees AACPSs enterprise data governance framework including policies standards roles and operating procedures. Establish data stewardship data ownership and accountability models across departments. Lead data quality metadata data lifecycle management and data ethics initiatives.
• Educates and engages members of the organization on data governance principles the enterprise data governance framework and the interdependencies of data sharing across a digital ecosystem. Translates complex data governance concepts into practical guidance promotes shared accountability for data stewardship and fosters an organizational culture that understands how data is created managed shared and used to support interoperability decision-making and strategic outcomes.
• Chairs or supports cross functional governance bodies related to AI data and digital innovation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Bachelors Degree in Information Systems Data Science Computer Science Public Administration Education Technology or a related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university required;
• Masters Degree in a related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university preferred;

Experience

• Ten (10) years relevant professional experience as a systems administrator or equivalent role including experience in the design implementation administration and operational support of Microsoft enterprise technologies in a large-scale environment; must include at least three (3) years implementing Microsoft Enterprise Security Solutions (e.g. Microsoft Defender Microsoft Sentinel Entra ID Microsoft Purview and related security and compliance platforms) required; and
• Seven (7) years related experience in a supervisory or management role with responsibility for leading technical teams overseeing enterprise security or data governance initiatives and managing staff projects and budgets required; and
• Three (3) years relevant experience designing implementing and managing enterprise data classification data protection and data governance solutions including hands-on experience with Microsoft Purview (Information Protection Data Loss Prevention Records Management) or equivalent non-Microsoft data classification and governance platforms required; and
• Three (3) years relevant experience leading or implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and enterprise data governance programs in regulated environments ensuring alignment with privacy cybersecurity and compliance frameworks preferred;
• Three (3) years related experience in K12 school systems higher education or government organizations with demonstrated understanding of public-sector compliance student data privacy and regulatory requirements preferred.

Knowledge Skills Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Strong knowledge of data privacy security and compliance requirements relevant to K 12 education.
• Experience leading innovation programs AI pilots or enterprise digital transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment.
• Demonstrated problem solving abilities.
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with business technology applications (e.g. Video/Web Conferencing Microsoft Office Suite -Word Excel Outlook and/or PowerPoint preferred).

Licenses and Certifications
Employee must retain active licenses certifications and enrollment as a condition of employment.

• Hold or be eligible for Professional certifications in data governance analytics AI or information technology (e.g. CDMP PMP ITIL cloud or data certifications) preferred.
• Hold or be eligible for Drivers License (DL) Class C Non-Commercial issued by Maryland or State of Legal Residence (MVA/DMV) required.
• Daily access to reliable transportation.

Driving Requirements

• Driving is required to conduct bona fide Board business that is within the scope of employment in this position.
• Personal Vehicle

LEADERSHIP ROLE

• First level supervisor

People Management

• This position acts as the manager for 1 to 5 direct staff.
• This position manages 1 to 2 departments.

Management Duties/Responsibilities

• Interviews selects and trains employees.
• Directs the work of employees.
• Maintains records for use in supervision.
• Assess employees performance (productivity/efficiency) to make promotional recommendation/other status changes.
• Plans the work.
• Determines the techniques to use.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS
The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• Standing: under 1/3 of the time
• Walking: under 1/3 of the time
• Sitting: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• Keyboarding: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• Talking: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• Hearing: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time
• Driving: under 1/3 of the time
• As required by the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Vision
The vision demands with correction described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• No special vision requirements

Work Environment
Location

• Office school or similar indoor environment: over 2/3 of the time

Noise Level

• Moderate: between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time

Weight & Force
Lifting and carrying requirements

• Up to 10 pounds: under 1/3 of the time

Travel Requirements

• 10% day travel within the county

JOB INFORMATION

ORGANIZATION

HR JOB INFORMATION

VR# 26160

Required Experience:

Director