Overview

The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will serve as a subject matter expert, guiding 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 a public health organization. The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will develop and implement the organization’s strategy for increasingly effective use of data and information through improvements in information systems, policy, workforce, and work processes. This position will strategically direct the organization’s data modernization effort by identifying and addressing needs, gaps, and opportunities in the organization’s data ecosystem. The data ecosystem includes both the technical data infrastructure and the workforce that relies on and works with the data infrastructure and the data itself, including systems and data of external partners. This position will combine deep expertise in public health operations with expertise in the development, maintenance, operation, enhancement, and configuration of information systems, and with 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 role requires demonstrated leadership in establishing and operationalizing data governance frameworks, safeguarding sensitive information, ensuring compliance with privacy and security requirements, and guiding organizations through complex change. As the effort matures, this position will help shape and lead to additional initiatives related to data interoperability, analytics and system integration as the agency needs to emerge.

The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will be hired by the CDC Foundation and assigned to the St. Mary's County Health Department. This position is eligible for a fully remote work arrangement for U.S. based candidates.

Responsibilities:

Align with agency leadership and key personnel to clarify agency information needs and opportunities for highly impactful systems improvement, and to define priorities for data modernization, plan and implement those improvements within the limits of agency resources.
Serve as a trusted senior advisor to leadership on data-related risk, compliance, and strategic investment decisions.
Lead an initial baseline assessment of the agency’s current data systems, workflows, governance practices, and technical readiness to inform a phased data modernization approach.
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. Adapt strategy and scope as agency priorities and external requirements evolve.
Provide expert technical advisement and requirements of definition related to information systems, systems architecture, and data infrastructure, in collaboration with architects, engineers, and implementation partners as appropriate.
Design, establish and lead the agency’s data governance framework, including decision making structures, roles, policies, standards, and accountability mechanisms.
With support of the governance team, develop and implement policies and procedures related to data privacy, confidentiality, security, and appropriate data use, ensuring alignment with federal and state regulations.
Collaborate with legal, IT, program and compliance stakeholders to lead, advocate for, and/or cultivate the organization’s data modernization, data governance, data interoperability integration, and data security efforts.
Develop infrastructure, policies, and tools to ensure timely, appropriate data sharing and data access.
Serve as a liaison to other organizations to establish data exchange agreements and facilitate data linkage.
Develop and implement strategies for achieving cutting-edge, advanced data analytics, and visualization capabilities.
Assure appropriate role-based access to data by organization staff and partners to ensure that operations and decision-making are informed by timely, relevant information.
Lead the development of and update data inventories of the organization’s data and information system resources. This includes identifying systems of record, downstream data copies, data owners, data sensitivity, and known integration or quality issues.
Assess data needs within divisions and programs to identify gaps and areas for integration and establish consequent 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 fields 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.
At least 5 years' experience in a senior or lead role guiding data strategy, governance, or system modernization efforts. Demonstrated experience leading or implementing data governance frameworks in complex organizations.
Experience developing conceptual and logical data models and translating business and use-case requirements into clear architectural artifacts.
Strong knowledge of data privacy, confidentiality, and information security principles applied to public health data.
Understanding 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.
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.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience leading early-stage data modernization efforts, including current-state assessments, system inventories, and readiness evaluations in public health or government settings.
Demonstrated familiarity with CDC Data Modernization Initiative (DMI), Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), and/or the CDC Public Health Data Strategy (PHDS), including translating federal priorities into agency-level execution.
Proven experience establishing or improving operational data governance, including decision rights, data ownership, stewardship, and accountability models.
Experience working in environments with limited technical maturity, including spreadsheet-, CSV-, or manually driven reporting workflows, and guiding organizations toward sustainable data practices.
Ability to translate program and business needs into clear technical requirements to inform architecture and engineering work, without serving as the primary solution designer.

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.
Time zone: Must be available to work Eastern Time business hours, with flexibility as needed.
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.