Data Systems Informatician - Data Management III - Electronic & Disease Reporting Branch

ABOUT CDPHE

At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are charged with protecting Colorado’s health and environment – a responsibility that affects every person and every community in the state. CDPHE is distinctive because we bring public health and environmental protection together under one agency, recognizing that healthy people depend on healthy places. Our teams prevent diseases and injury, respond to emergencies ranging from E.coli outbreaks to global pandemics, reduce air pollution, protect water quality, regulate health facilities, manage environmental hazards, perform advanced laboratory testing, provide birth and death records, and implement health promoting programs. We turn science and data into action, set statewide standards, and work alongside local public health agencies and community partners to meet Colorado’s most pressing health and environmental challenges. Working at CDPHE means applying your expertise to complex, consequential work that can improve lives across the state. 

Our mission captures this broad portfolio of work: to advance Colorado’s health and protect the places we live, learn, work, and play. Our vision is a healthy and sustainable Colorado where current and future generations can thrive. Achieving the mission and vision takes bold action, talented people, broad partnerships, and a commitment to serving every Coloradan.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• Hybrid work options may be available at the supervisor’s discretion and based on business needs. The position will be based at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 8024

CDPHE Offers: 

CDPHE offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to build a meaningful career in public service. Benefits include:

• Medical and dental plans.

• Colorado PERA retirement options, including defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan. 

• Optional 401(K) and 457 retirement plans. 

• Employer-paid life insurance.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Potential flexible working arrangements

• 11 paid holidays per year and generous paid time off.

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.

• Tuition assistance. 

• Employee wellness programs.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Career opportunities throughout Colorado state government. 

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The Work Unit: The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response (DCPHR) is the department’s lead surveillance, planning and response arm for public events including communicable disease outbreaks and epidemics, pandemics, bioterrorism, and other public health and mass casualty events and disasters. The division includes the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response; State Public Health Laboratory; Health Equity Branch, Communicable Disease Branch; Immunization Branch; Electronic and Disease Reporting Branch; and Refugee/Newcomer Branch. The Division exists to ensure that the Department has the ability to effectively prepare for, monitor, detect, diagnose, investigate, and nimbly respond to all types of conditions, events and disasters that affect the public’s health. 

The purpose of the Electronic and Disease Reporting (EDR) Branch is to collect, integrate, and use communicable disease and environmental health information to benefit public health. Our mission is to build, maintain, and innovate reliable data systems and processes to empower decisions and drive action that improve public health outcomes. The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response  (DCPHR), and the EDR Branch, operate on the belief that all people-- no matter their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, ability or geographic location -- should have the opportunity to live healthy lives. 

This position is within the EDR branch and is a member of the Data Systems Unit. This unit serves as a bridge between communicable disease epidemiologists at the State or County level, OIT, vendors, as relates to the maintenance and improvement of the integrated disease surveillance system itself and associated reporting to federal partners. The unit possesses the technical skills necessary to monitor, maintain, and enhance the functionality of technologies underpinning our use of surveillance systems to inform public health action in reducing the spread of communicable disease in Colorado.

