Data Coordination Specialist

(160002CT) Description

DETAILED STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Data Coordination Specialist works within the Office of Data Analytics and Decision Support (ODADS) at the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Department of Public Health to perform data analysis, participate in data quality improvement initiatives, and recommend improvement plans for data collection, processing and analysis. ODADS manages multi-source administrative and surveillance datasets related to alcoholism, drug addiction and compulsive gambling. The multi-source data are stored in a relational SQL data warehouse, as well as SAS datasets. ODADS utilizes this critical data to better understand the prevalence and incidence of substance use disorders and addiction treatment services and to evaluate related policies and programs.

Main competencies and functions:

Data analysis

  • Proven experience in SQL programming
  • Query and analyze multi-source data using SQL programming
  • Knowledge of SAS and other programming languages and/or statistical software is a plus
  • Extract and manipulate data from a data warehouse using appropriate tools (SQL, Cognos, SAS) to support analysis based on project specifications
  • Develop analysis plans, metrics and necessary statistics to investigate and monitor data and disease outcomes
  • Perform data analysis in response to internal and external requests
  • Troubleshoot and resolve data inconsistencies
  • Maintain clear documentation that describe project specifications, SAS and SQL programming code, applied logic, memoranda/reports, and any caveats associated with the data

Data Quality monitoring, investigation and improvement

  • Investigate data quality issues by querying data in SQL datamart, reviewing data collection and ETL processes
  • Document and propose recommendations to address data quality issues in support of establishing data definitions and standards
  • Knowledge of and experience working with databases, particularly relational databases, ETL processes and data cleaning business rules is a plus
  • Work closely with team to address data collection, cleaning, mapping and improvement
  • Ensure accuracy and completeness of data through data validation and document data issues
  • Automate existing processes and identify areas that would benefit from additional process improvement and propose improvement plans

Communication of important data findings

  • Collaborate with and convey statistics and analysis to data team (database administrator, analysts/epidemiologists, director)
  • Assist in the coordination and implementation of data improvement initiatives
  • Works with stakeholders to determine requirements for standard reports, create mockups, and implement the reports in the appropriate tool.

Other preferred competencies

  • Extensive experience in SQL programming and working with relational databases
  • Experience analyzing large health datasets, such as death records, health claims data, etc.
  • The candidate must be comfortable working in teams and reconciling various, potentially competing, requirements to produce solutions meeting a variety of user needs.
  • Comfortable with communicating complex technical issues both with technical and non-technical staff
  • Knowledge of public health, epidemiology, biostatistics

Introduction to the Department of Public Health:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth.

We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.

DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems.

Introduction to the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services:

The Mission of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) is to foster healthy life choices through culturally responsive services that prevent, treat and promote recovery from substance related disorders.

Our Guiding Principles include:

  • Addiction is a chronic disease that can be successfully prevented and treated.
  • Eliminating stigma associated with addiction is essential to our work.
  • Substance use disorders affect individuals, families and communities across the Commonwealth.
  • No single treatment is appropriate for everyone.
  • Medications are an important element of treatment for many individuals.
  • Persons affected by substance abuse should be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Recovery works!

To apply, visit: https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=160002CT

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