Informatics Specialist

UCSF•San Francisco, CA

1d•$120,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The California Department of Public Health Office of Data Strategy (ODS) is recruiting for an Informatics Specialist IV to serve as a lead engineer supporting CDPH’s enterprise data modernization efforts. The incumbent will lead engineering, operational reliability, data access, and data governance activities for CDPH’s cloud‑native Databricks Lakehouse environment. Responsibilities will include: Applying advanced professional public health informatics and enterprise data engineering and data architecture concepts and extensive knowledge of industry practices to projects of all levels of scope and complexity. Leading project teams in developing innovative informatics and enterprise data pipelines, reusable data models, data access frameworks, and automated data quality systems. Identifying and implementing strategies for integrating multiple enterprise data sources, platforms, and systems to support statewide analytics, operations, and program needs. Conducting complex database design, data quality assurance, and quality improvement projects. Developing protocols and guidelines and providing information and technical assistance for CDPH programs, ODS partners, and system users related to data governance, access, interoperability, and metadata standards. Leading engineering efforts for scalable data pipelines, enterprise data marts, and secure data access. Supporting data governance, operational reliability, and continuous improvement of CDPH’s data infrastructure. Serves as a technical lead to engineers, informaticists, analysts, and program partners across CDPH. This position requires strong programming skills (SQL, Python, PySpark), experience with Databricks and distributed computing frameworks, and expertise in data governance and secure data access. The incumbent collaborates across ODS teams and CDPH programs to support enterprise data architecture, operational reliability, and continuous improvement of CDPH’s data systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in public health, health care information technology, computer science, or related area, and / or equivalent experience / training.
5+ years of experience in computer or data pipeline programming and database management, OR 5+ years working in public health
Demonstrated proficiency relating to logical data design, data warehouse design, data integration, and data modeling.
Advanced skills associated with statistical analysis, data transformation or linking, data visualization, or data systems programming using programming languages including SQL, R,Python, and/or experience with Apache Spark language APIs (e.g. PySpark, sparklyr).
In-depth knowledge of all relevant clinical or public health informatics software and systems, and of the highly-complex concepts, principles, policies, methodologies, techniques, best practices, regulations, and standards practices involved with health systems, health analytics, public health surveillance or electronic medical data management.
Advanced organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead a project team, prioritize tasks, and see projects through from inception to completion on schedule.
Ability to apply advanced problem-resolution skills to highly complex issues, quickly diagnose problems, and develop, test, and implement appropriate and effective solutions in a timely manner.
Advanced ability to serve as a technical leader and information resource, and to work collaboratively with senior staff and management across departments, providing advice, counsel, and analysis on issues of policy, functionality, system efficiency, upgrades, business analytics, and industry advances and trends.
Advanced analytical skills and expertise in documentation and reporting, with the ability to apply metrics, design and run queries, collect and analyze performance data, and produce sophisticated reports and analyses for management use.
Advanced interpersonal communications skills, to convey highly technical information and instructions to all levels of users and stakeholders in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in writing, to provide technical support, and to develop and deliver training materials as needed.
Advanced ability to think creatively to recommend action steps or strategize solutions relative to public health surveillance, epidemiology, informatics, program evaluation, or research.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in computer science, informatics, public health, biostatistics, epidemiology or epidemiology and biostatistics and / or equivalent experience / training.
Doctorate degree in computer science, informatics, public health, biostatistics, epidemiology or epidemiology and biostatistics and / or equivalent experience / training.
In-depth knowledge of machine learning, and deployment of predictive analytics in operational environments.
Knowledge of pattern recognition, machine learning, and/or natural language processing, clinical workflows, user interface optimization, data integration and mining, clinical ontologies and adoption of technology.
Experience with interoperability standards such as Health Level Seven International (HL7) V2.x, V3, IHE profile, Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) and/or Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR).
Public health domain knowledge is preferred but not required, and may be developed or expanded after hiring

Responsibilities

Serves as a technical leader in collaborating with public health, technical, local health jurisdictions, community, and clinical leaders to plan, develop, implement, and analyze highly-complex public health informatics systems, and to design integrated architecture to ensure an optimal and efficient user experience and functionality, integrity, and reliability of systems.
Represents ODS and CDPH enterprise data needs in high‑level design discussions related to the Databricks Lakehouse environment, data governance, data access, interoperability, and cloud architecture.
Leads project teams that include advanced public health, local health jurisdiction, community, and clinical staff to improve public health informatics results and to provide advice and sophisticated metrics and analytics to support management's decision-making processes for systems modifications that are cost-effective, scalable, and meet present and future needs.
Conducts complex data analysis using data from multiple sources including program, operational, administrative, and surveillance datasets from diverse CDPH systems (such as communicable disease, cancer, and vital statistics registries, laboratories, electronic health records, and claims data) to inform programmatic action.
Develops strategies and technical solutions to support enterprise‑wide linkage, matching, metadata alignment, and interoperability across CDPH systems.
Develops dashboards, operational tools, and Lakehouse‑enabled visualizations to support CDPH programs, leadership, and operational teams.
Performs highly-complex quality assurance testing, designs and runs SQL (Structured Query Language) and R queries for enhanced and complex data access, and plans, develops, and writes documentation of design and deployment processes, workflows, and results.
Conducts high-level data quality assurance activities; makes recommendations and implements processes to improve enterprise data lake structure, governance, data access, platform performance and functionality.
Recommends and establishes protocols for improvements to processes for producing routine and ad-hoc data reports using data from multiple sources.
Ensures data sharing is compliant with relevant security and privacy requirements and that access to protected health information (PHI) is limited to the minimum necessary information needed for analysis.
As a technical leader and information resource, will provide support, troubleshooting, and problem solving at an advanced level, and may produce and deliver user training curricula and system documentation to support internal and external partners.
Ensures successful completion of project deliverables.
Mentors mid-level and junior engineers analysts, and informaticians and provides administrative and technical direction and support.
Prepares graphs, reports, and publications and presents findings at national, state, and local conferences and meetings.
Participates in departmental and programmatic strategic planning and other related initiatives (such as in support of racial equity and emergency response).
Researches and stays up to date on newest technology in public health informatics; contributes to planning.