Data Science and Informatics Specialist 2 (DSIS2/SPI)

Summary

The Washington State Health Care Authority's DATA section leads agency data strategy and develops data management, analytics, and reporting systems. The Data Science and Informatics Specialist 2 will build data capabilities supporting the 340B Drug Pricing Program, including health care analytics, statistical modeling, data visualization, validation, and communication of findings to varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• Use health care claims and supplementary data sources to design and develop health care reporting and visualizations for the 340B Drug Pricing Program to help the agency make data-driven decisions
• Generate data products from structured and unstructured data sources using programming languages such as R, SAS, SQL, M code, and/or Python to write data code/query scripts
• 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
• Develop health care data science modeling, evaluation, research, and statistical analysis for the 340B Drug Pricing Program
• Use quantitative research methods commonly used in scientific, surveillance, and/or epidemiological research to analyze and interpret data
• Use statistical analysis techniques to find patterns, trends, and conclusions
• Draft proposal plan and support implementation activities for statistical analysis such as regression analysis, clustering, or time series analysis
• Partner with requestors to develop and/or translate data requests into analytic projects supporting the 340B Drug Pricing Program
• Collaborate with others to gather, prioritize, and validate requirements
• Provide consultation to data requestors and data users regarding data access, feasibility, statistical validity, etc
• Work with appropriate business analysts or business owners to determine resolution of complex issues
• Monitor, address, and/or provide consultation for changes, gaps, and other impacts to the 340B Drug Pricing Program data sources and infrastructure
• Conduct data validity checks to identify and report errors and anomalies in the data
• Develop, interpret, communicate, and present data science findings to a variety of audiences, including colleagues, policymakers, and the public

Skills

• Master's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field
• Bachelor's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field, and
• Two (2) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health, working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming
• Associate degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field, and
• Four (4) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health, working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming
• Six (6) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health, working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming
• The ability to take action to learn and grow
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated understanding of health care data
• Intermediate to proficient professional skills with SQL
• Intermediate to proficient professional skills with Tableau, Power BI, or similar data visualization tools
• Professional experience managing data from submission to reporting, including data cleaning
• Professional experience with pharmacy and/or drug-related data
• Professional experience communicating with internal and external stakeholders
• Knowledge of medical and/or pharmacy coding such as ICD-10, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes; health care business and systems; research methods; advanced statistical theory and techniques
• Comfortable interacting with staff members at all levels of the agency; high level of workload management including organization and prioritization of tasks; ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team; excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced experience working with large and complex data sets; advanced level SQL, R, Python, SAS, M code or other programming skills; experience with data visualization using Power BI, Tableau and other similar visualization tools

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Master's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field
• Bachelor's degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field, and
• Two (2) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health, working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming
• Associate degree in informatics, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, or related technical or quantitative field, and
• Four (4) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health, working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming
• Six (6) years of professional experience performing data science or informatics data work, within health care, public health, and/or behavioral health, working with complex analytics, data visualization software and R, SAS, SQL, M code and/or Python programming
• The ability to take action to learn and grow
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy

Nice to Haves

• Demonstrated understanding of health care data
• Intermediate to proficient professional skills with SQL
• Intermediate to proficient professional skills with Tableau, Power BI, or similar data visualization tools
• Professional experience managing data from submission to reporting, including data cleaning
• Professional experience with pharmacy and/or drug-related data
• Professional experience communicating with internal and external stakeholders
• Knowledge of medical and/or pharmacy coding such as ICD-10, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes; health care business and systems; research methods; advanced statistical theory and techniques
• Comfortable interacting with staff members at all levels of the agency; high level of workload management including organization and prioritization of tasks; ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team; excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced experience working with large and complex data sets; advanced level SQL, R, Python, SAS, M code or other programming skills; experience with data visualization using Power BI, Tableau and other similar visualization tools

Benefits

• This position is eligible to telework and is typically not required to report on-site.
• A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
• Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve.
• A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants and shopping nearby.
• Free parking.
• For typical full-time employees expected to work more than six months: medical insurance, including vision, for employees and their families.
• For typical full-time employees expected to work more than six months: dental insurance for employees and their families.
• For typical full-time employees expected to work more than six months: basic life insurance for employees and their families.
• Multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums and coverage throughout the state.
• Annual enrollment in a medical flexible spending account using tax-deferred dollars toward health care expenses.
• Long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
• Washington Wellness workplace wellness programs.
• Dependent care assistance allowing employees to save pre-tax dollars for child or elder care expenses.
• Auto, boat, home, and renter insurance available through payroll deduction.
• Washington State Employee Assistance Program supporting employee health and well-being.
• Membership in the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).
• New employees have the option of two employer-contributed retirement programs.
• Deferred Compensation Program, a supplemental retirement savings program with pre-tax salary deferral and multiple investment options.
• Coverage by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems, with the state and employee paying equal amounts into the system.
• Potential eligibility for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for employees who meet the qualifying criteria and are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization.
• Paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year for full-time and part-time employees.
• Additional personal leave day(s) may be available to employees who are members of certain unions, subject to applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation subject to the stated pay-status requirements.
• Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month, subject to the stated pay-status requirements.
• Part-time employees accrue sick leave proportionately to their hours in pay status.
• Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
• Part-time employees accrue vacation leave on a pro rata basis in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
• Vacation leave accrual rates may be accelerated or a lump-sum accrual may be authorized for a Washington Management Service position to support recruitment or retention, as provided by WAC 357-58-175.
• 21 days of paid military leave per year for members of the armed forces.
• Five days of paid bereavement leave for most employees whose family or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy.
• Other available leave types may be approved for bereavement leave.
• Leave sharing.
• Parental leave.
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.