Role Overview
The Chief Enterprise Systems Officer (CESO) serves as the principal technology strategist for enterprise systems within the Controller’s Office, overseeing the architecture, governance, and evolution of critical business platforms across the City and County of San Francisco. This position ensures that enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and supporting technologies are secure, integrated, and aligned with both departmental objectives and broader citywide initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Evaluate the existing ERP environment to identify opportunities for modernization, consolidation, and improved performance
- Design and implement a forward-looking enterprise systems strategy that supports financial, personnel, procurement, and payroll operations
- Monitor emerging technologies and industry trends to enhance system capabilities and operational efficiency
- Streamline the application portfolio by retiring redundant systems and consolidating overlapping functions
- Partner with the City Performance team and other stakeholders to optimize ERP functionality across departments
- Oversee system upgrades, patches, and maintenance to ensure reliability, security, and compliance
- Lead end-to-end implementation of new enterprise applications, whether on-premises or cloud-based, including vendor selection and change management
- Ensure seamless data flow between systems to support integrated business processes
- Establish data governance standards to maintain accuracy, consistency, and accessibility across platforms
- Enforce cybersecurity protocols and data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information
- Develop and maintain risk assessment, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans
- Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and public sector compliance standards
- Negotiate vendor contracts and manage service delivery to maximize value and performance
- Recruit, develop, and lead a team of technical and functional professionals responsible for system administration, development, and support
- Build leadership capacity within the team to support succession planning and long-term organizational resilience
- Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct
- Engage with city departments to understand evolving business needs and align technology roadmaps accordingly
- Balance operational efficiency with adaptability to meet emerging performance goals and resource demands
Qualifications
Candidates must have senior-level experience in enterprise systems leadership, with a demonstrated ability to design and execute strategic technology initiatives. Proven expertise in managing ERP platforms—particularly in financial, personnel, procurement, and payroll domains—is essential. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in system integration, data governance, and cybersecurity compliance, along with a track record of leading complex projects in on-premises and cloud environments. Experience managing cross-functional teams and collaborating with public sector agencies is highly valued.
Technical Environment
The role operates within a diverse technology landscape, including ERP systems, financial and payroll platforms, personnel and procurement applications, cloud-based SaaS solutions, on-premises infrastructure, data integration tools, cybersecurity frameworks, and disaster recovery systems.
Work Environment
This is a local position based in San Francisco, CA, requiring in-person collaboration with city departments and stakeholders. The role operates within a public service context, emphasizing transparency, regulatory compliance, and interdepartmental cooperation.
