San Francisco creates data-driven leadership role
07 October 2025
by Jonathan Andrews
San Francisco has appointed Jessica MacLeod (pictured) as its first chief of strategy and performance, a new leadership role created to embed data and evidence at the centre of how the city sets goals, measures progress, and delivers services.
Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco, said the position marks a major step toward embedding evidence-based decision-making at the heart of city hall.
“My administration is focused on producing real results for the people it serves,” he said. “As chief of strategy and performance, Jessica MacLeod brings years of experience in building a more accountable, data-driven city government that works better for everyone. Working across our administration’s policy verticals, she will set measurable goals and accelerate our progress.”
MacLeod will lead efforts to translate data into practical performance insights across departments, directing resources and removing administrative barriers to improve service delivery. Her office will also promote a culture of continuous improvement so staff can identify and solve problems proactively.
“This role is about bringing clarity and alignment to our citywide goals, reducing complexity where possible to deliver results, and improving our ability to make evidenced-based decisions,” said MacLeod. “San Francisco is the innovation capital of the world and has the people and the tools to build a more effective government for the people that it serves.”
With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of government, technology, and operations, MacLeod has advised states and cities nationwide on how to use data analytics and public dashboards to improve accountability and resident outcomes. She previously led digital transformation in San Rafael and co-founded US Digital Response, a volunteer initiative that helped governments adapt quickly to COVID-19.
“I had the privilege of working with Jessica at Socrata and Tyler Technologies, where we supported state and local governments as they turned data into insights that improved services and empowered staff to work smarter with the tools they already had,” said Oliver Wise, Executive Director, Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University; Former Chief Data Officer, US Department of Commerce. “Jessica combines deep expertise in performance improvement, customer experience, and change management, with a data-driven approach that builds lasting capacity inside government.”
Image: LinkedIn/MacLeod
