CDPH is currently hiring a Health Equity Data Scientist Project Lead (Research Scientist Staff) within our Office of Health Equity. In this role, you will make independent, complex decisions utilizing tools and methods in the areas of biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, project management, and informatics to develop metrics and data tools to monitor and report on the status of disparities in health and social determinants of health in California communities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serves as project lead of the Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project (HCI), an online data resource of measures of disparities in social and structural determinants of health broken down by race/ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, income level, geography, and other dimensions of inequality, and mentors the other Research Scientists who contribute to HCI

• Plans, implements, and tracks the development of new and updated indicator datasets, data visualizations and literature reviews

• Maintains expertise in the use of applications for data management, analysis and visualization including SAS, Posit/RStudio, Tableau, PowerBI, and ArcGIS. Researches, develops, and disseminates health equity-focused indicator data deliverables (e.g., fact sheets, literature review summaries, presentation slides, data dashboards), writes and edits data briefs, and produces other data products

• Ensures the validity of metrics, applies quality assurance standards, and authors metadata and other technical documentation. Stays informed on Department-approved cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Databricks) and makes determinations on which OHE projects should utilize and contribute to these platforms

• Presents findings and project status updates in venues including OHE Advisory Committee meetings

• Supports the OHE Data Governance Council representative and the Data Steward with analytic results, project summaries, and recommendations

• Represents OHE in health equity-focused data workgroups in the Department, including but not limited to the Population Data Work Group, and other data initiatives by the Office of Data Strategy and the Office of Policy and Planning

• Contributes content and input to the development of the bi-annual OHE legislative report

• Uses data from the HCI and other sources (including the Climate Change Vulnerability and Health Indicators of the OHE Climate Surveillance Science Unit), to create summaries of key measures of disparities in structural and social determinants and drivers of health

• Reviews and maintains a working knowledge of the scientific literature on health equity analytics and health disparities to inform the development of the report, and contributes to efforts to coordinate input from internal and external partners, and the OHE Advisory Committee, in the development of content for the legislative report

Minimum Qualifications

Two (2) years of professional scientific research experience in epidemiology/biostatistics or closely related specialty, which shall include at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to that of a Research Scientist, Range B and possession of a master’s or doctoral degree in the required scientific specialty or in a closely related specialty.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in publishing work in peer-reviewed journals

• Experience in developing and publishing online data dashboards

• Experience in using project management tools

• Experience in leadership and mentoring

• Ability to work with a multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff

• Knowledge of health equity and social determinants of health

• Ability to communicate effectively and with a variety of audiences including executive leadership and partners agencies.

About California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

At CDPH, equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do. The Human Resources Division (HRD) partners with CDPH’s programs and management to provide guidance and consultative services on HR matters that are necessary for the Department to carry out its mission to deliver quality public health services.

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