Decision Support Analyst - Public Health

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Dartmouth, NS

2d•CA$65,013 - CA$79,638•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Public Health Central Zone Healthy Communities Manager, the Decision Support Analyst supports the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of Nova Scotia Health by advancing evidence-informed decision-making for Public Health through the provision of data, analytics, reporting, and performance measurement. The position has a primary focus on supporting the HealthADAPT: Nova Scotia Public Health Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment project, which aims to assess climate-related health risks across Nova Scotia's Central Zone. The project seeks to improve understanding of how climate events impact population health, with a dedicated focus on health equity and equity-deserving populations who are disproportionately vulnerable to climate-related health impacts. Drawing on 15 years of climate and health data, the project examines trends in morbidity, mortality, and health care utilization associated with climate hazards such as extreme heat, extreme cold, poor air quality, hurricanes, and flooding. The Decision Support Analyst supports and enhances the use of evidence-based decision-making through the development, analysis, and dissemination of tailored information products, including indicator reports, dashboards, scorecards, performance monitoring reports, and climate and health vulnerability analyses. The Analyst collaborates with Public Health staff and external partners to clarify information needs and undertakes data extraction, integration, management, synthesis, statistical analysis, and reporting using Public Health information systems, administrative databases, climate datasets, and other internal and external sources of data. The position contributes to the development of system performance tools, supports ongoing monitoring and evaluation activities, and provides analytical expertise to inform program planning, policy development, and strategic decision-making across Public Health, with a particular emphasis on climate change, health equity, and population health.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in health-related field such as informatics, mathematics / statistics plus 5 years’ experience OR Master’s degree plus 3 years’ experience.
An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Experience and demonstrated expertise in data extraction, data management, descriptive statistics and data analysis.
Proficiency with micro-computer applications (e.g., Microsoft Office suite of products including Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Word).
Comprehensive knowledge of information management principles including information dissemination and exchange, data collection methodologies and data quality.
Experience with SAS and/or SQL.
Experience in spatial data analysis using ArcGIS.
Experience and demonstrated expertise with information systems, such as CIHI, Statistic Canada, SAP, Meditech, STAR, EDIS, etc.
Experience working with and synthesizing large, complex datasets and high volumes of information.
Broad knowledge of the health care system together with community, environmental and ecological health including current issues, trends, policies and legislation.
Possess critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to develop and foster relationships with all levels of administrative and clinical management.
Ability to deal with leaders, managers and teams regarding sensitive and confidential matters.
Ability to work independently.

Nice To Haves

Experience relevant to climate change preferred.
Public Health experience is considered an asset.
Competencies in other languages an asset; French preferred.

Responsibilities

Advancing evidence-informed decision-making for Public Health through the provision of data, analytics, reporting, and performance measurement.
Supporting the HealthADAPT: Nova Scotia Public Health Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment project.
Assessing climate-related health risks across Nova Scotia's Central Zone.
Examining trends in morbidity, mortality, and health care utilization associated with climate hazards.
Developing, analyzing, and disseminating tailored information products, including indicator reports, dashboards, scorecards, performance monitoring reports, and climate and health vulnerability analyses.
Collaborating with Public Health staff and external partners to clarify information needs.
Undertaking data extraction, integration, management, synthesis, statistical analysis, and reporting using Public Health information systems, administrative databases, climate datasets, and other internal and external sources of data.
Contributing to the development of system performance tools.
Supporting ongoing monitoring and evaluation activities.
Providing analytical expertise to inform program planning, policy development, and strategic decision-making across Public Health, with a particular emphasis on climate change, health equity, and population health.