New Leadership Role to Guide Citywide Data Governance and Privacy

City Data and Privacy Officer Job Posting

Launching the City Data and Privacy Office 

Portland City Council approved the creation of a new City Data and Privacy Office to strengthen transparency, protect community privacy, and ensure the responsible use of data and technology across the City. The office will build a unified approach to data governance, guide the use of emerging technologies, and help safeguard sensitive information by establishing consistent policies, improving data integrity, and setting clear privacy standards. The new office aims to build greater public trust and support more accountable, equitable city services.

Recruiting the Inaugural Leader

Recruitment is underway for the first City Data and Privacy Officer, a pivotal leadership role charged with building and leading the City's newly established City Data and Privacy Office. 

This position will serve as the City's central authority for data governance and privacy oversight giving the City a unified strategy for how data is collected, protected, shared, and used across the organization. 

With responsibilities ranging from developing citywide privacy and data governance policies to auditing high‑risk technologies such as AI and automated decision‑making systems, the new leader sets the foundation for a more consistent, transparent, and accountable data environment citywide. 

The creation of this role represents a major structural reform: a single point of accountability that strengthens public trust, reduces organizational risk, and ensures that emerging technologies are deployed responsibly. The position also plays a critical role in equity and civil liberties, partnering with communities, particularly those most impacted by over‑surveillance, to shape the City's priorities on data use and privacy. 

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the City's lead authority on data governance, privacy oversight, and surveillance technology management, holding citywide authority over these functions. 
• Establish and chair the City's Data Governance Board, setting strategic direction for consistent data practices across all City bureaus. 
• Develop and implement citywide data governance and privacy policies, including a data minimization framework and a "Privacy First" policy.
• Create and maintain an enterprise‑wide inventory of all City datasets, including tracking publication, sharing status, and retention practices. 
• Lead mandatory Privacy Impact Assessments for programs using City data, automated decision‑making systems, artificial intelligence, or large language models.
• Audit high‑risk and emerging technologies—including AI systems—to evaluate for bias, privacy risk, and compliance with City policies. 
• Coordinate required reports to City Council and City leadership, documenting sensitive data holdings, risk trends, and policy gaps. 
• Facilitate public and community engagement, including required statutory engagement processes, community outreach, and listening sessions with underserved communities. 
• Represent the City in high‑stakes public forums and intergovernmental discussions, helping shape broader regional and national conversations on government data use. 
• Manage office operations, personnel, budgets, procurement, and contracts, leading the foundational team that will build out this newly established City office. 

 Learn more about the position and apply online

History of Transparency and Open Data

In 2009, Portland became the first city in the United States to adopt an Open Data Resolution (Resolution No. 36735) to encourage the expansion of the technological community by promoting open data and partnerships between City government and the public, private and nonprofit sectors, academia, and labor.

In May of 2017, Portland formally adopted an ordinance to establish an Open Data Policy and create an Open Data Program (Ordinance 188356) to expand upon the work completed as a part of the 2009 Resolution, establishing mechanisms for engaging all City bureaus in the proactive collection and distribution of City data. This work was lead through the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. 

Portland City Council established the City Data and Privacy Office through Ordinance 192143, which added Chapter 3.39 to the city code and took effect March 7, 2026. The new office is incorporated into the City Operations service area.