Overview

The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will serve as a subject matter expert, supporting local public health agencies through the development and delivery of technical projects that improve the use of public health data to inform decision-making. This role is aligned to the Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI). WAI is a federally funded CDC Foundation program with the goal of helping the nation’s public health agencies by providing them with the technology and data experts they need to accelerate their information system improvements.

The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will be hired by the CDC Foundation and assigned to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will support the development and implementation of a technical assistance and training strategy. This includes promoting increasingly effective use of data and information through improvements in information systems, policy, workforce, and work processes – specifically, within an enterprise data platform (EDP) proof of concept (POC). This position will serve at the nexus between local public agencies, the state public health sponsor, and an academic partner leading the development of EDP POC tools and services. The EDP POC includes a modernized technical infrastructure posture and the organizational change management needed for the state and local workforce that relies on the data. This position will combine deep expertise in public health operations, with a preference to direct experience at the local public health level, with expertise in the development of technical assistance and training approaches to increase local public health access to robust, modernized data solutions. The incumbent will ideally have knowledge of advanced information technology, tools, and processes.

The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge about organizations in the public health informatics landscape, technical infrastructure, and proven experience in informatics-oriented work with public health organizations and in working with agency leaders to develop and implement systems improvement strategies. Strong communication and partnership skills are required to succeed in this role.

This position is eligible for a fully remote work arrangement for U.S. based candidates. Occasional travel to MDHHS partner work location may be requested.

Responsibilities

Align with agency leadership and project partners (including local public agencies and academic partners) to clarify information needs and opportunities for highly impactful systems improvement, and to plan and implement those improvements within the limits of agency resources.
Develop and lead implementation of the organization’s strategy for increasingly effective use of data and information through improvements in information systems, policy, workforce, and work processes through collaboration with key staff throughout the organization.
Provide expert technical advisement and guidance on local public health technical assistance and training needs to increase adoption and use of the EDP POC.
Develop infrastructure, policies, and tools to assure timely, appropriate upskilling assistance. Provide input to enterprise-wide data accessibility standards and requirements to be applied to all information systems and procurements. Serve as liaison to other organizations to establish data exchange agreements and facilitate data linkage.
Support the EDP POC technical assistance data scientist in providing direct technical assistance and mentorship to end users.
Support the development and implementation of strategies for achieving cutting-edge, advanced data analytics and visualization capabilities.
Assure appropriate access to data by organization staff and partners to assure that operations and decision-making are informed by timely, relevant information.
Support the development and management of EDP POS use cases and data inventories.
Assess data use needs across public health partners to identify gaps and areas for integration and establish priorities and plans.
Ensure establishment and maintenance of a data governance process, including the implementation of strategies for effective standards, policies, practices, and procedures throughout the organization.
Ensure interoperability across the organization’s information systems and with information systems of external partners.
Perform other duties as required.
Up to 10% domestic travel may be required.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in public health, computer information systems, health informatics, epidemiology or other related field from an accredited college or university. Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience with direct experience in epidemiology, informatics, data science, or information systems development related to public health. Including a minimum of 5 years of experience leading or collaborating with partners in the development of technical data strategies and infrastructure.
Understanding of information systems development and use, data and system life cycles, requirements development and good practices for developing information systems and processes.
Understanding of data use within public health, including the advantages and challenges associated with common data sources, systems and work processes.
Familiarity with successful and failed efforts to improve data exchange and use within public health.

Preference given to individuals with direct, local public health experience.
Strong project management skills, ability to meet deadlines, and ability to adapt to changing priorities.
Ability to engage with, listen to and learn from a broad range of stakeholders, encouraging their meaningful participation.
Ability to communicate in a clear, positive manner with internal staff, leadership, and external partners, as well as clearly communicate to non-technical audiences.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Superior organizational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to listen well and effectively represent the organization and its mission.
Creativity, problem solving, demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with others.

Job Highlights

Location: Remote, must be based in the United States, Up to 10% domestic travel may be required.
Salary Range: $135,000 - $166,050, per year, plus benefits. Individual salary offers will be based on experience and qualifications unique to each candidate.
Position Type: Grant funded, limited-term opportunity
Position End Date: June 30, 2027

Special Notes

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by the CDC Foundation in order to best support the public health programming.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.

Relocation expenses are not included.

About the CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation helps CDC save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. The CDC Foundation manages hundreds of programs each year impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.