Data Science and Informatics Specialist ; DSIS​/SPI

Data Science and Informatics Specialist 2 (DSIS2/SPI)

This position monitors and analyzes data for federal reporting on the use of behavioral health resources and needs across Washington. This Data Science and Informatics Specialist utilizes SAS, R, SQL, Tableau, and Power BI for reporting and analysis and ensures the accuracy and integrity of incoming data. If you are in search of an opportunity to support the utilization of behavioral health services across the state, this may be the opportunity for you!

All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.

About the division:

The DATA (Data Acquisition, Transformation and Analytics) team of the Health Care Authority (HCA), within the Strategy, Policy, and Innovation (SPI) division, is responsible for leading agency data strategy; and leading the implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of the data management, analytics and reporting systems that inform agency leadership in support of HCA's goals, as well as for monitoring program performance to ensure accountability and alignment with agency activities.

About the position:

This position extracts knowledge from structured and unstructured health care data with a focus on creating advanced data analytics, applying statistical techniques, and developing data visualizations in support of SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Block Grants; SAMHSA Inventory of Treatment Facilities, and behavioral health programs.

This position is eligible to telework and is typically not required to report on-site.

The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions - both on-site and telework eligible positions - is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location.

Some of what you will do:

* Use health care claims and supplementary data sources to design and develop health care reporting and visualizations for behavioral health programs and populations to help the agency make data-driven decisions.

* Collaborate with internal partners to acquire data, maintain, and update datasets in support of federal reporting requirements and behavioral health service availability assessments.

* Develop data expertise on the regional distribution of behavioral health facilities.

* Conduct quantitative analysis, reports, and interactive dashboards using Power BI or Tableau to provide insights to leadership.

* Develop analytic deliverables for internal and external requestors, HCA website, and legislative reports.

* Monitor, identify and understand data quality and completeness issues that impact business needs.

* Write data code/query scripts to create analytic datasets and generate data products from data sources using programming languages such as R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python.

* Develop algorithms, build data models, and automate data processing tasks.

* Combine multiple data formats and sources such as health care claims, medical records, surveillance data, surveys, and/or pharmacy data to meet analytic project requirements.

* Apply medical coding such as ICD-10, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes to analyze health care data.

* As directed, support management and information technology staff to monitor, identify, and understand data quality and completeness issues.

Required qualifications:

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options (experience requirements may be gained concurrently):

Option 1:

* Master's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field, and

* Two (2) years of experience working with complex health care, behavioral health, and/or public health analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming.

Option 2:

* Bachelor's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field,

* Two (2) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, and

* Two (2) years of experience working with complex health care, behavioral health, and/or public health analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming.

Option 3:

* Associate degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field,

* Four (4) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, and

* Two (2) years of experience working with complex health care, behavioral health,…