Data Modernization Senior Advisor

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1.9 billion and launched more than 1,300 programs 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. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of programs in the United States and in more than 90 countries last year. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.  

Job Highlights

Location: Remote, must be based in the United States

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, 2025

Overview

The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will serve as a subject matter expert, guiding teams 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 West Virginia Department of Health Public Health Commission Office. 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 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.

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. Strong communication and partnership skills are required to succeed in this role.

The Data Modernization Senior Advisor will be hired by the CDC Foundation and placed at the West Virginia Department of Health Public Health Commission Office. This position is eligible for a fully remote work arrangement for U.S. based candidates.

• 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 expertise on translating the technical aspects of a data modernization implementation in a way that resonates with programmatic staff.
• Provide public health research, data evaluation, and forecasting. 
• In conjunction with the Bureau for Public Health (BPH) leadership, develop best practices for the use of software to improve BPH functions
• In conjunction with BPH leadership and MIS, develop best practices to standardize and make data sharing with outside agencies trackable, streamlined, and efficient.
• Serve as the BPH leader in determination of best software and products for teams to use to streamline their work and improve efficiency.
• Provide expert technical advisement and guidance on information systems identifying, procuring, and enhancing information systems, systems architecture, and other data infrastructure.
• 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 assure timely, appropriate data sharing and data access. 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.
• Develop and implement 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.
• Lead the development of and update data inventories of the organization’s data and information system resources.
• 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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.