New executive titles on organizational charts in U.S. cities substantiate that cities are experiencing radical change. City divisions such as public works, economic development, technology, parks and planning are still vital, but newly hired sustainability officers, data chiefs, innovation directors, etc. reflect how cities are addressing new concerns that point to an evolving culture.
Two Texas cities – Austin and San Antonio – now have chief sustainability officers as well as chief
innovation officers. In San Antonio, the sustainability office is responsible for implementing sustainability initiatives that cross over various divisions such as energy and transportation. And, the city’s chief innovation officer oversees a department that is charged with analyzing data and improving effectiveness and efficiency related to services. Since the Office of Innovation was created in 2007, it is credited for saving the city $20.3 million.
Austin’s chief sustainability officer focuses the department on efforts such as green purchasing, energy conservation, solid waste recycling, water conservation and other efforts designed to improve sustainability. The city’s innovation office is responsible for creating an environment where both challenges and opportunities are examined and innovative solutions are implemented.
Many chief innovation officers also address issues such as homelessness, violent crime and economic development. Dozens of cities, including Sacramento, Philadelphia, San Jose, Kansas City, Mo., and San Francisco have hired chief innovation officers and can point to great results.
Challenges and threats to cities, whether originating from natural disasters, public health, air quality or other issues, have resulted in many cities hiring chief resiliency officers. In Pittsburgh, issues that face the resiliency department are air quality, deteriorating infrastructure and weather-related risks. Boston hired a chief resiliency officer to primarily address risks that include floods, terrorism, infrastructure failure, racial and economic inequality, unemployment and lack of affordable housing.
Washington, D.C., recently appointed a chief data officer who will be responsible for providing easier access to city data and information. The department, now with more than 25 employees, is working to consolidate all types of data and make it easily accessible to the public.
Earlier this month, New York City hired a chief digital officer who will promote innovation, create universal and affordable Internet access and work to increase the number of individuals available for technology jobs in the city. That is a problem for many cities.
Providence, R.I., has named a chief policy officer who will provide oversight of the city’s sustainability program, education policy, workforce development and the city’s Healthy Communities Office. That appointment shifts lots of responsibility to one individual.
As cities adapt and address new challenges and expectations, it will obviously take new executives with experience in a number of areas. Leadership roles are evolving as the world changes.