AI Transformation Coordinator

Salary: $113,963.20 - $145,439.84 Annually

Location : County of Santa Barbara - All locations, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: 25-8163-01 (O)

Department: Information Technology

Opening Date: 09/03/2025

Closing Date: 9/15/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Description

The County of Santa Barbara's Information Technology Department (ITD) is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking professional to guide and assist in strategic planning, facilitation, and implementation of AI technologies and solutions. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while advancing innovation across County operations.

The ITD Department is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time AI Transformation Coordinator vacancyThe County classification title is Senior Information Technology and Business Systems Management Professional. This is a hybrid role, remote work is permitted and onsite work in Santa Barbara, CA is required when needed (lodging/travel expenses are not provided).

Please note: Employees of the County must reside in California. Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have permanent (not temporary) work authorization to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

THE DEPARTMENT

In the IT Department our success is powered by people and technology. Our culture is what makes IT a fun and rewarding place to work! We establish, develop and nurture partnerships and open communication within our communities. We embrace a willingness to learn and accept new ideas, to actively listen and to be receptive to change. We strive to grow our talents and do our best in the service of others while taking pride in our work. We explore and deliver new and creative ways to pair technology with business needs. We ensure the resources necessary to succeed and encourage thoughtful participation leading to inclusion and ownership.

THE POSITION

The AI Transformation Coordinator will lead the County's efforts to responsibly adopt and integrate artificial intelligence across departments. Serving as the primary point of contact for AI initiatives, this role will identify and evaluate AI use cases, guide implementation of AI tools and technologies, and support cross-departmental collaboration to improve efficiency, service delivery, and decision-making. The Coordinator will also help develop training programs, coordinate alignment with legal and ethical standards, support governance efforts, and keep the County informed on emerging trends in AI. This is a strategic, high-impact role that combines innovation, technical insight, and policy leadership to shape the future of AI in local government.

Highlighted Benefits:

Hybrid remote schedule

Health Plan: County contributes towards premium; HSA offered

Pension Retirement

Reciprocity with other public sector retirement systems (like CalPERS)

12 holidays, 12 sick leave days (unlimited accumulation), and 12 to 25 days of vacation (based on length of service) per year

Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate for previous public service.

For more information on County benefits, please click Examples of Duties

Identify, research, assess and recommend AI use cases, AI tools, and AI technologies for various departmental and countywide operations and applications.

Serve as the primary point of contact for County departments and ITD in defining and establishing AI-driven workflows to improve efficiency and productivity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for AI implementation. Work with County departments to identify challenges or inefficiencies that AI could address, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Research, guide and support the implementation of AI solutions to ensure effective integration and deployment with existing systems, databases, and/or workflows to improve operational processes.

Assist ITD's Enterprise Applications team and County departments with data analysis and data design for the purpose of implementing AI tools and technologies.

Develop and maintain a Countywide inventory of AI tools, pilots, and deployments, including generative AI and machine learning systems.

Provide guidance and recommendations to ITD's Enterprise Architect and ITD's Leadership team on AI strategies and related initiatives. Ensure alignment with Countywide goals, IT standards, and legal/regulatory requirements.

Research, develop and assist Central HR and ITD with the implementation of AI training programs for staff members across the organization. Lead efforts to upskill staff members in the use of generative AI and other AI technologies.

Conduct ongoing research on AI trends and advancements within organizations. Stay current with the latest developments in AI in the public sector.

Facilitate the establishment and ongoing support of governance frameworks. Coordinate alignment with data governance standards, data privacy and ethical standards. Adhere to local government regulations and best practices for data privacy, fairness, and ethical use of AI technologies. Collaborate with County Counsel and Risk regarding compliance.

Develop criteria for evaluating effectiveness/value of AI systems and establish methods to regularly monitor and measure implemented AI systems.

Coordinate vendor assessments and recommend procurement processes for AI-related tools and services, ensuring alignment with County procurement and IT standards.

Participate as a member in the Countywide AI Steering Committee and chair or co-chair the Countywide AI Working Group.

Provide updates on AI or the County's AI progress to the Board of Supervisors as needed or requested. Employment Standards

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a field related to Artificial Intelligence, IT business systems or to the role of AI Transformation Coordinator, AND

Four (4) years of progressively responsible related experience involving planning, analysis, coordination, and evaluation, such as an IT Business Analyst, IT Project Manager, or similar role that also provides experience managing relationships between IT and business stakeholders, understanding business needs, and aligning IT solutions with those needs.

