Bay Area City Recruiting for New Chief Privacy Officer Role

The city of San Francisco is recruiting for a chief privacy officer (CPO) to implement the municipality’s new Privacy First Policy, which governs the storage and use of personal information by government and private companies.

The city enacted its policy and created the CPO position in September, following a similar action by the state Legislature, which created the California Consumer Privacy Act.

San Francisco’s CPO will develop policies that protect individuals’ privacy and will also, in consultation with the City Attorney’s Office, provide guidance to city departments.

“Ultimately, the CPO works to ensure that when private companies or government agencies store and use personal information, such practices are transparent, accessible, unbiased, consensual, secure and limited to accomplish a lawful purpose,” the job posting notes.

The city says that for candidates, having a master’s degree or a juris doctorate is highly desirable. Other desirable qualifications include:

• Knowledge of legal, regulatory, contractual, and other factors that affect an organization’s privacy strategy and risk mitigation.
• Experience leading and resolving privacy issues affecting large organizations with varying and unique privacy concerns and mandates; experience in a public-sector agency is highly desired.
• Excellent collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive, high-profile projects involving many stakeholders.

The position has an annual salary range of $154,414 to $197,054. The recruitment was posted last week and has an application deadline of Jan. 3.