Informatics Specialist
UC San Francisco (UCSF) · California, United States
Job Summary:
The California Department of Public Health Office of Data Strategy (ODS) is recruiting for an Informatics Specialist IV to serve as a lead engineer supporting CDPH’s enterprise data modernization efforts. The incumbent will lead engineering, operational reliability, data access, and data governance activities for CDPH’s cloud‑native Databricks Lakehouse environment. Responsibilities will include:
- Applying advanced professional public health informatics and enterprise data engineering and data architecture concepts and extensive knowledge of industry practices to projects of all levels of scope and complexity.
- Leading project teams in developing innovative informatics and enterprise data pipelines, reusable data models, data access frameworks, and automated data quality systems
- Identifying and implementing strategies for integrating multiple enterprise data sources, platforms, and systems to support statewide analytics, operations, and program needs. Conducting complex database design, data quality assurance, and quality improvement projects.
- Developing protocols and guidelines and providing information and technical assistance for CDPH programs, ODS partners, and system users related to data governance, access, interoperability, and metadata standards.
- Leading engineering efforts for scalable data pipelines, enterprise data marts, and secure data access. Supporting data governance, operational reliability, and continuous improvement of CDPH’s data infrastructure.
- Serves as a technical lead to engineers, informaticists, analysts, and program partners across CDPH.
- This position requires strong programming skills (SQL, Python, PySpark), experience with Databricks and distributed computing frameworks, and expertise in data governance and secure data access. The incumbent collaborates across ODS teams and CDPH programs to support enterprise data architecture, operational reliability, and continuous improvement of CDPH’s data systems.
Department Summary:
UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences (IGHS) is dedicated to improving health and reducing the burden of disease in the world’s most vulnerable populations. It integrates UCSF expertise in all of the health, social, and biological sciences, and focuses that expertise on pressing issues in global health. IGHS works with partners in countries throughout the world to achieve these aims. IGHS seeks to improve health worldwide, especially in developing countries, through research that informs policy.
IGHS is committed to ensuring a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment as we work towards becoming an anti-racist organization. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. Please see our statement on anti-racism here: https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/statement-structural-racism.
The California Department of Public Health’s Office of Data Strategy (ODS) leads enterprise-wide data modernization efforts to advance public health outcomes statewide. ODS is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable, secure, and interoperable data systems that support public health program operations, analytics, and strategic decision-making. ODS collaborates with internal CDPH programs, Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs), and external partners to ensure efficient data integration, governance, and quality. The office fosters innovation in data engineering, analytics, and informatics, supporting initiatives such as enhanced surveillance, operational data systems, and public health response. ODS is committed to equity, transparency, and continuous improvement, empowering teams to deliver high-quality data products and actionable insights for California’s public health ecosystem.
DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Identify the functions or tasks that employees in the job perform. The essential functions should state the purpose of the work and the results to be accomplished, rather than how the function is performed. Of the tasks listed, what percentage of time is devoted to each? The more time employees spend on a function, the more likely it is that the function is essential. Generally, include those functions that account for 10% or more of the work, i.e., key items that contribute significantly to the achievement of the job. The functions should add up to 100%.
%
of time
Essential Function (Yes/No)
Key Responsibilities
(To be completed by Supervisor)
20YesServes as a technical leader in collaborating with public health, technical, local health jurisdictions, community, and clinical leaders to plan, develop, implement, and analyze highly-complex public health informatics systems, and to design integrated architecture to ensure an optimal and efficient user experience and functionality, integrity, and reliability of systems.
- Represents ODS and CDPH enterprise data needs in high‑level design discussions related to the Databricks Lakehouse environment, data governance, data access, interoperability, and cloud architecture.
30YesLeads project teams that include advanced public health, local health jurisdiction, community, and clinical staff to improve public health informatics results and to provide advice and sophisticated metrics and analytics to support management's decision-making processes for systems modifications that are cost-effective, scalable, and meet present and future needs.
- Conducts complex data analysis using data from multiple sources including program, operational, administrative, and surveillance datasets from diverse CDPH systems (such as communicable disease, cancer, and vital statistics registries, laboratories, electronic health records, and claims data) to inform programmatic action.
- Develops strategies and technical solutions to support enterprise‑wide linkage, matching, metadata alignment, and interoperability across CDPH systems.
- Develops dashboards, operational tools, and Lakehouse‑enabled visualizations to support CDPH programs, leadership, and operational teams
20YesPerforms highly-complex quality assurance testing, designs and runs SQL (Structured Query Language) and R queries for enhanced and complex data access, and plans, develops, and writes documentation of design and deployment processes, workflows, and results.
- Conducts high-level data quality assurance activities; makes recommendations and implements processes to improve enterprise data lake structure, governance, data access, platform performance and functionality.
- Recommends and establishes protocols for improvements to processes for producing routine and ad-hoc data reports using data from multiple sources.
- Ensures data sharing is compliant with relevant security and privacy requirements and that access to protected health information (PHI) is limited to the minimum necessary information needed for analysis
20YesAs a technical leader and information resource, will provide support, troubleshooting, and problem solving at an advanced level, and may produce and deliver user training curricula and system documentation to support internal and external partners. Ensures successful completion of project deliverables. Mentors mid-level and junior engineers analysts, and informaticians and provides administrative and technical direction and support.5YesPrepares graphs, reports, and publications and presents findings at national, state, and local conferences and meetings. Participates in departmental and programmatic strategic planning and other related initiatives (such as in support of racial equity and emergency response).5YesResearches and stays up to date on newest technology in public health informatics; contributes to planning.100% (To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)
Required:
- Bachelor's