What You Will Do: This position is part of the data systems team and works collaboratively with the branch to make changes to Colorado’s integrated disease surveillance system (EpiTrax) that primarily impact front end users. This position is responsible for ensuring successful disease surveillance in of EpiTrax by managing data integrations and automations. This includes front-end mapping, migration variable mapping, module testing and quality assurance checks, customer service and technical liaison, as well as assisting with Electronic Messaging Standardization and Automation (EMSA) mapping and data input. EMSA is essential to the success of the surveillance system and therefore this position supports the Electronic Data Exchange (EDX) team to ensure incoming data is appropriately mapped to create and/or update condition-level cases and remains congruent with variables and mappings in the front-end of EpiTrax. This position supports the development and maintenance of solutions that improve surveillance systems and related workflows. This includes the development of auto-scripts, Shiny applications, maintenance of integrations with other CDPHE systems, and code development. This position ensures data integrity and continuity in reporting and operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides guidance and supports the configuration, maintenance, and improvement of surveillance systems and related user-facing tools.
• Reviews code in a number of languages (pgsql, Python, R)
• Writing or maintaining SQL-based scripts and other automations, maintaining and developing Shiny applications and related tools, maintaining relevant codebooks and documentation, and supporting data quality and workflow efficiency through system enhancements
• Researches and evaluates how to update Shiny applications when changes are required
• Develops new Shiny applications to meet surveillance system user needs
• Maintaining and improving system configuration, supporting user access and system use, and helping ensure that surveillance systems function in a way that is reliable, efficient, and aligned with public health practice.
• Works closely with CDPHE users, local public health agencies, tribes, and other partners to understand needs, identify system issues, and translate those needs into improvements in system functionality or workflow.
• Prioritizes support requests, enhancement requests, and workflow issues
• Investigates whether an issue can be resolved through user guidance, system configuration, automation, or escalation for vendor support
• Tests bug fixes, administrative property changes, and new development across surveillance systems and documents findings.
• Conducts data preparation and performs queries to identify and address data problems with incoming electronic health data and provides troubleshooting for resolving data ingestion and mapping issues.
• Reviews and provides assistance with Data Lakehouse engineers to ensure data mappings are consistent and accurate
• Updates surveillance system administrative properties and mappings
• Develops and maintains release notes, training documentation, and webinar content
• Validates and analyzes the quality of incoming electronic health data from reporting facilities and laboratories.
• Works in collaboration with staff from the Data Exchange Unit to establish the mappings and logic for electronic health data ingestion at the condition level.
• Identifies and recommends solutions for ingesting complex electronic health data
• Responsible for the maintenance and development of code that automates record processing tasks within EpiTrax
• Prevents and solves data collection integrity issues by writing data queries, developing data reports, and participating in program evaluations
• Supports the development and maintenance of solutions that improve surveillance systems and related workflows.
• Evaluates and validates condition level reporting to ensure compliance with state and federal rules and regulations.

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. 

Class Code & Classification Description:

H1D3XX Data Management III

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in managing electronic data records, or system interfaces, data reporting, data integration, data management, database development,  statistical analysis using data management tools or in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

Or

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education in public health, public health informatics, computer science, business intelligence and/or relevant  experience in managing electronic data records, or system interfaces, data reporting, data integration, data management, database development, statistical analysis using data management tools or in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years

**You must substantiate that you meet the minimum qualifications when filling out the Work Experience section of the application. Failure to do so will result in the application not moving forward in the hiring process.  “See resume” will not be accepted. Resumes are considered supplemental information and are not considered in the initial evaluation.  In addition, part-time work will be prorated when determining whether minimum qualifications are met.**

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies:  

• Relevant experience with the State of Colorado
• Experience in public health/public health-related field with an emphasis in data management, informatics and/or epidemiology
• Experience using SQL
• Experience using Python or R
• Experience working with large data sets
• Experience evaluating data for completeness and errors
• Experience that involved using data systems for routine disease surveillance, healthcare delivery or other similar sensitive data
• Experience dealing with protected Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Protected Health Information (PHI) privacy and security
• Experience analyzing, interpreting, and summarizing data and report findings of analyses
• Experience communicating about complex data systems and analyses to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Residency Requirement Options:

  • This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.

• This is a critical position and can be expected to work and/or remain at their worksite in delayed start, early release, or closure situations. 

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

• Critical Status: Must be available in the event of the activation of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

Appeal Rights:

As an applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website, https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: [email protected]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

A complete application packet must include:

• Completed State of Colorado application.

• Cover letter describing how your professional (/supervisory if relevant) experience aligns with the preferred qualifications of this position

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

The Selection Process:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.

• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.

• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

CDPHE does not provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. 

E-Verify: 

CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected] or call 303-692-2060, option 5.