Supplemental Information

Selection Process

Review Application to determine applicants that meet the employment standards.

Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Applicants who meet the employment standard will have their responses to the supplemental questionnaires evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the scored supplemental questions. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list. Completion of a 12-month probationary period is required.

Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check and LiveScan fingerprinting.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, September 15, 2025 at 4:59 p.m. PST, postmarks not accepted. You can view job postings and apply online 24 hours a day at

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by email during each step of the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Selection Process steps to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

For any questions, please contact Sabina Netto, ITD Human Resources Manager at

Retirement Plans

Generous County Defined Benefit Plan

Eligible to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

Retirement Reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, and 1937 Act plans

For more information on our retirement plans, please visit: and Health Benefits

Choice of dental, vision and medical plans. In addition to the Benefit Allowance noted above, the County contributes toward medical premiums and dental premiums

On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria which provide ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential assistance with personal and workplace problems to employees and their immediate family members

Healthcare Advocacy Program to help employees navigate the complexities of health plan benefits

Available Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Supplemental Term or Whole Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance and more!

For more information on our health benefits, please visit: Paid Time Off

Vacation Leave 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment

Sick Leave 12 days annually with unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement

Paid Holidays based on bargaining unit (view the compensation summary for this bargaining unit, link below)

Alternative Transportation Benefit (TDM) up to 2 days of additional vacation for using alternative methods of commuting

For more information on Paid Time Off please view the Compensation Summary for this bargaining unit (available below) Miscellaneous Benefits

County Paid Term Life Insurance

County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance

Childcare and Employee Discounts

Relocation Assistance may apply

Flexible work schedule may apply

For more information on all of these benefits, please visit: Compensation Summary

To view the Compensation Summary specific to the bargaining unit for this position (link to full Memorandum of Understanding also available at bottom of the summary), please visit:

*This benefits list is for convenience only; please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for complete details of terms and conditions. Amounts are generally prorated for part-time employment.

01

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility as an applicant to provide sufficient information on my application to demonstrate that my education and experience meets the employment standards (minimum qualifications) for this position as detailed in the job posting. I understand that resumes are not considered as part of the application review process so a thorough and detailed application and supplemental questionnaire are required and entering "see resume" is not acceptable.I further acknowledge that if the County determines that I do not meet the employment standards there will be no opportunity for me to provide additional information regarding my application after the closing date listed on the job posting.Therefore, I understand that before submitting a job application, it is important that I review the job posting thoroughly and ensure that my application clearly reflects how my education and experience meets the employment standards at the time I submit my application.

I understand

02

The Human Resources Department communicates with all applicants through e-mail. Please make sure your e-mail address is entered correctly, it is current, and that you check spam filters continuously during the recruitment and selection process to ensure you do not miss required deadlines.

I understand

03

While this is a primarily remote role, I understand that County employees must reside in California and that when required to be in the office, employees are not provided lodging or travel expenses.

I understand

04

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have permanent (not temporary) work authorization to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.

I understand

05

Do you have experience working directly for a public/government sector agency (county, city, school district, etc.)

Yes

No

06

If you indicated that you do have experience working directly for a public/government sector agency, please list the agency/agencies below (enter N/A if not applicable). These employers must also be listed on your application.

07

I understand the Civil Service Examination for this recruitment is a Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking. I understand my responses to the following supplemental questions will be used as a weighed, scored selection device that will determine my ranking on the employment list for this position.For information on protest procedures for the Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking, please see Civil Service Rules 612 and 613:

I understand the following is an examination that will be used to determine my rank on the Eligible List.

08

For the following, please select the option that best reflects your level of experience (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced). If you indicate that you have experience, you are required to complete the follow-up question by describing your related experience and listing the employers or school courses where you gained it. If responses are not included or incomplete, your application may be disqualified. Please note that follow-up skills assessments may be administered to validate responses.

I understand

09

AI Use Case Identification and Assessment: please rate your experience identifying, researching, and assessing use cases for AI in organizational or governmental settings.

Beginner: Basic understanding of AI capabilities; have participated in discussions about AI use cases.

Intermediate: Independently researched or proposed AI use cases for specific business problems.

Advanced: Led efforts to identify and assess AI use cases across multiple business units or departments.

I do not have experience in the above area.

10

Please list the employers/school courses where you gained this experience and provide an example that corresponds to the level you selected above. Any employers listed here must also be listed